100 Word Challenge: Books

I joined in a meme the other day that asked what book was a best seller the year you were born. For me, that was 1962. J.D. Salinger’s “Franny and Zooey,” and Katherine Anne Porter’s “Ship of Fools,” were bestsellers, but only Porter’s novel was published that year.

Got me to thinking… what other books were published in 1962? Surprisingly, I found four books in my personal library originally printed that year.

A plan was hatched.

To mark my 55th year, I wanted to read only 1962 Best Sellers for the remainder of 2017 – six months remaining, six books.

The four books I already own:

Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray Bradbury
The Man in the High Castle, Philip Dick
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
Island, Aldous Huxley

The two others I added:

The Reivers, William Faulkner
Silent Spring, Rachel Carson

I’ve read “Something Wicked…” before, and loved it, and recently began watching a serialized version of “The Man in the High Castle,” on Amazon Prime. I’m looking forward to delving into both again.

Back in my college days, I saw a re-release of the 1971 movie version of “A Clockwork Orange.” I still can’t hear the song, “Singing in the Rain,” without thinking of Alex de Large and not Gene Kelly. I’m scheduling this book for September in recognition of Read Banned Books week – Sept. 24-30, because it has made it onto several banned reading lists.

Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” an expose’ on the agriculture industry’s use of chemical pesticides and their impact on the environment, lead to the U.S. banning DDT. I think this book is still timely.

“The Island,” the last book Huxley wrote prior to his death in 1963, was a utopian counterpoint to his dystopian novel, “Brave New World.” Since I have both books, perhaps reading them sequentially will be the best way to experience them way Huxley intended.

I don’t know much about “The Reivers,” other than it’s supposed to be humorous, it won the 1963 Pulitzer Prize and well… Faulkner.

It’s an ambitious plan, but I think I can do this. Anyone want to join me?

“Never lend books, for no one ever returns them; the only books I have in my library are books that other folks have lent to me” Anatole France

This week’s word is:

Books

What to do:

Using “books” for inspiration, write 100 Words – 100 exactly – no more, no less. You can either use the word – or any form of the word – as one of your 100, or it can be implied. Include a link in your post back here, and add your story to the Mister Linky list. If you don’t have a blog, you can leave your submission in the comment section, or as a Facebook status post. Remember to keep spreading the love with supportive comments for your fellow Wordsters.