Other Fabulous Books

       Like some of you, I was gratified to see some of my all-time favorite books on the Strand list.
       One book, in particular, still sticks with me today: John Irving's "A Prayer for Owen Meany".
       I remember being on a beach one day, nearly 25 years ago – in Spain or Portugal, I think – and finishing that book. I remember it because when I completed the final page, I started to cry.
       I cried not because the story was sad (although it was), but simply because the book was over. I had become so involved in the lives of the characters and the richness of the plot that I felt a loss – an emptiness – when I suddenly realized it was gone. I cried too because I felt certain that I would never be able to write as well as John Irving does, although I still continue to try my best.

       I agree, however, that other fabulous books seem to be missing from the Strand list.
       As Liz pointed out, Rohinton Mistry's "A Fine Balance" should surely be there. I remember also being profoundly affected by "Trinity" by Leon Uris. Recommended by my father as a book my older brothers and I could discuss in our eventual medical school interviews (not that I ever applied to med school), it was, at the age of 14 or 15, one of the first truly "important" books I had read. And what about E.L. Doctorow's "World's Fair"? I loved that book!

       Readers: are there other books that you think should have made the list?  For Tom's profound input on this question, see his comment on my last posting, dated June 11.