When do we lose our favourite book?

I was doing my daily Yoga with Adriene today (daily is relative) and as we sat massaging our feet, Adriene asked me – through the screen, she spoke to me – what’s your favourite book? Leave a comment, she said, and tell me what your favourite book is.

And as I sat there, massaging the soles of my feet, I realised that I could no longer answer that once so important of questions: what’s your favourite book?

kundera-immortalityBack in high school, I would have said Milan Kundera’s Immortality. But I haven’t read it in years, and barely remember it, except for what I used to say when people asked me about it.

“It’s about a man named Milan Kundera who writes a book called Immortality. Also, there is a woman named Agnes, a highway at night, and a wave.”

Or when I was younger, it was The Silver Chair, by C. S. Lewis. A much better adventure story than that rubbishy Christian Wardrobe one, I read it over and over and over.

And before that, A Birthday for Frances, by Russell Hoban. I think I mostly liked it because it was the first book I ever owned that I chose myself.

But at some point, I lost my favourite book. I don’t know how to answer that question anymore. There are many great books. Some of them I loved. As I get older, I rarely re-read anything – it seems like a waste if it’s already been read. What a dreadful way to approach reading.

I want to find my favourite book again. I wonder what it will be and where I will find it? Perhaps it will be behind the sofa.

One Response

  1. I really enjoyed this, thank you. It made me think about ‘my favourite’ book. Many years ago, most of which you haven’t lived, I would have said ‘Seven Little Australians’ – I can still remember the story well, and the part that made me cry, although I do not honestly recall all the names, – that may have more to do with my poor memory than anything else, but if I try maybe I can – Anyway …
    I am also a fan of the Harry Potter series, and can still remember hoping that I would live long enough to be able to read the entire tale, That was in my darker ‘cancer’ moments.
    I have read many books since then, with a leaning towards crime & mystery, and while a few have been enjoyable whilst I read them, they have left a blah taste in my mouth and no real imprint on me.
    So perhaps I need to think about writing again …

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Nat Newman

Nat Newman is an award-winning writer of short stories, podcasts, feature articles, ghostwritten books, drunk text messages and a novella. She is also an actor, voice artist, tour host and creative writing tutor.

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