On My Bookshelf While I love writing romance, I don't often read it, and I don't fully understand why.  Maybe it's that the writer in me tends to argue that a plotline isn't believable, or that the heroine would never have said such a thing or that the ending was too easy or too complicated, or...well, never mind. I'm far more interested in the classics.  Before I knew that I was a writer, I once went so far as to tell a friend of mine, a USA Today bestselling novelist, that "the only really good novelist is a dead novelist."  She had the good grace to laugh, because she knew I was talking about Dickens and Willa Cather and Henry James, all of whom have been gone for a long while. My definition of a great book is one that I have read at least five times, and could happily read at least that many more times.  It's a pretty high standard, I'll admit.   I read a lot of nonfiction in addition to novels.  In no particular order, here are some of the books I keep returning to, year after year:   Jane Austen,  Pride and Prejudice Yeah, I know.  Number one on every romance writer's list of favorites.  But with good reason.  If you haven't read it since high school, you should revisit this classic.  And all of her other novels.     Sarah Orne Jewett,   The Country of the Pointed Firs This is my all-time favorite summer read.  Relax on the Maine seashore with some very interesting people.     Anne Morrow Lindbergh,  Gift from the Sea Should be required reading for every woman on her first day of vacation.  Breathe deeply and relax.     P. G. Wodehouse,  Quick Service This is my favorite kind of humor, and Wodehouse has no equal.  I particularly adore the wisecracking hero of this love story.  If your funny bone needs tickling, read this short novel, as well as all of the "Jeeves" stories and anything else you can get your hands on.     L.M. Montgomery,  Anne's House of Dreams This is far and away the best of the "Green Gables" books.  Memorable characters.  You'll need to have some tissues on hand for when dear old Captain Jim "crosses the bar."     Louisa May Alcott,  Little Women Sweet to read by the fireside on a dreary winter afternoon.     Frances Mayes, Under the Tuscan Sun Enjoy the sights and sounds and tastes of a summer in Italy without leaving home.  An American poet's true account of purchasing and restoring an Italian villa.   By the way, the movie is nothing at all like the book.  I did not care for the movie.     William Shakespeare,  Henry V Yeah, Kenneth Branaugh did a good job on the movie, but it you haven't read the play, you should.     Stephen Hawking,  A Brief History of Time Don't panic.  You don't have to understand every word on every page. (And you won't.)  But the parts you do understand will fill you with awe as you consider the universe God has created.   _________________________________________________________________________________   The problem with any "best of" list is that something really great always gets overlooked.  If you think I'm nuts not to have included one of  your favorites, you're welcome to e-mail Brenda   and complain.  If I agree with you, I'll post the book's title here and credit you for pointing it out. (And by the way, I consider the Holy Bible to ge a "given", so please don't take me to task for omitting it.)       Okay, here are a couple of favorites that I missed: Charlotte Bronte,  Jane Eyre Thank you, Debbie Reeves.   Charles Dickens,  A Tale of Two Cities Thanks to Joni for jogging my memory on that one.   Go back to home page: Brenda Coulter, Inspirational Romance Novelist