Cheryl Truman on books

These are from the Reader Top 10 favorite books lists from last week. Forgive my delay in posting. I’ve been called into the editing ranks rather frequently of late, so I’m just now compiling.

But here’s my promise: All your lists will appear on Bluegrass Books. Promise. These appeared in the 8/2 newspaper, or printed product, or tree-based megablog, or whatever we’re calling it now:

Deb Jones, head teacher, ­Burrier Child Development ­Center, Eastern Kentucky University

“These are the books that I buy extra copies of to give out to friends and which have impacted my life greatly.”

■ The Bible

■ If God Is Love (also If Grace Is True) by Phillip ­Gulley and James Mulholland. “A radical view of salvation that has made me think deeply.”

■ The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. “A best seller that helped me reflect on why I’m here on earth.”

■ Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig, “I read (it) in college for a philosophy course and continue to ­reread every decade or so.”

■ The Kingdom of God Is a Party by Tony Campolo. “I think the title says it all!”

■ Amazing Grace (also The Cloister Walk) by Kathleen Norris. “More favorites I revisit every years or so.”

■ The Joy of ­Loving by Mother Teresa. “Her ­writings are a great ­inspiration for daily living.”

■ Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. “This book deepened my ­relationship with God ­beyond words.”

■ Feathers From My Nest by Beth Moore. “This book has helped me as my ­children have left the nest.”

■ Anything by Anne Lamott. “She is so funny and full of truth.”

Jessica Boggs, Whitesburg, student at Campbellsville University

1. Clay’s Quilt by Silas House. “Seriously, the perfect book. It captures Eastern Kentucky like no other book I’ve ever read.”

2. Oral History by Lee Smith. “Most people, when talking about their favorite Lee Smith book, says Fair and Tender Ladies. I like that one, but Oral History was the first Lee Smith book I read, and it is what made me realize that there was such as thing as Appalachian literature.”

3. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. “Two words: Rhett Butler.”

4. The Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. “British alternate history in which the Allied forces didn’t win WWII and the world is obsessed with classic literature. Perfect for anyone who loves history, books and sarcasm.”

5. She Walks These Hills by Sharyn McCrumb. “Actually, any of McCrumb’s Ballad series, but this is my favorite. I feel so sorry for Harm, the confused prison escapee.”

6. The Big Beautiful by Pamela Duncan. “Another wonderful Appalachian novel. At a reading of this book by the author, I laughed so hard my sides hurt afterwards.”

7. The Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig. “The best historical romances I’ve ever read. My favorite is The Masque of the Black Tulip.”

8. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. “A great teen novel that’s much deeper and much better than the average teen romance. Read this instead of Gossip Girl.”

9. Saints at the River by Ron Rash. “The ending left me thinking for weeks.”

10. Appalachian ­Studies by Anne Shelby. “These poems were like listening to my grandparents’ stories.”

Debbie Burns, Manchester

“Since I am a big fan of short fiction I am listing my five favorite short-story ­collections followed by my five favorite full-length works of fiction.”

1. The Yellow Wall-Paper and Other Writings by ­Charlotte Perkins Gilman. “This volume includes her novelette Herland about a trio of men stumbling upon a society composed completely of women. An eye-opener, as is the story If I Were a Man.

2. Stories by Katherine Mansfield.

3. The Collected Short Stories of Edith Wharton “is another favorite of mine. It’s always fun to read about the idle rich at the turn of the century.”

4. The Mysterious Mr. Quin by Agatha Christie. “I’ve been an Agatha ­Christie fan for years, but I only recently stumbled upon this collection of short stories. In place of Miss Marple, we have Mr. Satterthwaite, who is ‘an earnest student of the drama called Life’ and of course, the otherworldly Mr. Quin.”

5. Miss Marple, The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie. “I have a soft spot for armchair ­detectives, and no one can touch Miss Marple.”

Now, for my five favorite full-length works of fiction:

1. Life With Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse. “Bertie Wooster is always landing in trouble, but thankfully he has his faithful butler, Jeeves, to help him out. These books read like one of those slapstick romantic comedies from the ’40s.”

2. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. “This is the love story of all time.”

3. Small Change by J. Belinda Yandell. “It’s about the secret life of a middle-aged woman. Turns out her husband and two grown children don’t really know her at all.”

4. The No. 1 Ladies ­Detective Agency by ­Alexander McCall Smith. “Precious Ramotswe has been ­described as the Miss Marple of Botswana. Her reflections on life are as interesting as the mysteries she is trying to solve.”

5. Nothing Ever ­Happens Here by Carol Beach York. “This is a young adult ­coming-of-age novel. ­Published in 1970, it is indicative of the era and was the coming-of-age story that I read when I was 12.”