Best Books- Carol's list

Louise got me interested when she told me how she'd written out of a list of the best books she had ever read and given it to a neighbour for a birthday present. She'd lost the list and couldn't remember what was on it but it set me thinking that I'd like to contact friends and ask them to set down those 5-10 books, more or less, that had influenced them most, or they most loved, or found most memorable (are all of these categories the same thing?).

Carol has already come good with her list, and with her reasons for loving these books.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. (Published 1866) Carol says: 'This was the first book I read where I was so aware of the subjective voice and thoughts of the protagonist. I liked very much the moral questions and dilemmas raised for Raskolnikov and his inward questioning...'.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. (Published 1939) 'Again I read this when I was very young and it was probably my first introduction to American literature. The theme is daunting- and presented a world that had not been so clearly delineated for me before. The author's voice is both urgent and compassionate. I was very impressed and after 45 years or more can recall the ending of the story with clarity.'

The Outsider by Albert Camus. (Published 1942) 'I identified with the outsider and liked, (although liked is not quite the right word), the detached voice of the narrator and the vivid, yet harsh, description of the landscape. I have read the book three times: I know bits verbatim: When I looked up I was aware of the indifference of the universe.'

The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles. (Published 1949) 'Again it is the quality of the writing: the description of the Northern African landscape and the theme were close to my sensibilities.'

The Tree of Man by Patrick White. (Published 1955) 'A great theme...and for me it made the rest of Patrick White's novels accessible. It opened up a whole new world of literature.'

World's Fair by E. L. Doctorow. (Published 1985) 'This story is told through the eyes of a young boy. He most passionately wants to visit the World Fair that is on in New York at the time and the story is about how he achieves this and of courses the story includes many aspects of his life experiences as he is growing up. The narration of this story is therefore simple but profoundly rich and satisfying.'

That's a great list. Thank you Carol. I liked all of those books too, but haven't read World's Fair.

I hope Book Camel readers might leave lists either in the comments section or email them to me and I'll make a feature of them. Carol's list came by snailmail and I'm very happy to receive lists that way too and then type them out. Or stop me in the street and tell me your list. I'll make a note of it.

As it happens Carol's list is all novels. But the books that have influenced you most might be poetry, or essays; philosophy, art, how to do things...what are your best books?