e_bourne

I read with interest the list of 106 book varina8 posted. I've read 70, started but didn't finish 13, and own but haven't read 7.

Of those listed, only two in fiction would make my "desert island" list.  So here's my personal list for the top ten fiction books I simply couldn't live without.

The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien (I'm going to count it as one, and I don't care if that's a cheat)
His Dark Materials - Phillip Pullman (Yes, I am doing it again. Sue me)
Moby Dick - Herman Melville (It's fat enough for three)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (OK, this is time it's just two books, but they're short!)
A Winters Tale - Mark Helprin
The Annotated Sherlock Holmes (Hard to tell which is more fun, the stories or the annotations)
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
The Wine-Dark Sea - Patrick O'Brien (At least I didn't claim the whole series)
The Grand Sophy - Georgette Heyer (my Achilles heel)
The Murder Room - PD James

I'll only list 5 non-fiction.

Alexander to Actium - Peter Green
Plagues and Peoples - William McNeill
Art & Physics - Leonard Shlain
Art and Fear (if you're an artist of any sort, you should buy this and read it)
On not being able to Paint - Marion Milner

So tell me do, what are your favorites?  I'm always looking for something to read.