It's almost official--again. There are only 1 and a half books left in my college career. Half way through one is enough to tell me it likely won't make the list and the other is a book I've already read and posted on this list. So, after many months I will resume.In descending order, my favorite books (and by books I mean fiction-novels) from four years of study at Dixie State College (so far):
2. Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak
This is a somewhat controversial choice, but only in that while reading it for class everyone in class, myself included, felt that the book was entirely overrated. There is some truth to that. This book is supposed to be the greatest love story ever told, yet a lot of that love involves hurting people who are loved. Turns out that's where the book gets good.
For the most part this is a story of two people in love told using the history of Russia as its backdrop. That's a big part of what I like about the book. Stories that span vast areas in space and time, yet still manage to connect very personally always have impacted me. The thing that really made me finally decide to place this novel on the list, and place it so high, is that I found myself referring to it so often. The experiences of these characters have a universal appeal, and while they may not always be good to eachother, this book really is about people who are in love. People do love, and people do get hurt because of it. Pasternak tells us this amazing love story by showing us how brave the characters are to participate in such a dangerous activity.
For being the first grown-up love story I've read and liked, Doctor Zhivago makes a house call on my list at number 2.
