In the book Letters, Dr. Oliver Sacks reveals the breadth and width of his love for the written word. Over the course of almost 700 pages, Dr. Sacks discloses the nature of a life well-lived through the correspondence he maintained with all manner of people throughout his life. Among the many things he discussed with those he wrote to were books, poetry, essays and articles of interest to him and/or to the recipient of his letter. I read this book with interest. Over the course of my reading, I began to make a list of every book, etc., that he mentioned. My goal here is to read them all….over 200 in total. I shall then write a brief review and list it all below for you to enjoy at your leisure. Like many of you, I have found myself inspired by Dr. Sacks and his work over the years. This page/project is meant as a tribute in his honour. I will update it as I complete each reading. I shall read the books in the order they appear in Letters.
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A- Letters *(A memoir of Dr. Oliver Sacks as told through a lifetime of correspondence. Edited by Kate Edgar).
All books from this point on were referenced by Dr. Sacks in his book Letters. Each book is reviewed in the order in which they appear in Letters.
1- Lost Horizon by James Hilton.
2- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.
3- The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber.
4- Cannery Row by John Steinbeck.
5- On The Move (poem) from the book The Sense of Movement by Thom Gunn.
6- The Short Stories of Henry James: The Aspern Papers by Henry James.
7- The Autobiography of Charles Darwin (Edited by his Grand-Daughter Nora Barlow).
8- The Clergyman’s Daughter by George Orwell.
9- The Liberal Imagination by Lionel Trilling.
10-To The Finland Station by Edmund Wilson.
11-Gimpel the Fool by Isaac Bashevis Singer.