Books I Wish I'd Written.... (Jenny O'Connell)

There are two possible ways to answer this question - the first is books with ideas I wish I'd had, and the second is books that I just love, from the characters to the plot to the story being told. I would say that the books I wish I'd written have less to do with the first and more to do with the second. Rarely do I hear of a story plot or idea and am like, "Oh! Wish I thought of that!" But there are definitely books that I think are just so perfect in so many ways, I wish they'd come from my fingertips. Here they are:

My most favorite book. Ever. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Norma Klein freak. She was so influential to me growing up. Her books are just kick ass stories with kick ass girls who are so real you'd think Norma was a 17 year old girl growing up in NYC when she wrote them. This book has it all - smart character, unconventional family, first love, stupid choices, lost love, just freaking awesome.

The premise of this book comes as close to a "wish I had that idea" moment as I've come. It is so perfectly executed, though, that I can't even imagine coming as close as Jay Asher did to perfection with this story. The complexity of the story, how it all comes together, the many characters that play a role, I just love it.

 I love Sonya's books, but this one especially so. It's told from the boy's point of view (it's actually a sequel to the book told in the girl's point of view, What My Mother Doesn't Know). As always, her verse is impeccable, the story is captivating and what she does with so few words just blows me away.

When I read the Junie B. Jones' books with my daughter years ago I remember thinking, "Damn, this is funny. And, damn, I love this girl. And, damn, I wish I wrote these books!!!"

This is twisted. An average woman  wakes up one day and decides to basically kill men . In one day she rids the world of rapists, misogynists, just horrible guys. It's British and dark and a very short story. I just loved it.

 Wow. Totally dig this. Cray-cray! Just nuts, love the story telling, the characters, the twisted mind it took to come up with all the tiny details that make this story a page turner. Just brilliant.

Of all the books I read as a child, this has stayed with me the most. A boy plants a seed. He is told by everyone that it won't sprout. He waters it, cares for it, and believes in that little seed. Still, people doubt him and the seed. And then, with his determination and care, it sprouts. So simple. A book that everyone should read and take to heart.