`...I INSIST she read all of the included books discussed in the postings.... I'd appreciate any input you great people suggest...' Many of us go through life haunted with guilt & feelings of personal failure because of the `marvellous' books we've had recommended to us by kindly, old, twinkly-eyed teachers - & which, despite all, we've never managed to finish. Having one's MOTHER recommend a book, though, must surely give any proper-thinking sixteen year old girl a perfect, guilt-free excuse to ignore it for the rest of one's natural. Since the vast majority of books are an unblievable waste of time & spirit, it strikes me that we have here a fine opportunity to save at least one young woman from years of unnecessary suffering. I guess we all have long, long lists of `highly recommended' titles. I'll kick off by suggesting the entire oeuvres of Jack Kerouac, Anthony Trollope, Honore de Balzac, & Herman Hesse. All but eight words of Herman Melville. All of Tom Wolfe. All of .... (I may be here quite some time.) Scottie B.