I love books and stories. I come from a family of avid readers and talented writers so it is no surprise that I love the written word. In general, I enjoy reading classic literature and science fiction fantasy. I also love myths and legends (particularly Celtic mythology, Arthurian legends and tales of Robin Hood), poetry, and plays (particularly the works of William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde).

Lastly, I have a fondness for children's literature (especially anything by Shel Silverstein or Dr. Seuss, or anything written and illustrated by Jan Brett). I particularly love collecting these books and sharing them with my nieces and nephews and cannot wait until I have children of my own to read them to.

You can see a complete list of my favorite books on Listmania:

• Part 1: Douglas Adams - Jennifer Chiaverini
• Part 2: Jennifer Chiaverini - Mercedes Lackey
• Part 3: Mercedes Lackey - Anne McCaffrey
• Part 4: Anne McCaffrey - End
• Part 5: Children's Books - Coming Soon

Having said that, there are some books and authors that hold a special place on my bookshelf and in my heart. They are:

I was first introduced to Louisa May Alcott's writing when my grandmother, Ginny Eckert O'Shea, gave me my very first copy of Little Women. She had read all of Alcott's books when she was young and wanted to share them with me. I loved them all. Alcott's books had a huge impact on my life. I wanted to be one of the March sisters and at times, it seemed that Alcott's characters were as real to me as any flesh and blood playmate.

I also found a role model in Louisa May Alcott when I ran out of books written by her and started reading books written about her. I discovered a woman who worked tirelessly for abolition, women's rights and social reform, whose life intersected with some of the most fascinating people and events of her time and this helped formed many of my personal philosophies and beliefs.

But most importantly, these books brought me and my grandmother even closer together, bound together by our shared love of Alcott's stories and characters and the time we spent together discussing them, memories I treasure even more now that my grandmother has passed away. Someday, I hope to have a daughter (who will be named Beth after my favorite Alcott character) that I can introduce to Little Women and the rest of Louisa May Alcott's books, partially because I would love to introduce my little girl to my childhood friends but also as a way of continuing the line from my grandmother through me to the next generation and beyond.

Jane Austen is one of those authors whose books I love to read and re-read. I love her wit and language and I think her characters are endlessly fascinating. Of course, I have read Pride and Prejudice and loved it but I also enjoy many of her other books, most notably Sense and Sensibility and Mansfield Park.

I was introduced to Peter Beagle's work as a child when I first watched the animated film version of his novel, The Last Unicorn. I was quickly hooked. The Last Unicorn became (and remains) one of my all time favorite books and films. However, my love of Peter Beagle's work didn't stop there. Peter once wrote: "The Last Unicorn is the book that people know who don't know anything else I've ever written; it will probably haunt the rest of my career..." and that is true to a large extent but if you have never read any of Peter's other works, you are missing out. Some of my favorites include: A Fine and Private Place, Tamsin (tied for the title of my favorite Beagle book with the Last Unicorn), The Unicorn Sonata and an anthology of short stories called The Immortal Unicorn that he edited and which contains one of my favorite short stories of all time, Professor Gottesman and the Indian Rhinoceros.

I should also mention that I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Peter Beagle when he was a guest at I-CON. It was really a pleasure to find out that someone I have admired for most of my life was as nice, intelligent, insightful and articulate as I have been imagining him to be all these years. In addition to being an amazing writer, Peter is also a wonderful speaker and reader. I highly recommend going to hear Peter Beagle speak if you have the opportunity.

Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Dart series is a fairly recent addition to my library but it quickly became a favorite. Not for the innocent or easily offended, the Kushiel series is highly sensual and mythic with a richly detailed world and history. The characters are incredible and the stories grab your attention and do not easily let go. Jacqueline Carey's books are unlike anything else I have read before and are endlessly fascinating which is why I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.

The Elm Creek Quilts series by Jennifer Chiaverini is another recent addition to my library. I identify with is so strongly because, even though I am not a quilter (yet), I recognize the warmth, encouragement and sense of community that crafters can find with each other from my own experiences as a knitter and beader.

In my opinion, Brian and Wendy Froud are mankind’s ambassadors to the land of fairy. They have been drawing and shaping our view of the fair folk for years through their artwork, their books and their work on such films as The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. I am a particular fan of Brian’s book Good Fairies / Bad Fairies and the twisted but hilariously funny Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book.

Just as I was introduced to the works of Louisa May Alcott by my grandmother, my grandfather, John O'Shea, taught me to love Irish myths, music and culture. As part of his efforts, he introduced me to the writings of Morgan Llywelyn. Her books, mostly based on Celtic legends and history, are amazing simply because they depict the mythic but never lose sight of the people who were at the core of the story. My favorite Morgan Llywelyn books are: Bard: The Odyssey of the Irish and The Lion of Ireland but I have also loved: Red Branch, Finn MacCool, The Wind from Hastings, Grania, The Horse Goddess, The Lion's Pride and the Last Prince of Ireland.

Otherwise known as the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl McPhee writes about knitting. Rather than writing instructions or patterns, the Yarn Harlot writes hilarious (and oh-so-true) accounts about the experiences of being a knitter. Her books and her blog are not to be missed, especially if you are a knitter or have a knitter in your life.

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series was a childhood favorite of mine. I grew up wanting to be just like Anne. When I grew up, I went back and re-read the series and was surprised to find that I enjoyed the stories even more than I had a child. These books appealed just as much to me as an adult as they did to me as a child and I was finding layers of meaning and understanding that just weren’t available to me as a child.

I then branched out to other Lucy Maud Montgomery books, including: The Story Girl and its sequel, The Golden Road, then on to Pat of Silver Bush, Jane of Lantern Hill, and The Blue Castle. I also discovered the Emily of New Moon trilogy. While I will always love Anne Shirley and hold a special place in my heart for her, I adore Emily Byrd Star even more. I also have enjoyed all of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s anthologies of short stories. Regardless of what book or story you are reading, Lucy Maud Montgomery’s humor, fancy and ability to create characters that are remarkably true to life are simply delightful. I cannot recommend these books enough.

What can I say about William Shakespeare? I think many people would agree with me that the man was a genius that wrote some of the best literature in the history of the world. I love reading his plays or, even better, seeing them performed. My favorites are: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Othello but Much Ado About Nothing, Hamlet, and Twelfth Night all come in a close second.

I fell in love with Sharon Shinn’s work when I stumbled upon her novel, Archangel. Her books blend fantasy, science fiction, faith and romance in a way that I simply love. And unlike other books in the genre that deal with the topic of religion and faith, science and doubt, Sharon Shinn is always thoughtful and respectful, something I truly appreciate. While my favorite Sharon Shinn books are still the Angels of Samaria series (Archangel, Jovah’s Angel, The Alleluia Files, Angelica and Angel Seeker), I have also enjoyed many of her other books, including: The Shapeshifter’s Wife (which reminds me of Peter Beagle’s The Last Unicorn and believe me when I say that there can be no higher compliment from me), Wrapt in Crystal, Jenna Starborn and Summers at Castle Auburn.

Laura Martin’s Fairy Island: An Echanted Tour of the Homes of the Little Folk is a beautiful, fanciful book, filled with photos of several different fairy houses complete with furnishings and decorations crafted from natural materials. It is simply a joy and delight to read.

Just as Fairy Island gave us a glimpse of fairy homes, Fairy-ality: The Fashion Collection from the House of Ellwand by David Ellwand, David Downton and Eugenie Bird allows us to peek into the world of fairy fashions. This book is filled with sketches of fairy costumes and even actual photographs of fairy clothes made from feathers and petals and all sorts of natural materials. This book is another enchanting “don’t miss” for anyone who loves fairies.

There has never been a time, regardless of how old I get or what is going on in my life, when reading M. M. Kaye’s The Ordinary Princess has not made me smile. It is simply the most charming story I have ever heard. Fresh and original, it tells the story of a princess who is ordinary and tomboyish instead of being lovely, ladylike and graceful like her sisters are. It is a great tale with a great message. I plan to get this book for every one of my daughters and nieces. I cannot recommend it enough.

I have seen the film version of the Princess Bride a million times. I can practically quote the entire thing from memory. My mother used to send me off to school every day with the words "Have fun storming the castle" and I would be lying if I said that I didn't swoon a little inside at the words "as you wish." If you have not seen this film, get up off the computer right now and go watch it. Trust me. Having said all this, the book version of the Princess Bride is just as good as the film and well worth the time of any Princess Bride fan.

The premise of Michael Green’s Unicornis: On the Truth and History of the Unicorn is that it is a translation of a manuscript written by Magnalucius, a 15th century monk who had observed a unicorn and recorded his experiences and a natural history of the beast in his diary. Centuries later, Magnalucius’ order contacts the narrator to help them translate and preserve the manuscript. Complete with incredible illustrations, this book ends with a riddle that will supposedly lead the reader to a treasure that Magnalucius and his brethren had been guarding for centuries, a unicorn horn.

Unicornis is simply a beautiful book that is a must have for any unicorn lover. I treasure my copy, especially as they are hard to find now a days. And in addition to the book, I have a reproduction of the unicorn horn from the book on display in my home as a lovely reminder of this book and my love of unicorns.