we have winner(s)
This was tough. Almost, I do not hesitate to admit, impossible.
There were at least a dozen entries that were so well thought out and persuasive (some short, some long) that they deserved to win. The books you all nominated as worthy of memorization are from all over the map, from classical children's lit to vintage romance, from prize winning literary fiction to erotica to science fiction.
It was hard, but here you go: the winner is DancingGypsy
...who would memorize Alice in Wonderland
Her reasoning:
If I were living during such a depressing and repressive period, I would want a book to make me laugh--one that would bring me joy from the sheer exuberance of the language and could be enjoyed by both children and adults. That book, for me, is Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll. Who can resist chuckling at the Mad Hatter's tea party? It's a book is perfect for reciting aloud--part adventure, part slapstick humor, part poetry, and totally fun!
I kept come back to this entry because of the first sentence, and the idea that memorizing this book would be beneficial not just for the sake of posterity, but because in such a society people would need hope and stories to make them remember better times.
Runners-Up
LovelySalome, for her choice of Atonement by Ian McEwan. She described this book as damaging and complex, and I have to agree that it is disturbing in the best way. I don't think I could bear to memorize it, but I'm glad she'd be willing to.
Malbrec92 chose Like Water for Chocolate, and wrote very convincingly about the way that novel evokes a visceral reaction with its descriptions of food. It's one of those novels that manages to convey the strong bond between different kinds of nourishment -- physical and emotional.
Both LovelySalome and Malbrec92 will get a signed copy of Tied to the Tracks -- or, if they prefer, one of the Wilderness novels.
I've also decided to award one more copy of TTTT to Wolfwhispers for his very concise entry on Aesop's Tales. Because in all the discussions I've had with friends over the years on this topic, nobody has ever raised that title -- and it's an excellent choice.
All the winners should email me and let me know where to send their books. Also, I am sure everybody is curious about which pile o' books DancingGypsy is going to pick. Don't keep us wondering for too long.