Archive for October 2013

Books that changed your life






One of the books most often mentioned by readers was Frank Herbert's "Dune." Some readers suggested its absence in our original list showed a female favoritism, but female commenters said it's among their favorites, too. "It presaged many of the hot topics of today," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075896392'>one reader said</a>. "The book has its flaws, and there are others who have come later and taken similar topics further and deeper. But, in my youth, and for its time, it was the first and best to do so, and led me to expand my readings into innumerable areas of science, religion, history, warfare and the great works of literature, in order to answer some of the questions I found posed by 'Dune.'"One of the books most often mentioned by readers was Frank Herbert's "Dune." Some readers suggested its absence in our original list showed a female favoritism, but female commenters said it's among their favorites, too. "It presaged many of the hot topics of today," one reader said. "The book has its flaws, and there are others who have come later and taken similar topics further and deeper. But, in my youth, and for its time, it was the first and best to do so, and led me to expand my readings into innumerable areas of science, religion, history, warfare and the great works of literature, in order to answer some of the questions I found posed by 'Dune.'"

"Watership Down" proved a controversial choice. <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075596774'>One reader </a>called Richard Adams' tale about a society of anthropomorphized rabbits a classic political allegory for readers seeking plots that go beyond "conversations (polite or otherwise)" and "sharing of emotions between the characters." Another reader called it an "<a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075370677'>excruciating</a>" example of required reading that no one would read for pleasure."Watership Down" proved a controversial choice. One reader called Richard Adams' tale about a society of anthropomorphized rabbits a classic political allegory for readers seeking plots that go beyond "conversations (polite or otherwise)" and "sharing of emotions between the characters." Another reader called it an "

"Anything essential is invisible to the eye." <a href='http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/littleprince/section7.rhtml' target='_blank'>This quote</a> from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince" stuck with <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075028807'>one reader</a> who said the "beauty of the writing" in the classic French tale was "a truly life-changing experience for me!""Anything essential is invisible to the eye." This quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's "The Little Prince" stuck with one reader who said the "beauty of the writing" in the classic French tale was "a truly life-changing experience for me!"

"My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George inspired many young readers "struggling alone to find their ways through the world, both literally and figuratively," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075149706'>as one reader said</a>."My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George inspired many young readers "struggling alone to find their ways through the world, both literally and figuratively," as one reader said.

A few male readers cited "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain as an influential book in their young lives. "The best part? A happy ending, and one that came about because of Tom," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075633325'>one commenter said</a>. "It wasn't wrong or misbehaving to go out into the world and try to solve a problem. Sitting around and talking about a problem, discussing feelings, things that are antithetical to almost every young man aren't the only ways to address life."A few male readers cited "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain as an influential book in their young lives. "The best part? A happy ending, and one that came about because of Tom," one commenter said. "It wasn't wrong or misbehaving to go out into the world and try to solve a problem. Sitting around and talking about a problem, discussing feelings, things that are antithetical to almost every young man aren't the only ways to address life."

Readers who would have liked to see <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1076300692'>more modern titles on our list</a> suggested "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green. Of protagonist Hazel's battle with cancer, <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1076300692'>our very own Kat Kinsman said</a>, "I was a sobbing damn mess on a plane reading ('The Fault in Our Stars.') That transcends genres and just speaks to being human. I am definitely interested in how the movie will go.<strong>"</strong>Readers who would have liked to see more modern titles on our list suggested "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green. Of protagonist Hazel's battle with cancer, our very own Kat Kinsman said, "I was a sobbing damn mess on a plane reading ('The Fault in Our Stars.') That transcends genres and just speaks to being human. I am definitely interested in how the movie will go."

Before dystopian tales dominated young adult fiction, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" was the story of a society gone wrong. It's also a frequent target of <a href='http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics' target='_blank'>attempts to remove books from schools and libraries</a>.Before dystopian tales dominated young adult fiction, George Orwell's "Animal Farm" was the story of a society gone wrong. It's also a frequent target of attempts to remove books from schools and libraries.

William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" was another book frequently cited by readers. William Golding's "Lord of the Flies" was another book frequently cited by readers.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee "taught me more about prejudice than I had learned in school," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1101988918'>one reader said</a>. The lesson to "do what is right" even when it's not easy stuck with <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1101409728'>another commenter</a>: "I loved Scout and how she wasn't 'ladylike' and, of course, Atticus, how supportive he was of both his kids, their individuality, and his determination to do what was right, not what was easy. I guess in a way, now that I put that in writing, maybe that concept really did 'change my life' as it's something I try to do and taught my kids.""To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee "taught me more about prejudice than I had learned in school," one reader said. The lesson to "do what is right" even when it's not easy stuck with another commenter: "I loved Scout and how she wasn't 'ladylike' and, of course, Atticus, how supportive he was of both his kids, their individuality, and his determination to do what was right, not what was easy. I guess in a way, now that I put that in writing, maybe that concept really did 'change my life' as it's something I try to do and taught my kids."

Jack London's classic "The Call of the Wild" also came up several times as an example of a classic tale of adventure that encouraged perseverance and triumph over adversity.Jack London's classic "The Call of the Wild" also came up several times as an example of a classic tale of adventure that encouraged perseverance and triumph over adversity.

Even if they didn't like the movie, many readers endorsed the novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky.Even if they didn't like the movie, many readers endorsed the novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky.

Rumer Godden's "In this House of Brede" is the story of a businesswoman who decides to become a nun. Naturally, struggles ensue in the transition. "It showed me that life is never going to be a smooth ride, but even in the midst of turmoil and suffering, there will be times of grace," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1076221184'>one commenter said</a>.Rumer Godden's "In this House of Brede" is the story of a businesswoman who decides to become a nun. Naturally, struggles ensue in the transition. "It showed me that life is never going to be a smooth ride, but even in the midst of turmoil and suffering, there will be times of grace," one commenter said.

Several readers brought up Dragonlance, the setting for numerous fantasy novels that also inspired numerous role-playing games. The recurring battles between good and evil forces emphasized the importance of balance in the universe, <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075488980'>one reader said</a>.Several readers brought up Dragonlance, the setting for numerous fantasy novels that also inspired numerous role-playing games. The recurring battles between good and evil forces emphasized the importance of balance in the universe, one reader said.

For many, Mildred Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" was a first introduction to other races and racism. "I grew up in a very white, Midwestern state," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1101319063'>as one reader explained</a>. "I literally knew no one of another race until I went to college. I remember crying at the end of the book and, even though it was fiction, being outright mortified about the race issues detailed in the book. It was a huge eye-opener to a little farm girl who was sheltered from a lot of the big and bad scary things in life."For many, Mildred Taylor's "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" was a first introduction to other races and racism. "I grew up in a very white, Midwestern state," as one reader explained. "I literally knew no one of another race until I went to college. I remember crying at the end of the book and, even though it was fiction, being outright mortified about the race issues detailed in the book. It was a huge eye-opener to a little farm girl who was sheltered from a lot of the big and bad scary things in life."

Another popular reader pick, Lois Lowry's "The Giver," describes a dystopian society in which pain and suffering are eliminated as people relinquish memories and the ability to experience emotions. It won the Newbery Medal in 1994. "When you imagine life without taste, color, feelings, without the things we've come to expect like sunshine and snow, it makes you realize how amazing life in the world we live can truly be," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1076587222'>one reader said</a> of the book that launched a series. "It really makes you stop and think about life, as we know it, full of little things we don't really stop to appreciate."Another popular reader pick, Lois Lowry's "The Giver," describes a dystopian society in which pain and suffering are eliminated as people relinquish memories and the ability to experience emotions. It won the Newbery Medal in 1994. "When you imagine life without taste, color, feelings, without the things we've come to expect like sunshine and snow, it makes you realize how amazing life in the world we live can truly be," one reader said of the book that launched a series. "It really makes you stop and think about life, as we know it, full of little things we don't really stop to appreciate."

Another recent favorite is Jay Asher's "13 Reasons Why," the story of a teen's quest to find why a friend killed herself.Another recent favorite is Jay Asher's "13 Reasons Why," the story of a teen's quest to find why a friend killed herself.

Katherine Paterson's "Bridge to Terabithia" was another popular selections readers lauded for the <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075744617'>diversity of its characters</a>. It won the Newbery Medal in 1978.Katherine Paterson's "Bridge to Terabithia" was another popular selections readers lauded for the diversity of its characters. It won the Newbery Medal in 1978.

Several readers described Elizabeth George Speare's "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" as an all-time favorite. The book won the 1959 Newbery Medal for its portrayal of a teen heroine in the 17th century who is forced to choose between love and duty. Sound familiar?Several readers described Elizabeth George Speare's "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" as an all-time favorite. The book won the 1959 Newbery Medal for its portrayal of a teen heroine in the 17th century who is forced to choose between love and duty. Sound familiar?

Readers highlighted books from Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series about a pioneer family. Of course, not all life-changing effects are poetic: "I never again ate head-cheese after Laura described her mother making it," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1099399819'>one reader remarked</a> about "Little House in the Big Woods." "Ewww! I was a squeamish child."Readers highlighted books from Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series about a pioneer family. Of course, not all life-changing effects are poetic: "I never again ate head-cheese after Laura described her mother making it," one reader remarked about "Little House in the Big Woods." "Ewww! I was a squeamish child."

For some readers, E. L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" sparked a love affair with museums and New York. "Every time I go to a museum, I wonder what it would be like to live there," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1074514592'>one commenter said</a>. "She made (New York), the automat and the bustling city streets sound so romantic."For some readers, E. L. Konigsburg's "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" sparked a love affair with museums and New York. "Every time I go to a museum, I wonder what it would be like to live there," one commenter said. "She made (New York), the automat and the bustling city streets sound so romantic."

Books from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series struck a chord with many readers and inspired a lifelong love of the fantasy genre. One reader said "Dragonsong" from the Harper Hall trilogy was the first book she and her mother read together. "I felt as much of an outsider as Menolly," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1074511758'>she wrote</a>. "Our love for Pern and all things dragon really cemented out relationship. ... Even though my mother is gone, I can pick up those books again and relive all the wonderful times we had talking about them."Books from Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern series struck a chord with many readers and inspired a lifelong love of the fantasy genre. One reader said "Dragonsong" from the Harper Hall trilogy was the first book she and her mother read together. "I felt as much of an outsider as Menolly," she wrote. "Our love for Pern and all things dragon really cemented out relationship. ... Even though my mother is gone, I can pick up those books again and relive all the wonderful times we had talking about them."

K.A. Applegate's Animorphs series revolves around humans and an alien who use their ability to morph into animals to battle an alien attack of Earth. "Those books brought up some pretty heavy moral dilemmas and challenged the readers to draw their own conclusions," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075594290'>one enthusiastic reader said</a>.K.A. Applegate's Animorphs series revolves around humans and an alien who use their ability to morph into animals to battle an alien attack of Earth. "Those books brought up some pretty heavy moral dilemmas and challenged the readers to draw their own conclusions," one enthusiastic reader said.

Chris Crutcher's "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes" was an "all-time favorite" <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075436500'>for one reader, </a>and a top pick for many more. "As a kid, I found the open talk about religious hypocrisy, abortions and child abuse fascinating -- and subversive. I'd never read anything like it before."Chris Crutcher's "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes" was an "all-time favorite" for one reader, and a top pick for many more. "As a kid, I found the open talk about religious hypocrisy, abortions and child abuse fascinating -- and subversive. I'd never read anything like it before."

"Miriam's Well" by Lois Ruby deals with an especially tough topic: What happens when faith stands in the way of medical treatment? Some readers applauded the author's handling of a controversial topic without appearing to take sides. "As a kid who encountered lot of super-preachy YA books in the '90s, I really appreciated Lois Ruby's refusal to take sides on such a heated issue," <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1101769054'>the commenter said</a>. "The novel is actually told in dual narration, as characters on both sides relate their own version of events -- this was a huge influence on my own approach to problems.""Miriam's Well" by Lois Ruby deals with an especially tough topic: What happens when faith stands in the way of medical treatment? Some readers applauded the author's handling of a controversial topic without appearing to take sides. "As a kid who encountered lot of super-preachy YA books in the '90s, I really appreciated Lois Ruby's refusal to take sides on such a heated issue," the commenter said. "The novel is actually told in dual narration, as characters on both sides relate their own version of events -- this was a huge influence on my own approach to problems."

"I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," Joanne Greenberg's semi-autobiographical tale of dealing with schizophrenia, tackled the stigma of mental illness and anti-semitism. One reader said it was just as revealing as<strong> </strong>"Go Ask Alice," a diary-styled depiction of a teen's descent into drug abuse, but "more disturbing since you could choose not to do drugs, but have no say if you end up schizophrenic!" <a href='http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/07/living/best-young-adult-books/index.html#comment-1075559439'>as one reader put it</a>. "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," Joanne Greenberg's semi-autobiographical tale of dealing with schizophrenia, tackled the stigma of mental illness and anti-semitism. One reader said it was just as revealing as "Go Ask Alice," a diary-styled depiction of a teen's descent into drug abuse, but "more disturbing since you could choose not to do drugs, but have no say if you end up schizophrenic!" as one reader put it.

Author Jerry Spinelli won the 1991 Newbery Medal for "Maniac Magee," the story of a homeless teen. "It was one of my favorite books as a kid and deals with issues like diversity, racism, homelessness and bullying. Plus, it's just a fun book," one reader said.Author Jerry Spinelli won the 1991 Newbery Medal for "Maniac Magee," the story of a homeless teen. "It was one of my favorite books as a kid and deals with issues like diversity, racism, homelessness and bullying. Plus, it's just a fun book," one reader said.

Death himself is the narrator of Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief," describing Nazi Germany during the escalation of World War II. Readers flagged this award-winning best-seller as a modern classic.Death himself is the narrator of Markus Zusak's "The Book Thief," describing Nazi Germany during the escalation of World War II. Readers flagged this award-winning best-seller as a modern classic.








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  • CNN commenters shared their favorite books from childhood

  • Help us keep growing the list by sharing your picks in the comments

  • Follow CNN Living on Facebook and Twitter




(CNN) -- Lists can be tricky.


To kick off our coverage of young adult literature in October, we asked members of the CNN.com newsroom to share books that changed our lives. It wasn't the ultimate list for everyone -- we left the definition of "life-changing" up to individuals, and yes, Judy Blume came up more than once.


But we also asked readers to share their top picks in the comments. Again, we left "life-changing" open to interpretation.


We loved the responses and reasons for your choices, from Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer" to John Green's "The Fault in Our Stars. So, we complied them and created another list -- the books you read as young people that changed YOUR lives.


Click through the gallery to see what readers came up with, and tell us about books you read as a child that influenced you.



10 most scenic cemeteries






Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery had its 175th anniversary in 2013. This spring 2013 photo shows the cemetery chapel.Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery had its 175th anniversary in 2013. This spring 2013 photo shows the cemetery chapel.

Dating back to 1660, this small cemetery holds many Revolutionary War heroes, including Paul Revere, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Although this monument belongs to Benjamin Franklin's family, Ben's final resting place is in Philadelphia. Dating back to 1660, this small cemetery holds many Revolutionary War heroes, including Paul Revere, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Although this monument belongs to Benjamin Franklin's family, Ben's final resting place is in Philadelphia.

After admiring Mount Pleasant's incredible beauty, you'll understand why many visitors treat the cemetery as a beautiful park for the living. After admiring Mount Pleasant's incredible beauty, you'll understand why many visitors treat the cemetery as a beautiful park for the living.

With New Orleans' high water table, rain could dislodge people from resting places thought to be final. That's why the city has a system of above-ground tombs, like these at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Guided tours are available through Save Our Cemeteries.With New Orleans' high water table, rain could dislodge people from resting places thought to be final. That's why the city has a system of above-ground tombs, like these at St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Guided tours are available through Save Our Cemeteries.

Karl Marx may be the most famous resident of Highgate Cemetery but you'll find other notables as well. For a fee, explore East Highgate, where his grave is located, on your own. You need to book a tour to see West Highgate.Karl Marx may be the most famous resident of Highgate Cemetery but you'll find other notables as well. For a fee, explore East Highgate, where his grave is located, on your own. You need to book a tour to see West Highgate.

Established by Napoleon in 1804, Père-Lachaise has many famous permanent residents, including Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.Established by Napoleon in 1804, Père-Lachaise has many famous permanent residents, including Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.

At one time, Prague required that Jews only be buried on a single city block. Now called the Old Jewish Cemetery, the burial ground was used from the early 15th century until 1787.At one time, Prague required that Jews only be buried on a single city block. Now called the Old Jewish Cemetery, the burial ground was used from the early 15th century until 1787.

Founded in 1822, this Argentinian cemetery is where Evita Perón and her father's family, the Duartes, are interred in the family tomb. Founded in 1822, this Argentinian cemetery is where Evita Perón and her father's family, the Duartes, are interred in the family tomb.

This Chilean cemetery hosts the Monument to the Disappeared, a large-scale memorial to those who vanished under Augusto Pinochet's brutal regime. This Chilean cemetery hosts the Monument to the Disappeared, a large-scale memorial to those who vanished under Augusto Pinochet's brutal regime.

The Jewish cemetery contains Biblical kings and modern Israeli leaders such as Menahem Begin. There are also Christian and Muslim burial grounds here. The Jewish cemetery contains Biblical kings and modern Israeli leaders such as Menahem Begin. There are also Christian and Muslim burial grounds here.









  • The Granary Burying Ground is the final home for many Revolutionary War heroes

  • Jim Morrison is buried in a Paris cemetery established by Napoleon in 1804

  • The Mount of Olives is where the Messiah will appear, says the Book of Zechariah




(CNN) -- I love cemeteries.


That doesn't surprise most people. Because I'm a crime novelist, they expect me to peer into the dark, shivery corners everyone else avoids. But the reasons I love graveyards have little to do with the spooky. To me, they're beautiful green spaces and open-air art museums.


While there are two famous American cemeteries that rate as tourist attractions in their own right -- Arlington and Gettysburg -- there are others that deserve to be better known. Here are my 10 favorite final resting places around the world. They should be on every traveler's list of things to see before they... you know.


Green-Wood Cemetery, New York City


Close your eyes and imagine 478 acres of rolling hills, complete with several ponds, a lake, a glorious view of the Statue of Liberty and thousands of historic monuments. Throw in a chapel that's modeled on Christopher Wren's Thomas Tower at Oxford's Christ Church College, and you've got Brooklyn's spectacular Green-Wood. The cemetery took a beating from Hurricane Sandy, losing some 300 mature trees, but the grand mausoleums and monuments are still in place.


This 1838 cemetery boasts National Historic Landmark status, in part because it's where the Battle of Long Island was fought in 1776. But it's just as significant to bird-watchers, and it's a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System. Green-Wood offers a variety of ticketed tours that take you around its expansive grounds by trolley or into its catacombs by flashlight, but visitors are welcome to walk the grounds daily.


Granary Burying Ground, Boston


A sign at the entrance to the Granary Burying Ground claims that "Famous, infamous and unknown Bostonians are buried here." This small cemetery on Tremont Street, founded in 1660, holds many Revolutionary War heroes, including Paul Revere, John Hancock, Samuel Adams and James Otis. One of the grandest monuments belongs to Benjamin Franklin's family (though Ben himself rests in Philadelphia). One of the more infamous residents is Samuel Sewall, a magistrate who presided over the Salem witch trials.


Almost every headstone is eye-catching in its own right, with elaborate carvings of skeletons sporting scythes, winged skulls, sly-looking cherubs, and other symbols of mourning, as well as poetic epitaphs. The towering Egyptian Revival gate that marks the entryway is a work of art in its own right. Open daily, the Granary Burying Ground has excellent signage to point out the most famous -- and infamous --graves.


9 haunted spots across America


Mount Pleasant, Toronto


If you're not used to seeing cemeteries filled with baby strollers and joggers, brace yourself before visiting Mount Pleasant. It's best to regard it as a public park that happens to have a lot of permanent residents. I'd love to say that locals' enthusiasm for the place is part of my hometown's Victorian tradition -- back in 1876, when this cemetery opened, having family picnics at gravesites was considered normal behavior. But it's also true that when you see Mount Pleasant's rolling green hills, botanical gardens, leafy trees, and elegant fountains, you know that it's the cemetery's incredible beauty that draws people in. There are grand mausoleums here, belonging to families like the Eatons and the Masseys, and famous graves, such as pianist Glenn Gould's resting place, but the real reason to visit is to enjoy glorious green space in the middle of a frenetic city. Open daily from dawn to dusk.


St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans


New Orleans never had an easy time burying people -- with its water table, they could get unburied when it rained. So they devised a city of the dead with above-ground tombs and opened St. Louis No. 1 in 1789. Its whitewashed crypts, some topped with mournful statues and surrounded by wrought-iron gates, have a ghostly beauty that has been captured on film, most famously in "Easy Rider." The cemetery, as racially diverse as New Orleans itself, is a stop on the Louisiana African American Heritage Trail, and while it's primarily a Catholic burial place, it has a section for others, too.


Tour a NOLA cemetery in pictures


One of its most famous residents may be the 19th-century voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, whose remains are believed to be in the Glapion tomb, and occult offerings are left there in her honor. Guided tours are available through Save Our Cemeteries, but visitors are welcome to wander through every day except Mardi Gras.


Highgate Cemetery, London


Situated on 37 acres in North London, Highgate is as almost much a nature reserve as it is a historic resting place. Wild as a classic English garden, it features trees, shrubs and flowers growing without human intervention, and they provide cover to Highgate's many living inhabitants, which include foxes. In the midst of all this greenery are magnificent stone monuments, some dating back to 1839 and so covered in ivy that the grounds can resemble the land that time forgot. But with famous people such as George Eliot, Karl Marx and Malcolm McLaren interred here, it isn't likely that anyone will ever pass it by. Highgate is divided into East and West cemeteries, with the latter only available for viewing by tour (buy tickets in advance through the website). East Highgate charges an admission fee, but you can explore it on your own.


Hogwarts fan? Follow the trail of real witches


Père-Lachaise, Paris


This is the ultimate Who's Who of graveyards. It was established by Napoleon himself in 1804, with the emperor declaring, "Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion." Since then, Père-Lachaise has welcomed writers (Balzac, Proust, Richard Wright, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein and Alice Toklas); singers (Maria Callas, Edith Piaf); artists (Delacroix, Ingres, Modigliani, Corot, Seurat); and composers (Chopin, Bizet), among others. But the most popular gravesite of all is that of rock star Jim Morrison, whose relatively small grave has been so often vandalized that it is now guarded. The cemetery is open daily and visitors are welcome to explore. There's no admission charge.


Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague


It's a curious thing to stand on a city street and look up -- way up -- to spot the cemetery. Prague was, at one time, home to one of the wealthiest Jewish communities in Europe. But its inhabitants were still subject to some rather draconian rules, including one commanding that Jews could only be buried on a single city block. What's now called the Old Jewish Cemetery was that burial ground, and it was used continuously from the early 15th century until 1787. There was nowhere to go but up, and so centuries of tombs and monuments lie buried inside as more earth was brought in. There are some 12,000 tombstones at the top, though thousands more are buried here. It's a poignant thing to see so many headstones jammed together, yet each one is elaborately carved, inlaid with flora and fauna, symbols of a trade or hands reaching to heaven. Open daily, with an admission fee.


La Recoleta, Buenos Aires


In Argentina's capital city, Recoleta is considered a chief attraction. Walled off from the tony neighborhood it inhabits, it's effectively a city-within-the-city, founded in 1822 and filled with elaborately carved tombs and fine Italian statuary. The most popular spot is the Duarte family tomb, which is where the country's most famous first lady, Evita Perón, is buried. (The Duartes are her father's family; because the controversial Evita's body was stolen and mutilated by her husband's enemies after her death, it's now heavily protected.) Even if the names of famous Argentine families aren't familiar to foreign visitors, their extravagant memorials leave a lasting impression. Free tours are available in a variety of languages, and visitors are welcome to explore on their own.


The longest airline flight in the world


Cementerio General, Santiago


Chile and Argentina have always been great rivals, so perhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that Santiago has a cemetery that aims to be even more spectacular than Buenos Aires'. Spread over 210 acres, and divided into elegant streets and boulevards, the Cementerio General has massive tombs designed to resemble Mayan temples, Venetian palazzos and other grand structures — they're so huge, you might start to wonder whether any living family members could be inside, too. But the most fascinating part of the site is the Monument to the Disappeared, a large-scale memorial to those who vanished under Augusto Pinochet's brutal regime. Undoubtedly not by coincidence, the Pinochet family tomb is a stone's-throw away. (Augusto Pinochet died in 2006, but his family, fearing vandalism, didn't place his cremated remains at the family tomb.) Open daily to visitors.


Mount of Olives, Jerusalem


I'm embarrassed to admit that, when I visited the Mount of Olives, on the eastern side of Old Jerusalem, I was expecting a grove of olive trees. Instead, I found an expansive cemetery that dates back to biblical times and is still in use. One of the oldest monuments, at the foot of the mount in the Kidron Valley, is to King David's son Absalom. According to the Book of Zechariah, the Mount of Olives is where the Messiah will first appear, and so it's the first place where the dead will rise from their graves. The Jewish cemetery contains biblical kings as well as more modern Israeli leaders such as Menahem Begin, but there are also Christian and Muslim burial grounds here. Wherever you stand on the mount, it offers a uniquely beautiful view of ancient, walled Jerusalem.



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