L.M. Montgomery’s novel Emily of New Moon was the required reading of my undergrad that, quite possibly, excited me the very least. How could the misadventures of a young girl on Prince Edward Island possibly compare to the heroic heights of Beowulf or the literary—and ocean—depths of Moby Dick?

This may age me terribly, but so be it. Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” is not only my favorite piece of classical music, but it very well may be the dearest song in all the world to me.