My Dad was a librarian. As you could imagine, our house was filled with books. I mean, floor to ceiling books. Our living room contained non-fiction and the more formal library was filled with fiction, including many first edition literary works. Upstairs in Dad’s office were the “stacks,” where he kept the periodicals. All of these were arranged by Dewey Decimal System.
It was a given that wherever Dad was, a book or two was close by. He passed that love on to all six of his kids as well. Every year at Christmas Dad went to the bookstores to find the perfect books suiting each child’s individual taste, and he was spot on every time. Not a week went by when he didn’t bring books home from the library for us all to enjoy. Books gave Dad joy and his children and grandchildren have inherited this literary legacy.
Just now as I was walking home from dropping my son off at a playmate’s I was wondering if I should blow off a couple of hours of quiet working time in favor of a good read. There’s nothing like getting lost in a good book. I’m talking about the kind of lost where you don’t notice the world around you and your family has to call your name over and over again until you snap out of it.
That’s the kind of writer I aspire to be. I would love for people to get lost in my words.
As I type this, there are several books on the family room end table that sits next to my big comfy chair:
- “The Stand” by Stephen King, which I’m re-reading and I consider one of the best books ever written.
- “The Host” by Stephanie Meyer , which I’m forcing myself to read because it was a gift. I’m not a fan of her writing at all.
- “Trust Agents” by Chris Brogan which should be required reading for anyone looking to build relationships on the web.
- “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” by Lynne Truss because I’ve been neglecting my commas.
In the basket in my bathroom are some past and current copies of
- Wired
- Website Magazine
- Boy’s Life
- Car and Driver
- the 5th installment of “Roscoe Riley Rules.”
On and around the nightstand in the bedroom are about 30 books. Some I’ve read and some I’m hoping to get to in this decade. My bookmark is currently residing in David McCullough’s “1776.”
We’ve talked here before about why it’s important to read, though this isn’t something one generally has to convince a writer to do. It’s in our blood and it’s in our hearts. Tell us what you’re reading…and where. What are some of the books you recommend to others – and what’s the best book you’ve ever read. Share. Turn us on to something new.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to take advantage of my quiet house and read.
What are you reading?
Thank you! Now I don’t feel so guilty that I read more than one book at a time! Everyone seems to look at me like I’m crazy when I say I am reading more than one book.
Thus, on my Audible account I am listening to -
-”The Little Giant of Aberdeen County” by Tiffany Baker – recommended after listening to “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd, a similar piece of Southern fiction flare.
-”Swimsuit” by James Patterson as I continue my secret affair with his novels. I always get lost in them, especially in audio format!
On my nightstand is -
- “Connected” by Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler – decided I HAD to have and read after reading a review on CNN.com. Very interesting insight and research on the affects of our social networks
- “Wishin’ and Hopin’” by Wally Lamb – my favorite local author attempts a light-hearted Christmas story, or as he said in a recent interview, the cure to the hangover left by “The Hour I First Believed”
And floating in my apartment somewhere with a beat up bookmark is Jimmy Buffet’s “A Salty Piece of Land” which is my escape to the islands during these New England winters.
I won’t begin to mention what’s in my to-read and have-read piles…
I love talking about the books I’m reading! Most of my friends zone out when I go on book rants.
I just finished Paulo Coelho’s “The Witch of Portobello” and Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean’s “The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish.”
Now I’m in the middle of David Drake’s “With the Lightnings” (military science fiction is my guilty pleasure) and Gaiman’s “Fragile Things,” as well as a book on Paganism called “Urban Primitive,” all of which are on my nightstand, since I do most of my reading in the hour before I go to bed.
I’ve also started experimenting with my Droid Eris phone as an e-Reader, but I’ve only had the phone for a week so the jury’s still out on whether or not I like it. I’ve got Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” on there, which I’m mostly interested in for the extra stories and essays that come with the edition I have, having read the novella multiple times already.
.-= Kelly Lynn Thomas´s last blog ..All of it’s true, and none of it happened =-.
I love this topic. I’ve always been an avid reader. I have passed that on to two of my three boys. My 7 year old still resists reading for pleasure. I allow him his comics because at least he is reading. I still read to him daily, as I do all my kids. As for myself, I’m never without a book. I’m usually in the middle of at least three, often more.
Right now I’m reading the Sookie Stackhouse series. Yes, I love vampire tales and I’ve read nearly every series I can get my hands on, including those in the young adult section of the library. I’m with you on Meyer’s work though. The Twilight series has such potential but it is lacking. I’m also reading “Birth-The Surprising History of How We Are Born” and “Weird U.S-Your Travel Guide to America’s Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets” With the kids I’ve just started Mary Pope Osborne’s “Tales from Odyssey” series and we’re finishing up Shel Silverstein’s “A Light in the Attic.” We just finished the Eddie Dickens Trilogy and that was so much fun and hilarious. If anyone has kids I recommend it.
I just finished reading Go Ask Alice and have stared reading Tweak but my daughter was reading it at the same time so I have to wait for her to finish it. Oh, and I have The Freedom Writers somewhere with a bookmark in it.
.-= Danielle´s last blog ..The Tax Man Cometh… =-.
I don’t get access to many English books down here in Guatemala, but I read what I can and order lots of books on Ebay. I’m currently reading:
In the bathroom, which is the only place I get more than 30 seconds to read – Raising Your Spirited Child (to help figure out how to handle my oldest son, great book)
In my bed – The Anita Blake series (like Amy I’m a vampire fan and have been since I was a preteen, but I’ve finished most series I can find)
Let the Right One In (more vamps)
The Home Office from Hell Cure (a book I was sent to review on my blog)
And I have online subscriptions to Woman’s Day, Country Living, and Parents.
I read the Twilight series, liked the books, though the writing is lacking, then I read The Host and really enjoyed it. I still prefer Sookie Stackhouse, Vampire Academy and Anita Blake, but Meyer did redeem herself with the Host, I think.
I’m reading….hmmm.
The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn, a non-fiction book I’ve been meaning to read for a few years now about his search for six of his relatives who disappeared during the Holocaust.
The newest novel by Julia Glass. I can’t ever get the title straight, and I’m sorry about that. It’s a pretty good read, though; it’s about two very different sisters.
Some lightweight fluff that I’m embarrassed to admit to.
I usually read a few things at once, a combination of non-fiction and fiction. I like to read non-fiction because I feel like 1) I like to learn something new and improve my brain and 2) I like to read (and really do enjoy) long-form journalism. Fiction is mostly for fun.
The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin. His up-close look at the Supreme Court.
.-= Jennifer L´s last blog ..Maternity leave for the self-employed =-.
I’m so happy to see I’m not the only one who reads several things at once!
Like everyone else – I’m reading more than one thing (and one medium) at once.
I read volumes of scientific (pharmaceutical) research reports at my day job. I also write/edit them, so I’m both part of the problem and part of the solution.
I have about 15 blogs in my RSS fee and/or inbox; thank the goddess you don’t all write something every day (Kairol Rosenthal’s ‘Everything Changes;’ Kelly Diels’ ‘Cleavage;’ Darren Rowse’s ‘Problogger’ and ‘TwiTip;’ the daily headlines from Foodblogs.com and the daily FoodBuzz and a half-dozen local and specialty bloggers who intrigue me.
I have online subscriptions to Outside and CURE magazines; I get Eating Well, Yoga journal, Women & Cancer in print versions as issued. My guilty pleasure of the magazine world is New York magazine – not something I read weekly, but at least one issue each month, cover to cover.
My Audible playlist could easily get out of hand – but I do tend to keep returning to the same titles there: Tony Bourdain’s ‘Kitchen Confidential’ and Bill Bryson’s ‘A Walk in the Woods’ are just two titles in a list that includes The Nanny Diaries, It’s Not About the Bike, and a couple of Diana Gabaldon novels.
On my coffee table (which often doubles as my nightstand) are cookbooks which I read as ravenously as others read novels – my current newest are Nigella Christmas and Anna Thomas’ Love Soup mixed in with Mollie Katzen’s Sunlight Cafe, the Farm Journal Cookbook and the Encyclopedia of Italian Cooking. Is there fiction there, too? Oh, yes, but far more often there is non-fiction.
Have to admit, though, that I’m a sucker for a juicy Michael Crichton, James Michener or Leon Uris novel – all 700+ pages of ‘em. I eagerly await the release of Jean Auel’s sixth book in the Earth’s Children (Clan of the Cave Bear) series. There are also two collections of the poetry of local poets.
My favorite book? That would be like asking a parent to choose a favorite child, Deb.
.-= Pat Steer (Gaelen)´s last blog ..Helping Haiti – thinking globally, acting locally =-.
We built our house with an entire large “library” room. And the books spill over into the family room, basement and my office. That’s what you get when two writers get married!
I’m reading my way through Will & Ariel Durant’s History of Western Civilization….I love these books. There is so much rich detail. I am reading “Ceasar and Christ” which is about the birth, rise and fall of the Roman Empire. It’s a fascinating read. Magazines? Along with my business magazines, I’ve got Lapham’s Quarterly, Arts Quarterly, Country Gardens, Hobby Farms, and Cooking Light on the stack. Depending on my mood it’s serious reading or browsing recipes.
Books. I love ‘em as I know everyone here does. It’s a good thing to know that I was not the only teenager who spent her summer vacation sitting in her favorite “climbing tree”, nose in a book, traveling distant lands and living the lives of the heroes and heroines I encountered along the way. They shaped my life, and I am proud to be called a “bookworm!”
The last work of fiction I read was “Any Minute”, by Joyce Meyers and Deborah Bedford. It was not the most “intellectual” book, however it was not intended as such, but it was a good and fast read that engaged me in the storyline.
My favorite book? Can’t say, but one book I remember vividly from my childhood was “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeline L’Engle. I still love sci fi!
.-= Anita Cooper´s last blog ..Real Estate Freelance Writer updated Thu Jan 21 2010 2:24 pm CST =-.
Wow..your childhood sounds great. Floor to ceiling books is what I aspire to have when I own my house. But currently in our rental home, living room is my book place. I spend all of my awake time here (except when I am at work), so my books stay here. But they are everywhere. Bookshelf, desk, coffee table, ironing board, dining table, end tables. Basically any spot I can find – oh yeah and in boxes under the desk too.
I am reading, three non-fiction books. One neuroscience, one writing craft, and another virginia woolf’s diary.
.-= Lost Wanderer´s last blog ..Book Review: The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) =-.
Someday, I’ll have my own office with wall-to-wall books. This is why I always buy my books, instead of going to the library. It’s my main splurge.
At the moment, I’m reading Just After Sunset, Stephen King’s latest book of short stories. I’m also reading Babeland’s new Moregasm book, so I can safely include it on a list of best sexual self-help books I’m putting together for YourTango.com. And of course, there are always the mags in the bathroom…at the moment, Wired and Real Simple.
My fave books of all time are Stephen King’s It and The Stand, Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer and, oh lord, about 5-10 other books. I don’t want to write a novel here.
Most of my day is taken up by working or commuting (I commute into an office three days a week). I can’t read on the bus because I get car sick, which drives me crazy! So mostly, I read at night, sitting up in bed, until I pass out, much to my husband’s chagrin.
.-= Steph Auteri´s last blog ..YourTango Is Hiring Editorial Interns. Put Your Career in My Hands. =-.
I just returned from a 3 week trip to Thailand where all i did was lie on the beach and read. It was pure bliss. The bookshops there are so cheap and i was reading a book a day. I read “The Almost Moon” by Alice Seabold which was fantastic, “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert, “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga and i laughed out loud to Danny Wallace’s “Yes Man” and “Friends like these”. At the moment i’m reading “Everything is illuminated”. Is there anything better than a good book? I dont think so.
.-= Amy Baker´s last blog ..Why am i so massive? =-.
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My mother was a librarian and ALWAYS had a book or magazine in hand and piles of things to read all over the house. I’m the same way–I get antsy if there’s nothing around to read! Current reads: “Town & Country” magazine, “Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef,” “Managing the Older Employee” (It’s very interesting–and scary–to see how Generation X’ers and Y’ers view Baby Boomers!), and “Of Mule and Men” by Mike Farell, who starred in “M*A*S*H.”
Most of my books are on my bed stand which I like to read during the night time. I am reading the Twilight series from Stephanie Meyer and I just love them! I think it brings out the teenager in me. I am also reading (Well,I guess you can say they are more of activity books with some reading) “Take Ten for writers” and “Writing the Life Poetic” both have helped me to begin writing again. On the waiting list placed on my entertainment center are “The Alchemist” and “Evermore” which I can’t wait to begin!
I think I have rediscovered the joy of writing and reading a good book. It is so amazing how a story can transport you to another world, you completely forget where you are in reality!