Oct
22
My blogging buddy Fourier Analyist tagged me for a book meme. Go ahead and click on her link there and look at her book meme. If you’re afraid to click, let me present you with some very intimidating book-related images you would find there:
1,000 plus volumes. Stephen Hawking. The Tao of Physics.
Yeah, there’s no way I’m getting through this one without looking a little…um…what’s the word? Dumb.
But in the words of Popeye, “I am what I am.” So here goes.
Total Number of Books
Less than 100. Honestly? Probably less than 50. Julia owns more books than I do. Most of the books I read come from the library or are passed along. It is rare that I find one I purchase to keep.
Last Book Read
French by Heart: An American Family’s Adventures in La Belle France
by Rebecca Ramsey. It’s a lovely little book. You can read my review here. (That’s right! A review! Go read it. Leave a comment!!! It’s lonely without any comments. And cold. Oh, so cold.)
Last Book Bought
The last book I purchased was Girls Hold Up This World by Jada Pinkett-Smith for Julia. In fact, the last fifty books I’ve purchased have been for Julia. If you want to know the last book I bought for myself, well, it’s so sad. I honestly cannot remember. I can tell you it was probably a parenting book. Or a cookbook.
Five Meaningful Books
Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. I know this book by heart. I often recite it to Julia as we lay in bed at night. It’s inspirational and fun. It’s life, in the simplest terms. I’m tempted to recite this for you via video blog. (I’m very good.) Aw, but then you’d see how my cool haircut has grown out. And I need to pluck.
Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ by Daniel Goleman. The concept of emotional intelligence completely changed what it means to be smart. It’s a fascinating and important book that every human being should read. There is simply too much to say about it. You must read it.
How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Another must read. For everyone.
Christy by Catherine Marshall. This was the first book I read that really got inside me, took me to another place and changed the way I thought about things. It is the story of young Christy Huddleston who leaves her life of luxury to volunteer at a mission school in the impoverished Smokey Mountains of Tennesee and comes of age. The book is fiction, but is based on the life of the author’s mother. It is my favorite book of all time. I could read it again and again.
The Seven Secrets of Successful Parents by Randy Rolfe. This book is meaningful to me because it was exactly what I needed to read at just the right time. I was a new parent, completely overwhelmed by the fact that I was in charge of a life and desperately afraid that I would screw it up. This book helped ease my mind. It validated many of my choices and attitudes about parenting. It got me thinking about my long and short-term goals as a parent and what I needed to do to meet those goals, now and in the future. It’s a positive and inspiring book that helps me refuel when I can’t see past all the dishes and laundry that have piled up in front of me.
And then, that’s the end.
Posted in Mommy's Stuff |
Comments
How does this make you dumb exactly? I’ve never even heard of these books…I read crap like Stephen King or Dean Koontz.
No definitely not dumb. These sounds like great books. I read a lot, and I get all my books from the library too. I probably do have a little over than 100, but many are reference books, and collections (like Nancy Drew!!). I have not read many of these, but they sound intriguing. If you’re looking for a good novel, try Mr. Pip. I read it — and it was just stunningly beautifully written.
I think this is a lovely list and reflects your warm, loving heart and love of parenting. The stuff I read is all quirky and weird and a lot of it’s useless. I’m so glad FA tagged you! LOVED the list!
Good list. I like How to Win Friends and Influence People, good read! Oh, the Places You’ll Go is my all time favorite Dr. Suess!!! I’m such a dork, I love to read! I’ll even read the tampon box if there’s nothing else in the bathroom!
Girl, who has time to read these days? We even get our newpaper via the internet, unless I need to change the bird’s cage, than I make Larry buy a copy on his way home.
I’m trying to read The Other Boylen Girl when I have a moment of free time. Fantastic book. And I recently finished Water For Elephants. Also a good read.
I’m going to check out your favorite reads. I posted once about trying to slog through Jane Eyre. A literary classic. (NOT). I hated every word of it and felt like my eyes were pulling a refrigerator with every page turn.
I still love reading books except for the ones I’m required to reach which seems like a lot lately.
My favorite stuff to read is James Patterson & Dean Koontz. Well, and kids books. Lately it’s been all Halloween books.
BTW, thanks for the review. It was GREAT!
Okay smarty pants you are not going to make me feel sorry for you! Not even be calling me intimidating!! You actually get to read a book, in fact more than one a year! You even wrote a book review. The last time I did that I think I got an A- for it (Hint: they don’t give book reports as assignments in college!!) I just wish there were more English books that I could check out from our Dutch libraries. Then maybe our house would not be threatening to collapse from the weight of all the paper we have collected.
Love, love luuuv the Dr. Seuss book. It is my favorite graduation gift and I have bought dozens through the years.
As punishment when I was growing up, whenever I was fighting too much with my brothers, my mother made me read Dale Carnegie’s book. At that age, and because I was being punished, I didn’t get into it. But reread it years later and agree that it has some good points!
Seven Secrets is in the pile next to my bed (sigh). That might explain why I am having such trouble with DD1…
You are such a trip darlin’ and I’m so glad you played along!! But you forgot to tag someone and in my book that means your are still IT!! Hugs and laughter!!