Encyclopedia of Me Monday: B is for...
What else~Books!
They excite me, inspire me, inform me, invigorate me, relax me, distract me from worries, and keep me company when I'm alone. My love affair with books began a when I was very small, and will last as long as I hold a book in front of me and read the words.
There are always at least two, sometimes three books piled on my nightstand~or more accurately, scattered throughout the house and even in my car! (Don't worry, I never read while driving, although I've been known to catch a paragraph or two at particularly long stop lights or stuck in a traffic jam.) I've usually got a novel going, along with a non-fiction book or two, plus at least one book on writing. Currently, my reading life is getting out of hand -in addition to all of the above, I've got some background material books to help me with revisions on my novel.
I've been keeping a book journal since 1996, a list of all the books I read during a month, with a "top 10" review at the end of the year. Occasionally, I'll look back to certain time periods and see what I was reading, which author was helping me get through a stressful time, or what characters were celebrating with me when things were good.
They excite me, inspire me, inform me, invigorate me, relax me, distract me from worries, and keep me company when I'm alone. My love affair with books began a when I was very small, and will last as long as I hold a book in front of me and read the words.
There are always at least two, sometimes three books piled on my nightstand~or more accurately, scattered throughout the house and even in my car! (Don't worry, I never read while driving, although I've been known to catch a paragraph or two at particularly long stop lights or stuck in a traffic jam.) I've usually got a novel going, along with a non-fiction book or two, plus at least one book on writing. Currently, my reading life is getting out of hand -in addition to all of the above, I've got some background material books to help me with revisions on my novel.
I've been keeping a book journal since 1996, a list of all the books I read during a month, with a "top 10" review at the end of the year. Occasionally, I'll look back to certain time periods and see what I was reading, which author was helping me get through a stressful time, or what characters were celebrating with me when things were good.
Here's what's been on my list this summer:
- Sisters of My Heart, Vine of Desire, The Uncommon Errors of Our Lives...Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
- Echoes of the Dance...Marcia Willett
- The River Queen...Mary Morris
- The Divide...Nicholas Evans
- The Post Birthday World...Lionel Shriver
- The Emperor's Children...Claire Messeud
- The Chinese Chef...Nicole Moins
- Shaggy Muses...Maureen Adams
- The Shoe Queen...Anna Davis
- Stormy Weather...Paulette Jiles
- The Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes...Cathy Holt
- It's Always Something...Gilda Radner
- Eat, Pray, Love...Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Right to Write...Julia Cameron
- On Writing Well...William Zinsser
Update: Just got home from my monthly trip to the library, and what a haul! Here's what I grabbed up...
- One For the Money...Janet Evanovich. Lots of people have been recommending her Stephanie Plum mystery series, so I got one in paperback to read on my next plane trip
- Kabul Beauty School...Deborah Rodriguez
- The Maytrees...Annie Dillard
- Sheer Abandon...Penny Vincenzi. I've been waiting for this one...this British author has a series of big, fat, historical family sagas that I can't put down
- Peony In Love...Lisa See
- Keeping the House...Ellen Baker
- The Water's Lovely...Ruth Rendell
Can't you tell how excited I am??? I admit it~I'm a pathetic book-a-holic :)
Labels: Encyclopedia of Me
posted by Becca at Sunday, August 19, 2007
9 Comments:
No surprise here ;-) It's interesting that you keep a separate book journal; I tend to just make mention in my regular daily journal and include lines or paragraphs that speak to my heart for one reason or another. Often I will come back to those passages because they continue to call to me--a lesson to be learned, thoughts on relationships, etc.
How is your revision going? I wasn't sure if you were going to tackle that.
A book journal is a wonderful idea Becca. I try and remember titles of fantastic books I've read and I draw blanks.
I will pick out a book and if it gets my attention in the first three chapters, my world disappears. I do not stop to eat or chat until done. I must have good timing to read. :)
XXOO
P.S. I wish you had time to give us a book review. I have trouble picking out good books.
This is a diverse list of books I need to branch out and read more variety. I've never kept track of what I've read. It's a good idea, though. Good for you.
Oh! I know now who to ask!! It is fabulous that you can fit so much reading in your life. Definitely something I aspire to do! Thanks for the inspiration, Becca. ;-)
Hi Becca-
I too am a book junkie. What a wonderful world it is to be a part of. I randomly keep lists here and there of what I read, but need to keep an official journal. I think I will start tomorrow.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Have you read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Rosenthal-it's a must read!!!
Wonderful mix of books!! Lovely, JP
Thanks, Becca! You always have so many interesting books to pass on. I think I could spend my whole life reading!!
Ooh, I like the idea of keeping a separate book journal. I always forget the salient points of what I read, alas.
So many of those books look wonderful...here's another one to add to your pile, "The Artful Edit" but Susan Bell. I am reading it now, and can say it's a fabulous book on the revision process. Highly recommended.
Thanks for the list. I will add them to my book journal. I am like you ... books everywhere!
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