I got to see this book art exhibit at BYU a few years ago. Inconceivable! (Really!)
I'm finally reading The Five Love Languages and I'm learning that I have the same problem with those languages as I do with English. (No comprehendo mucho.) Great book though. The other book I enjoyed recently was also non-fiction, which is odd because that's not typically my genre, but I loved The Gift of An Ordinary Day by Katrina Kenison. (Thanks to my gifting and extraordinary friend bigskyboys! And bigskyboys can now thank me for mentioning that book because now she doesn't have to leave a comment, since it is her recent favorite too.)
As far as novels, I've really struck out lately. I've been reading a lot of books set in the early 1900's, and so far nothing has jumped out at me. That's because the world is waiting for my next awesome book with a butt load of Gilded Age history to knock them off their feet. How long will the world have to wait for that untitled book? FOREVER. I don't know how to be productive anymore.
What books have wowed you lately? I want to read something that I just can't put down. I want to read something that makes me think of the characters for days or weeks afterwords. Can you guys recommend anything?
How about novellas? I've read a bunch lately, and I can't say I'm a huge fan. I like a more complicated plot and you just can't have that in a novella.
Just found this website with art that is carved into books. Again, inconceivable! Love, love, love!
What are your favorite books of all time? What genre is your favorite? What makes you like a character? What makes you stop reading a book and never have the desire to pick it up again? When was the last time you stayed up well into the night to finish a book? Do you still read on paper or have you gone paperless? How many books do you read a month? Do you always have a book with you?
Tell us all about your reading habits and tell us all about what books you love. And this is for posterity. I'm teaching a mini-class at a retreat this weekend all about books. I really want to share your favorites with everyone!
And, other friends who write--in case you missed it, check out my new blog The Mae Project, where I can show you what I did wrong in my first novel. Clicky clicky.
13 comments:
I think if I answered all of the questions you've posed here (and you know I have answers for all of them), then there would be no room left on your blog for other people to comment. So I'll just have to pick a few...
1. All I've read this year is church materials, blogs, and 20 pages of one non-fiction book (so far) called "The Happiness Project." I set a goal to keep up in my classes at church (R.S. and Gospel Doctrine), and it hasn't left me much time to read other things. Plus, I think I read a lot of blogs and online articles, but that doesn't give you much to show for it, except a lot of current events smarts, which is important.
2. My mom recommended this book as a can't-put-downer: Tongue of Fire. If you go to the facebook page of that title, I think you can download it for free. Mormon fiction.
3. Favorite series of all time: Fablehaven. Then, Children of the Promise and Hearts of the Children. Favorite genre: church fiction, non-fiction/self-help, and young adult fiction. And a couple of Jane Austen's books (she's a genre, right?).
4. I prefer to read hard-copy books, but read with technology when that's my only option.
5. I don't even know what a novella is. Is that crazy? I'm going to have to look that up.
6. I also love to read classics, though I don't do it very often. A favorite that I read recently was Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Next, I really want to read Phantom of the Opera, and Peter Pan.
I also want to say that I LOVE to read books that are written by awesome people that I know. Have you ever heard of Kevin Milne? I dated him in college and just found out that he's a very well-published author. Can't wait to read one of his books :). His new one, "The One Good Thing" sounds perfect for me!
Have a great day!
Reading has been on the back burner for a while around here, plus it's too nice outside to read anyway. Unless of course you're working on your suntan while reading but alas, I have a 17 month old and that would be impossible! Thx for mentioning my favorite book that's about all the new stuff I've got to offer. Although in light of Mother's Day this coming week I pulled out an old favorite "I am a Mother" by Jane Clayson Johnson. I'm always up for some inspiration in being a better mother.
Jenna: Yes, Jane Austen gets her very own genre! I'm always amazed how many Jane Austen spin-offs are out there. It's like a cult! :)I looked up Kevin Milne and the first google result was some old balding guy and I was worried for you Jenna! I didn't know you dated your professor! JK. That's awesome. His books sound kind of Nicolas Sparks-ish. Maybe people tell him he's the next Nicolas Sparks and that's his pet peeve! You should ask him.
bigskyboys: books and toddlers don't really go together. You read one paragraph before you get interrupted and then you forget where you were reading, so you read that one paragraph over again and then get interrupted AGAIN! We'll ask you what you're reading in a few years. I love that Jane Clayson book. I'll have too pull it off my shelf and read it again. Oh, and Sis. Hinckley's little quote book. LOVE that one.
I loved Wilder Times....but I also love The Walk Series by Richard Paul Evans. The third book just came out. I have ordered it and am waiting for it to come.
My all time favorite books are Harry Potter. If it's a cliche, I don't care. That was my generation and I am proud! Also, it's what finally got Steve want to read books with me and realize how awesome reading can be. I like fictional books, usually fantasy. The Hobbit and Tennis Shoes adventure series are good ones too. I generally don't get to read very often, but the last book I read was my hypnobirthing book and a couple other pregnancy books. Exciting, huh? We started reading the Hobbit together, but we haven't picked it up for awhile. Oh, and I did read The Reign of Trees. I love books that suck me in and make me completely addicted. Books that I can get lost in and lock out the whole world and can't put down until I finish.
I currently ( like right now)SHOULD be reading Zakaria's History of liberty and chapter 4 of my family management book but no me gusta! Gag me with a spoon! Seriously, find me something LESS interesting to do! I'm also reading the Happiest Toddler on the Block for my Infants and Toddler class which I like almost as much as a book I'm read for fun.
My fun book (when I finally get back to it) is called Fairest An Unfortunate Fairy Tale. by Chanda Hahn(I actually had to whip out my kindle and check because I couldn't remember exactly.)
One of my favoritest books is It's a Mall World After All. It may be a shallow title but it's an awesome book. I also love the Enola Holmes Mysteries. I could read several of those in a row and not get irritated with the characters or the story line. (I have that problem with a lot of series; TV shows, movies, music, books. Variety is the spice of life, right?) I also love The Wedding Planner's Daughter and Fairest(which is not and unfortunate fairytale) by Gail Carson Levine
Well, Lori, do you want your ego stroked? Cuz I like your books for the suspense and humor. You are really good. Fo real.
I recently completed the entire standard works in a year. That was amazing! I also fit Unbroken, Night, and Team of Rivals into that time period. I then rewarded myself with The Price We Paid. Guess it looks like I'm a historical and biographical reader. I do love books that cause me to learn and improve!
My go-back-to books are the 7 Habits books, Positive Parenting, Teaching No Greater Call, Student Manuals of the scriptures, Covenant Hearts, The Broken Heart & Jane Austen. Oh, I also like books about fun trails to hike/bike.
LStevens: Brownie points for you! You have almost enough for an entire batch! (Does anyone really keep track of brownie points? Because I'm thinking that would be the perfect incentive plan for teenagers. They might actually clean their room if they knew it got them 3/4's of a pan of brownies!)
Nicole: Did you know a Psych book just came out yesterday? Written by Shawn and Gus. I must buy! My 9 yo is hoping it's an easy read because he wants to read it too. I'm thinking they should do an entire line of middle grade readers with them solving mysteries. Wouldn't that be awesome? What is hypnobirthing? Is it exactly what it sounds like? Intriguing! Back in my day, the only form of birthing was in the back of a moving covered wagon. :)
Devree: What happened to reading War and Peace in college? Maybe you need to change majors. I'm going to look up all those books you mentioned (except for the boring college ones). I like fluffy fun reading too.
Paulashawn: Brownie points for you too! Come over to my house to claim your batch before the boys get home! Reading through your list makes me feel like a simpleton. Why don't you bring some of those books with you when you come over to eat your brownies? I'll just need to borrow them for the next 10 years, because that's how long it will take me to read all of them!
I love to read. The pure entertainment books I have read lately are usually free ones I find for my kindle. I just recently finished a free book on Kindle called Secrets by Kristen Heitzmann. I really liked it.
I have also been into Amish books lately by Beverly Lewis. Not sure what got me hooked, but The Abrams Daughters series is really good. Oh, I think the first book was a free kindle book as well, but they are all at the library.
I am not particularly fond of Novellas.
And I will put a book down pretty quick if it has inappropriate intimacy or swearing.
I am trying to cut back on my entertainment reading and focus more on doing activities with the children since the weather is so nice.
Livingstonslifeinmt:You love to read? I never knew this about you! :) I'll look up Secrets, that sounds good. It's funny how popular Amish books are. Good thing I'm not a literary agent or I would have turned those books down and said "no one is interested in Amish books." And then I would have been fired! Should I do a rain dance so you can have a rainy day to sit inside and read? Nawwww.
I recently read "Les Miserables" and it was incredible. I had always been afraid to start it, because I didn't think I'd finish it or that it wouldn't be something I would really like. I'm so happy I finally did. Although, there were chapters that were just words on the page! But mostly a beautiful, sad, inspiring story.
Paulashawn mentioned Unbroken and I loved that as well. The author also wrote Seabiscuit and I really enjoyed that too.
I love Jane Austen, particularly Pride and Predjudice. To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hiding Place, Alicia-My Story are some other favorites. I loved the Harry Potter series, which is quite a bit different than all those other books!
Janice
Janice: I started Les Mis last fall and I'm still on page 1. :( I need to get cracking. If someone wrote a book with Harry Potter getting sent back to Jane Austen's era, would you read it? (By that someone, I don't mean me.) I think it would be funny. It could be called The Prisoner of Northanger Abbey. Or Harry Potter and The Order of Pride and Prejudice. Or ... (you need to come up with the titles. My brain has decomposed.)
No post this week?! What did I miss?
Post a Comment