this post is really about books

I can not tell you how much I dislike running.  I do it, 1) To keep in shape for my old lady soccer games; 2) To keep my weight in check and 3) To be healthy.

Truth be told, the order of the list is pretty accurate as well -- which I know is sad.

Another good thing about running? 

I see things I wouldn't normally see.  Example #1 -- Katie's desk.  

Example #2:  Last week I was running and went past this old fence which had an abundance of yellow wild flowers growing around it when I realized it was really picturesque.  

So, I dragged the kids out there later to take pictures of them.

Okay, onto what I wanted to write a post about...  Books (squeezed between pictures of my kids for the grandparents...)

Summer is approaching and I feel like it's time to starting reading some truly entertaining books.  While not a romance novel reader, I do tend to lean towards books that are well, a little on the "soapy" side.  I also love witty/funny books.

What are you reading?

Here's my current "To do" list which I may or may not tackle anytime soon.

1. Drop Dead Healthy - I really enjoyed his A Year of Living Biblically and look forward to getting my hands on this one, maybe when it goes to paperback.
2. Steve Jobs -- also one I'm waiting for paperback or perhaps for the library to have less than 75+ holds.
3. A Moveable Feast - I just finished A Paris Wife, and it's made me want to read Hemingway's account on his first marriage.
4. Gone with the Wind - I never get around to this one, and I don't know why. 
5. The Lord of the Rings - I've got a soft spot for the pseudo sci-fi/fantasy -- e.g., A Wrinkle in Time, Hunger Games, The Princess Bride, Percy Jackson -- and haven't gotten around to reading these (or even seeing the movies!) 

Here are my top 5 Favorite Fun (& Easy) Summer Reads

1. Valley of the Dolls -- A cult "classic" it's a step above a traditional trashy romance novel.  Think soap opera meets Sex in the City meets a lot of alcohol and pills.
2. Persuasion -- My all time favorite Austen novel.  Read (or re-read it), then watch the BBC series.
3. Tales of the City -- Fantastically entertaining first novel of a series about the crazy intertwined lives of a handful of people living in San Francisco in the 60s.  Saw it on stage a couple of months ago and it was great.
4. Orlando -- Don't be intimidated by Virginia Woolf, this novel made me laugh way more than I thought it would. 
5. Pride & Prejudice & Zombies -- While I don't usually like spin-offs or parodies of Austen, this one is totally worth the read if you are a P&P fan.  Plus, they are making a movie out of it next year if you can believe it.

While I'm making lists, here are three novels I think BBC should consider...

1. Shirley -- Love how strong Shirley's character is in this generally passed up Charlotte Bronte novel. 
2. Sandition -- What can I say, I'm an Austenite at heart.
3. Sister Carrie -- I found myself really liking this one and could see it being translated to the screen.

Katie is starting to read chapter books.  Any suggestions?

Happy summer reading!!!

summer reading

While I have a stack of books in my "to be read" pile under my nightstand, I generally have an audio book or two on my iPod for when I go running, or when performing something mundane like dishes.

I tend to download classics, because they are free.

I just finished Orlando by Virginia Woolf. Before now, I had never tackled anything by her. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated. But, I have to say I really enjoyed this book. It was funny and interesting.

To sum it up it's about a man named Orlando in the 16th century. He lives a very quirky life, oh, and he never grows old. And, then about a hundred or so years in, he wakes up as a woman -- and his/her life gets even quirkier. The book goes through "present day" (which is 1928).

I need some more classics to download on my iPod.

Do you have a favorite classic novel?

i am not a great reader, and I have pleasure in many things

I frequent two different book clubs.

I have to admit I almost force myself to participate in them because while I enjoy reading, I tend to gravitate towards authors that are -- well, dead.

The book clubs read more current literature which I feel I would ignore almost completely if it weren't for their picks.

I just finished Sandition by my perennial favorite author Jane Austen. It was a version that was completed by an anonymous writer since Austen died a mere 11 chapters in.

Not my favorite Austen book, but I did enjoy it.

I also just finished the audio book version of North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell. I mostly listened to it while working out.

However, as I got engrossed I found myself ignoring my family completely as I listened to it while performing such tasks as dishes after dinner.

The BBC film version of this movie is excellent.

I picked up an Edith Wharton book at the library and am going to tackle that next, but am looking to take up a more current novel as well.

What are you reading? What are your favorites?

library goodness

We had taken a hiatus from the library for awhile and just got back into the groove of borrowing books regularly again.

We're really liking some of our choices this time. Namely this book.

I love the illustrations, and the story is just charming.

It's the story of a land (a long time ago) that had no color.

The local wizard invents the color blue.

He paints his house this great new color to the envy of all the town.

Next thing you know.

The whole town is blue. But, after awhile the town starts to feel blue.

So, the wizard invents yellow.

The town goes crazy for the new color. But, after awhile everyone has a headache from squinting (yellow is very bright).

So, the wizard invents red and they literally paint the town with it.

But eventually red puts everyone in an angry and violent mood.

So, the wizard tries to make a new color but can only make those three colors which eventually spill into each other in the wizard's non-OSHA controlled basement and...

He invents all the colors of the world.

The town people wonder which color to use next, but the wizard insists they use all of them.

I may have to find this book and purchase it.

I would love to get some more books this holiday season for the girls.


What books do you love that maybe aren't in the Barnes & Noble Top 40? (because we have all of those -- and all those blasted Dora books too.)