A Word From the Wise (That's You!)

This morning, preparing for another workless day of work, I reached for a new book off my bedside stand and realized I have but two new books left. A stack of books waiting to be read is a comfort to the soul akin to a pantry full of canned goods in wintertime. Being able to see the bottom of the stack and the dust outline becoming more and more visible brings a feeling of panic. Even when I am not currently engrossed in a book, just knowing I have some in the wings, waiting for their moment, brings a sense of calm.

Before I begin my quarterly voyage onto Amazon.com to find a new set of books just waiting to be packed in cardboard and shipped to my door, I thought I’d see if any of my two loyal readers have recommendations. After fighting to finish Stones of Summer, I certainly can’t steer any further off course by asking strangers about their favorite books, so tell me what you’ve read and loved. Tell me what book you’d read again if you had the time. Tell me what you’d take on that proverbial desert island if you could only choose one book.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I think I may have commented on here a few posts back, I really enjoy checking in on you and reading your thoughts for the day. Thanks so much for sharing!

My $.02:
The Passion by Jeanette Winterson
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
White Oleander by Janet Fitch

Not sure what all you have read but those are a few of my favorites.
Unknown said…
not really sure what your tastes are ... i'm really into dean koontz. i've read most of his book. here are a few that i could read over and over again:

lightening
the bad place
strangers
the key to midnight
Poka Bean said…
i have to echo one of tracey's picks...if you haven't read white oleander yet, you need to do so. PRONTO. it's one of the best ever. i had a hard time reading books after it...everyone else's writing was so disappointing to me.

other favorites:
peace like a river by leif enger
little altars everywhere by rebecca wells (precursor to diving secrets of the ya ya sisterhood and one ZILLION times better)
into the wild by jon krakauer

if you ask my sister she will swear you need to read lonesome dove. i just bought it but haven't read it yet and must admit i'm a little skeptical but the woman has impeccable taste and promises you don't have to be into westerns to enjoy it. we'll see.

have fun picking. buy new books is the best!!
Amy said…
You guys are so cool!! Peace like a river rocked, I totally agree! And the two books I just finished (top two on the list to the right) were both sort of westerns, so I'll have to try lonesome dove!!

Thanks so much!!
Wendy said…
Lonesome Dove is very good. You'll like it.
Anonymous said…
i wish i had some recommendations, but alas, i don't get to read very often.

i'm sure you have read this but i thought i would give my two cents worth.... "me talk pretty one day" by david sedaris. anything he writes is great.
Katrina said…
Please, please read the Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers! It's historical fiction centered around the time of the first century church--the first book (titled "A Voice in the Wind") follows a young Jewish girl who is a new Christian, as she loses her family in the siege of Jerusalem and is taken into slavery in a Roman household. You will fall in love with the characters as they each spin out their unique stories, and the incredible detail of life in first century Rome just makes your jaw drop at all the research that must have gone into making it come alive. I am always so touched by this series--I re-read it every couple of years, and it never fails to impact me wherever I am in my life.

Definitely my desert island books.
Bearca said…
I am so happy that I just happened upon this post because I am Poka Bean's sister and this is yet another opportunity for me to evangelize Lonesome Dove as a fantastic book. LOVED it!

Other recommendations I have:
The Kite Runner (I think the author's name is Hosseini or something, can't remember exactly)
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
Anything by Augusten Burroughs, I love his writing

And I totally agree with you that having a stack of books waiting to be read is the BEST feeling.

Good luck!
Bearca said…
Okay, I am a doof. I just noticed that you have a list of your 2006 reads and the Kite Runner is on there already. So I guess great minds think alike on that one.

One more thing just came to mind - Have you read the book "Stiff"? It's about what happens to cadavers once they are donated to science. VERY interesting.

(don't think me morbid, it's a really interesting book and quite funny in parts!)

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