Books, books, books

[akissling]

Ok, we had a great thread about art related books we are reading. How about fiction and non-fiction, especially summer reading?
Here are some of my recommendations:
1"A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It will make you laugh out loud!!! It is a memoir of her life at the age of 10 (written with the thought process of a 10 year old too!) in a small town in Indiana and her crazy family. She is so good about writing about the funny and the not so funny but this is done so subtly.
2."And She Got Up Off the Couch" by Haven Kimmel which is equally funny and poignant and has the funniest description of how she and her sister dealt with a mouse problem in the house!
3. Anything by Betty McDonald (again memoirs). She lived in Seattle and wrote the childrens book series, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle that I adored as a kid. She also wrote "The Egg and I" that was made into a movie in the 40's. She is another person with a very QUIRKY sense of humor and she got into all kinds of funny situations. While her books were written over 50 years ago I think they really hold up today. Her other titles include "Anybody Can Do Anything", "Onions in the Stew" and "Who, Me?" These are certainly library finds!!!
I will add to this list as the day goes on but it should be fun to see what everyone else is reading! Even though I am a librarian (no, I can't read at work), I find it hard to carve out time to read (I actually feel guilty about it!!!) but in the summer I make a huge effort to do it!!!

[Nevermore]

Many people have fond memories of teachers but I have fond memories of librarians! I also have fond memories of libraries. My first was a small limestone building funded by Andrew Carnegie. The children's section was in the basement and at that time (over 4 decades ago) was very small. Since I wasn't buying books, I don't know if my impression of this is true or not, but I think that childrens' literature underwent a mega renaissance in the recent past and certainly the small branch library we now attend (which is not much larger than my first) has a childrens' section that is at least quadruple what mine was.

I came late to reading and was well on in my 6th year before I even started (a January baby, my schooling was pretty much delayed for a year). By the time I was 8 I had read every book in the child's section and had made a start on what my dad bought me (Tom Sawyer, A Tale of Two Cities, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Heidi) but it was a bit of a slogfest. So the children's librarian had a meeting with the adult librarian and they decided that I could go to the adult library and take out Agatha Christie. (Typical North American attitude: let the kid read all she wants about murder but for goodness sake keep her away from sex.) They figured that would take me a few months (we had strict lending limits--the first time I used the library in Toronto and discovered that there were no limits I went berserk).

Even the adult library was so small there was no need for imaginative shelving. Fiction was a section and Christie was there in "C". I quickly discovered that the adult librarian was flexible. She would let me take out anything from the poetry section which was essentially three shelves of Shakespeare. And she didn't say much as I slowly added a "B" here and a "D" there. Soon I had the run of the adult library. I attended every single week without fail walking the half mile or so there and back by myself. To this day, I go to the library at least once a month.

I have at least ten library stories but had to blether on. I believe that a good librarian has the opportunity to play an amazing role in people's lives.

[Nevermore]

Sorry, forgot to say I just finished Brother Grimm by Craig Russell. I am a murder mystery addict (light bulb pops off! hey, I just realised that might have everything to do with an 8 year old getting a steady diet of Agatha Christie!!!!!!) Set in Hamburg, Germany. Not a bad read. An unfortunate publishing decision to keep in the German for the police designations. For my English eyes, this was like tripping over a curb every line they showed up and there is no reason for it. Nothing else was kept in the German so I found that extremely annoying. The writing is not elegant but the author is giving it the old college try and gets points for trying. The saving grace is the plot which is built around the fairy tales the Grimm Brothers collected and on the conundrum of life imitating art imitating life imitating art. Tons of background info on the tales (I have no clue how much of it is decent research and how much literary license) which makes me want to find out more. And the fairy tale connection makes the whole thing seem like an altered art murder - mystery. I do not recommend it for anyone who doesn't have lots of room on their reading list but for those poor mortals like me who must digest x number of words a month or start withdrawal, not a bad find.

[Vania16]

Many people have fond memories of teachers but I have fond memories of librarians! I also have fond memories of libraries. My first was a small limestone building funded by Andrew Carnegie.

By the time I was 8 I had read every book in the child's section and had made a start on what my dad bought me (Tom Sawyer, A Tale of Two Cities, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Heidi) but it was a bit of a slogfest. So the children's librarian had a meeting with the adult librarian and they decided that I could go to the adult library and take out Agatha Christie. (Typical North American attitude: let the kid read all she wants about murder but for goodness sake keep her away from sex.)

Okay Raven, it is possible that we had nearly the same childhood LOL. I spent a significant portion of mine in a limestone library built by Andrew Carnegie too! I also had the joy of a meeting about what I could read! I read all the childrens' books at my school library and they decided that I would be allowed to read the biographies from the older kids' section. At about that point my parents started checking out adult books for me at the public library and I started making a second home there. I still have a little soft spot for Carnegie :)

As for what I like to read, I've been on a bit of a junk fiction kick lately LOL I'm actually reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons right now, not exactly Shakespeare, but entertaining.

[Nevermore]

Too neat, Lisa! I am with you re Carnegie. I know he was some kind of steel baron (and possibly even a baddie, I am not up on my robber barons or the like) but any guy that opened up so many paths to books for so many people had to be good! Hmm, should probably google the guy.

[akissling]

Speaking for all librarians (ok the nice ones I hope!) your compliments are appreciated!!! I love the idea of helping people whether it is finding a good read or information on a topic that is hard to find! It is the thrill of the hunt and making sure that the patron is completely satisfied that makes me come back every day! It is usually a full circle experience!!!
Yes, Carnegie was a wonder!! We have several libraries in our public system and they are so beautiful! I worked in one (http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/branches/corryville.html) (during my public library years) that was recently restored to its original splendor and it is magnificant!
Nevermore, I also got in trouble for trying to check out what they called circle A books before the system said that I was old enough! My parents had to sign a paper!! Can you imagine. The stuff my kids watch on tv today make MY hair curl so I can only imagine what they would have said 30+ years ago!!!!

[kygirl]

I continue to be amazed at all the members of this group have in common. By the middle of third grade, I'd read everything in the children's library twice, so they decided to let me into the adult books. There were a few times I had to tell them that the books were for my mother so they'd let me check them out. I'd take them home; she'd approve them; and I'd read books far beyond my emotional years. I read some of them today and finally understand the subtleties.
I'm a big mystery fan, too. Just picked up "The Bookwoman's Last Fling" by John Dunning, so I'll start that tonight.
Last night, I finished re-reading (for the 3rd or 4th time) Terry Pratchett's "Light Fantastic." I love these series of fantasy novels for their great wordplay. I admit it -- I'm a sucker for a good pun.

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

I continue to be amazed at all the members of this group have in common.

Yes Donna, me too!! I was also a child addicted to going to the library especially in the summer! In the city I grew up...Buena Park, California...home of good ol' Knott's Berry Farm, we had a 2 story library and I wasn't allowed on the 2nd floor until highschool! lol! But the Children's section was surely big enough to attain that...I would always check out the maximum books and I remember the feeling of leaving the library with a big stack of books in my arms!!! :D I believe those found memories actually inspired my desire to write children's books myself...I've only self published one but have so many others and ideas for others brewing!

What a great thread this is!! BTW...also a good and nice librarian also helped me along the way! ;)

[mishou]

Hmm. Can't say I quite relate to all of your library stories. Even as a youngster I displayed symptoms of this disease I have that causes me to not be interested in reading something unless I own it LOL Read a book and then give it back!?!? Um, NO! LOL There was a used book store conveniently located right at the end of my street so rather than go to the library I was always there buying books with my allowance money.

I've gone through several phases of "preferences". I read "Carrie" by Stephen King when I was 12 and that began a bit of an obsession. I think I must have read (and bought! LOL) every single book he ever wrote, though I'm totally behind now because that phase ended when I was about 15 or 16. In highschool I started in to my "Classics" phase.I think it's because my passion for history started to emerge at this age so I was immediately drawn to these books that were written so long ago. It wasn't until after I graduated from highschool that I ever got into modern fiction.

Not that I could ever have a "favourite" but just off the top of my head, here's a Top Ten List (in no particular order):

1. Angela's Ashes - Frank McCourt
2. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte
3. Fall On Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald
4. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
5. Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood
6. 1984 - George Orwell
7. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
8. A Tale of Two Cities - Charles ****ens
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon
10. The Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling

I refuse to put the Lord of the Rings on that list because I don't consider it fiction ;) Don't even try to convince me that hobbits never existed, okay?

The Mark Haddon one is the most recent one I read. It's written from the point of view of a 15 year-old autistic boy. Not that I have any idea what it must be like to be autistic but I found his portrayal absolutely genius.

And I'm not sure how popular they are in the U.S. but Margaret Atwood and Ann-Marie MacDonald are 2 really really great Canadian authors I'd highly recommend you look up if you can!

Hmm . .all this was fun to think about! Thanks for starting this thread . .. I think I smell a layout coming on . . .LOL

[skyescrapz]

As for what I like to read, I've been on a bit of a junk fiction kick lately LOL I'm actually reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons right now, not exactly Shakespeare, but entertaining.

Ok, Dan Brown may be junk fiction, but he writes books that grab you and don't let go. Angels and Demons was great. I loved it. When I picked up the DaVinci Code, I almost read non-stop until I was done. Talk about roping you in!

[skyescrapz]

Books, I could talk about books for days. Books and me... well it's been a love affair ever since I was able to read. I am a self-professed bookworm through and through.

What am I reading now? I just finished a book by someone I know, actually -- I'd put it in the chick lit category. Quite smart and funny. And it was based in the music business, so I had lots of reference points that drew me in. It was called Stupid and Contagious by Caprice Crane. I really enjoyed it. Not literary in the least, but I am a firm believer in reading things for fun just as much as reading things to learn and grow.

Besides that, it may be time to delve into the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley, which a friend loaned me over a year ago and which I kept setting aside as new books or projects came in that took my time and attention.

I will read a little bit of everything. I love fiction, fantasy, non-fiction, books on design, linguistics and language, psychology, sociology, Scotland (my favorite place on the planet), mountain climbing (no, I don't climb, I just like to read about it) and extreme adventure, travel essay, chick lit, historical fiction, art, etc. etc. etc.

I was always rather rather unlike Alice, who said "What's the use of a book without pictures and conversations?" Me, I'm all for the words. Bring on the words. Transport me to another place, another time, into someone else's mind, into a world that doesn't exist... Ah, I love books.

[Nevermore]

I haven't checked out the mad missions yet but I always wanted there to be a literary challenge and a music challenge. A 12 x12 or other square template always seemed ideal for album covers (I don't get inspired by CD covers--guess I am too old). I have probably covered off most of my favourites already. And I have done a fair chunk of poetry. But I haven't done books/book covers.

[akissling]

I like the sound of those challenges, Nevermore! That would be fun! Mishou, loved Fall on Your Knees! Love to see the Canadians "in the house" (my daughter is cringing right now!!). By the way if you are into Lord of the Rings here is my brush with greatness: my first cousin James Barr did the lighting of the miniatures in all three movies (it was made in NZ as everyone knows and most of my extended family is still there).
I really like that there are lots of types of books recommended here! I love the classics, Jane Austen for example, "chick" books, non-fiction...I could go on and on. It really depends on what mood that I am in!
Love all of the mysteries mentioned too! My Mom got me into Anne Perry a few years ago.
I am making sure to write down the ones I haven't read to add to the long list of good books to find!

[Nevermore]

Anyone who loved Fall on Your Knees will probably like As the Crow Flies. I actually recommend it (I hardly ever actually recommend a book so this is like ten stars from anybody else, lol). Have read the Mists of Avalon (didn't like her other stuff as much but this one is a zinger! Should generate a ton o' Arthurian ATCs!) I have devoured all the Anne Perry's, enjoy both of her detectives (did you know she was convicted of murder in real life? Only know the gossip and none of the facts but you gotta love that!).

Would not be possible for me to list even ten authors much less ten books. I would have to be able to do it in categories etcetera. Squishing together spy/police procedural/murder mystery:
1. Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine
2. Elizabeth George
3. Ed McBain
4. Jonathan Kellerman
5. Le Carre
6. Ian Rankin
7. James Lee Burke
8. P.D. James
9. Minette Walters
10.Robert Tannenbaum

Dislike Patricia Cornwall immensely, have a soft spot for Grafton, Paretsky, Chandler, Perry, ummm time to stop.

[Nevermore]

Trying to do fiction is going to kill me, have to divide it into at least pre and post modern. Of the old boys:
1. Eliot
2. Austen
3. Hardy
5. ****ens
6. Twain
7. Henry James
8. James Joyce
9. Virginia Wolf
10. Willa Cather

[Nevermore]

New boys:
1. Margaret Atwood
2. Alice Munro
3. Ann Marie MacDonald
4. Mavis Gallant (whoa nellie! All Canadian women--seriously not a patriot or a feminist, these are just darn good reads)
5. Faulkner (maybe should be old boy? We are not being very precise!)
6. Proulx
7. Anne Tyler
8. Timothy Findlay
9. Robertson Davies
10. Wayne Johnston

A surprising number of Canadians.

[Nevermore]

I am too weary to ponder plays, poems or non-fiction. And I could probably fiddle with the lists indefinitely (should Roddy Doyle bump Wayne Johnston? How on earth can I omit Rohinton Mistry? What about the brilliant one offs like Ford Maddox Ford?). I hope people are not distressed by my posting here and that they continue to post as I am always on the prowl for recommendations and I have seen several already that I haven't read yet...

[Vania16]

Ok, Dan Brown may be junk fiction, but he writes books that grab you and don't let go. Angels and Demons was great. I loved it. When I picked up the DaVinci Code, I almost read non-stop until I was done. Talk about roping you in!

I totally agree! One of my friends and I used to joke about books like that being the literary version of crack - can't remember where we picked that up LOL I read Da Vinci Code too - it was definitely a page turner! I feel that way about Dean Koontz too, I often find myself trying to speed read to find out what happens next :)

[CathyRose]

Well, thank you for my summer reading list. I am going to copy your favs and put the list in my purse for my next trip to the library. We have a small but well stocked county library here but I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, PA and went to a huge Carnegie Library every Saturday. When I was in grade school I was given the opportunity to attend art classes at the Carnegie Institute and every Saturday my dad would drop me off for those and I would visit the library after class and then take the bus home. (Those were the good old days when kids could take buses around town and your mom didn't worry as long as you showed up by dinnertime) I just ate up the books and took armsful home each week. I attended through high school so I read quite a lot of books. I have always loved reading and continue to enjoy reading a wide variety of books.

[Nevermore]

"One of my friends and I used to joke about books like that being the literary version of crack"

You are right, we are living in parallel universes. I have often exclaimed about the fact that books are my favourite drugs and that the only reason they aren't contraband is that most politicians are illiterate...

[Nevermore]

"Those were the good old days when kids could take buses around town and your mom didn't worry as long as you showed up by dinnertime..."

CathyRose, when I was 8 and it was summer vacation, my mom gave me a plastic tupperware glass of kool-aid and a sandwich. I hopped on my bike in the morning with my lunch and wasn't expected home until 5. I can't buy that freedom for my son for all the wealth in the world... She was a totally good mother, back then there was no crime in feeding your kid stuff like kool aid or peanut butter. We rode bikes without helmets and according to modern thought, it is nothing short of miraculous that we weren't all wiped out before our tenth birthdays...

[skyescrapz]

I grew up just outside of Pittsburgh, PA

Where, pray tell? I went to middle school and high school in the South Hills - Peters Township, actually. My brother and his family now live in Mt. Lebanon... Am curious about your locale. If you know digi designers, Roberta D'Achille used to live in South Hills. Small world!