This might be the hardest “me” post when dealing with activities in my life. Books are my addiction, in any shape or form. I love books, even just to hold them. This is probably why I have absolutely no interest in any of these Kindles or Sony Readers and so forth. What fun is a book that you can’t feel the pages turning between your fingers? What fun are books you can’t see lined up on your shelves, knowing they are there, always, and not something that might vanish on a technical glitch?! My bookshelves are full. In fact, I have books stacked neck high from the floor all around my shelves. Someday I’d like to have a study with floor to ceiling bookshelves, and one of those ladders on wheels that attach to the top shelf. Knowing me, I’d fall off, but that’s okay. Nothing beats that image in my head.
So here we go, no set number of facts, just me and books.
To Kill A Mockingbird is my all-time favorite book. Why? I can’t really tell you that. I’ve no clue. I know when I was in about 7th grade I pulled this book off my mom’s shelf and sat down to read. I finished it that night. I read this book every year. My first copy became so tattered that the spine was falling apart, and I had to hold it together with a hair band. My oldest son was almost named Atticus. And even outside of reading, this book and movie have brought me a little pleasure here and there. If you are wondering, read my past blog on the book, right around Father’s Day.
The Tao of Pooh is another book I read frequently. How can you not love the thought of Winnie-the-Pooh as a Zen Master?! This is just an amazingly easy look at how just to “be” in life. Don’t over think. Just live peacefully. My absolute favorite quote comes from Benjamin Hoff in this book: “I think, therefore I am confused.” To me, this just sums myself up pretty good. I think way too much.
Anything Dean Koontz. I am a Koontz fanatic. I’ve read so many of his books, that sometimes I get them jumbled. Watchers started it for me. Again, I was right around 8th grade and searching mom’s shelves. I picked up watchers and have been a fan since. In my opinion, he is Steven King with happier endings. Koontz also went to college at Shippensburg, where I had lived while mom was in college there. He has a tendency to talk about Pennsylvania areas, which makes it more real for me. His Odd Thomas series has become one of my favorites.
Growing up The Princess Bride has always been one of my favorite movies. It never occurred to me that this was a real book. As soon as I discovered this, I ordered the book. Well, I ordered the abridged version by William Goldman. And it took one of my all-time favorite stories to a new level of love. I was lucky when ordering that I happened to pick the 25th Anniversary Edition. Goldman makes a lot of asides in this version, telling what the story meant to him, and the pains and joys he came across in abridging this, and making the movie. I learned that the characters I loved so much were in fact real people at one point in time. There really are Cliffs of Insanity (which Andre’ the Giant climbed) and a Fire Swamp. There is a museum in the land just for this story. And the story of the grandfather and grandson? Yep, it was Goldman and his father.
Yes, this is a child’s book. I read it as a child. I still read it on occasion. Even if you didn’t have hateful parents, or an evil headmistress, what child didn’t want to have what Matilda gained? The movie version of this is really good, but nothing compares to the darker form in Roald Dahl’s writing.
A comic book? Yes it is. I think I was about 10 when I was given this. I used to sit and wait for Pappy to finish reading the newspaper at night, just so I could read the comics. I loved Cathy, and Garfield. But Calvin and Hobbes was always my favorite. When this book came into my hands, my love for it expanded. I still use the term “heebie jeebies” because of the opening sequence here. I think The Far Side is the only comic book series that has come close to my love of Calvin and Hobbes.
Would you like some honorable mentions? Too bad, you are getting them anyway.
Alice In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass: Because it is Alice, and who wouldn’t want to slip for a short while from this crazy world, into an equally crazy, yet fun land.
The MacMillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends: I am a mythology addict. I’ve read the stories in this book so many times over the years. This is the only reason I took Latin my senior year of high school. I knew there was a semester of Roman Mythology included. At the same time we did a semester of Greek Mythology in English class. Probably one of my favorite times in high school studying.
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places: I have a wild imagination. This book is awesome for taking my favorite places and putting them in one spot for me to explore.
The Lord of the Rings: And this includes The Hobbit for me. I’d never read the books until the movies were becoming big. After I’d seen Fellowship of the Ring, I decided to read them. And read them, and read them and read them….
A Wrinkle in Time: My mom had a bird shop when I was in high school. Yes, a bird shop. She sold exotic birds and supplies. The store was named Shakin’ The Tree after a Peter Gabriel song. Up until the day the sign was printed, it was going to be called “Tesseract.” We were both obsessed with this book. Eventually we ended up having a little runt of a cockatiel named Mrs. Whatsit. She turned into a beautiful full-grown lutino. Fitting.
The Chronicles of Narnia: I read them pretty young and was hooked. Now that the movies are coming out, my oldest is very interested. We’ve decided that this year before bed I’ll start reading them to him. Narnia here I come. With company.
Books I’m not ashamed I love. Seriously.
The Southern Vampire Series: You would probably know these as Sookie Stackhouse novels, or the book version of True Blood. I have no cable. My uncle lent me Season 1 of True Blood when it was released, and I was hooked. Since I had to wait a year for Season 2 to be out, I decided to read. And read I did. I buzzed through all 9 and I am now waiting, not so patiently for more. This isn’t my typical kind of book. I’m not a romance novel person. But this has that. And gore. And sex. And mystery. I love it.
The Twilight Series: Yes. I said that. I love these books. I read them before the movie. And I like the movie, as a visual aid. So you don’t like sparkly vampires. Stuff it. I think it is a pretty original idea on a subject so many have just basically rewritten time and again.
What am I reading at this moment?
The Neverending Story: Again, this is one of my favorite movies. I just started reading it, and I am fully hooked. A tiny part of me really wishes I could be a part of the story the way Bastian did. I guess a tiny part of me really is.
And what is sitting stacked next to my desk, awaiting their turns?
The Last Unicorn: I saw this cartoon movie when I was pretty little. And I absolutely loved it. Now I’m hoping to add this book to my list of loves.
Watership Down: Another cartoon movie I loved when I was little. I even had a kitten named Violet after the one rabbit. So I raided mom’s shelf, and here it sits waiting for me.
Helter Skelter: Simply because I’m really curious. I want to know about the craziness that was the Manson Family. Another I’ve swiped from mom.
Illusions: When I was little, my mom had a quote in a notebook I found. “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.” I love this. And so, I “borrowed” another book from mom to find out what it was all about.
The Te of Piglet: This is the second novel by Benjamin Hoff, right after The Tao of Pooh. I love the first book so much, I really want to explore his thoughts on Zen further.
The Wizard of Oz: Who wouldn’t want to read this?!!
And many, many more….
Okay, I’m done. Well, I’ve done what I was able to. Honestly, you’d be reading a novel if I were to put all my thoughts on books here.
I am so curious what all my friends are reading, but I’m going to only pick 3 here. Simply so I can leave them for each other to tag as well.
Your it (because I know how much reading means to you too):
Lori #mce_temp_url#
Phil #mce_temp_url#
Doc #mce_temp_url#
loved it!
i disagree with some of your assessments (hello, LoTR) but i love that you feel the same way about books that i do 🙂
thanks for the tag on this one, Chrissa 🙂
You don’t like LoTR?! That shocks me. But I know we’ve talked about books so much. I thought you’d enjoy this one!
I loved this post. That is all.
🙂 I’m glad you did! Books are an important part of me. And a lot of people I’m glad I know feel the same way.
I loved the Lord of the Rings – actually I will keep my anecdote for my tag reply.
The Te of Piglet is good but not as good as the Tao of Pooh…
I can’t wait to get started on this, thanks Chrisinda : )
You’re welcome Phil! I’m anxious to see what you have to post!
i loved this post! loved it.
To Kill A Mockingbird and The Dao of Pooh are my favorites! 🙂
annie
Thanks! This was hard, but definitely a fun post to write.
Nothing can replace the feel or smell of a book. You can’t turn the pages of an e-reader; you can’t put a funky little bookmark between chapters of a Kindle.
I agree! I can understand the thrill of technology with those, and instant ability to read, but nothing replaces actually having the books.
I love this list. The only thing about a Kindle says the new father is that you can read one-handed…hold the device with one hand, hit a button and “turn the page”. True, it’s nothing like actually having a book in your hands – but it means you can still read.
I just read The Last Unicorn…a very, very well written tale. I’m working my way through the Alice adventures (just finished “Adventures in Wonderland”…reading “Into the Wild” before picking up “Looking Glass”).
Knowing what I know of you, you need to add the Percy Jackson saga…yeah, they made a craptacular movie based on it, but the books are really good. The Red Pyramid, by the same author (Rick Riordan), was a very enjoyable read as well.
And, the one book that absolutely changed the way I live my life – Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. It’s a kind-of sequel to American Gods (which I thought was just ok), but is a completely standalone book. His kid’s stuff (Coraline and the Graveyard Book) are phenomenal.
I ❤ books.
I do like the thought of the Kindle for that reason. And because it is book related, it fascinates me. I just can’t get past not seeing the pages turning, or holding onto that book as I go. 🙂
I’ve heard of the Percy Jackson movie, but I’ve never seen it. I’ll definitely be checking out the books. I love anything new to read.
Neil Gaiman should have been on my list of must reads, because it is actually. I’ve seen Coraline, and I follow Neil on twitter and really want to read what he has. I get so tangled up in books that sometimes I forget the ones I really want. Probably because there are so many. I also left off Hitch-Hiker’s Guide on my list.
I am a book addict. As much as I love movies, books far surpass my obsession with them.
Thank you!