recent reads

When I'm not writing...when I'm not edging and weeding, planting and pruning...when I'm not dusting, vacuuming and mopping...I like to read. The problem is that "There are so many books and so little time!" Nevertheless, I have made it through a few great books recently and I'd like to share them with you. Included in this list are:

"The God Delusion"

by Richard Dawkins

 

 

I'm happy to say that my faith survived this scathing, derogatory and intellectually challenging rant against the existence of God. The arguments and reasoning Dawkins, a devoted atheist, employs make all the sense in the world. He makes you think. He makes you wonder. In the end though, he still doesn't explain how SOMETHING came out of NOTHING and, to me, that leaves the concept of a supernatural creator open to possibility. Read this book at your own spiritual risk.

 

 

"Quiet--The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"

by Susan Cain

 

 

 

"Introvert" is my middle name. "Quiet" is my calling card. If you sometimes feel like a misfit or oddball because you like nothing better than to spend hours alone stringing words together, or if you'd rather take a book to lunch than dine with friends, or if you make excuses to stay in on weekends...you might just be an introvert. Relax! It's OK! You're in excellent company. And after reading this book, you'll be proud of your little niche in this senseless, noisy world.

 

 

"You Should Really Write a Book"

by Regina Brooks (agent with Serendipity Literary Agency) and

Brenda Lane Richardson
 

 

How many times has someone said that to you? Lately, I've used that line with a couple of my friends who have incredible stories to tell, but no desire to write. The thing I like about this discussion of memoir is that it breaks memoir down into various genres (coming of age, addiction/recovery, transformation, etc.) and it also deals with collaborative efforts in writing a shared memoir. My brother and I are in the early stages of writing a shared memoir of childhood illness and the divergent paths we took in life as a result of it.

 

 

"A History of the Present Illness"

by Louise Aronson





 

Louise Aronson is a Harvard medical school graduate and writer. In this book she shares stories and vignettes from the world of medicine from a very personal and compelling perspective. This is a beautifully written and touching study of our fragile human condition. As a physician, it rings true to me and my experience with patients and their families.

 

 

"Empower! Women's Stories of Breakthrough, Discovery, and Triumph"

featuring me

 

 

 

I don't feel as though I can claim this book as my own because my story is just one of 25 incredible stories by women who have overcome difficult challenges in order to find personal fulfillment and success. I'm actually reading it through for the second time already and I'm still astounded. In this book you'll read stories of poverty, life-threatening illness, discrimination, abuse, uncertainty, and longing from women who mustered the necessary strength to move on in their lives. Their courage and ultimate success are an inspiration to all of us. It is available at http://www.amazon.com/Empower-Stories-Breakthrough-Discovery-Triumph/dp/1482712253/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365899090&sr=1-1&keywords=Empower%21

 

Eight books are staring at me right now, wondering when I'll get around to them. Among them are: "The Lobotomist", "The Wisdom of the Body", "Say You're One of Them", "Open Heart" by Elie Wiesel, and "Tapestry of Fortunes" by Elizabeth Berg. I feel a week at the beach coming on...

 

What book are you reading? What book are you writing?

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I want to congratulate my soul-searching brother for completing the 2013 A to Z Blog Challenge this year. He finished by sharing this poem. I love it! "Z is for":

 

ZEBRA

“I asked the Zebra,

are you black with white stripes?

Or white with black stripes?

And the zebra asked me,

Are you good with bad habits?

Or are you bad with good habits?

Are you noisy with quiet times?

Or are you quiet with noisy times?

Are you happy with some sad days?

Or are you sad with some happy days?

Are you neat with some sloppy ways?

Or are you sloppy with some neat ways?

And on and on and on and on and on and on he went.

I’ll never ask a zebra about stripes...again.”

-- Shel Silverstein



Are you a reader with the desire to write...or a writer with the desire to read?

jan