I love to read. I love navigating my way through a thick plot, losing myself in the characters, flipping pages uncontrollably, without even realizing. I can travel the world and take a walk in any shoes while reading a book.
My love for books has not diminished over the years. Now, there is so much content being read across the Internet, sometimes my eyes just can’t even grasp the idea of pulling out a book and diving into yet another place to read.
I am writing a new chapter of my life – the chapter I’m entitling, “Do what you love.” Sounds easy enough, right? It’s actually quite complicated and takes a little more focus and determination than just deciding it. It’s requiring me to define what I love. And then introducing this love into my life every day.
First thing on my list of loves? Reading.
I am currently halfway through India in Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert. Yes, I know I’m jumping on the bandwagon a bit late, but I’m making progress. And loving it.
These are the books left unread on my bookshelf:
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein
Outside the Box, by Lynn Sterr
On Writing, by Stephen King (I’ve read this book before, but not at a time when I could fully appreciate)
The Snowfly, by Joseph Haywood
When You Are Engulfed in Flames, by David Sedaris
Baby Proof, by Emily Giffin (she’s already came out with a new book… I’m so far behind!)
Vanishing Acts and Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Piccoult (my favorite fiction author)
Make Money Not Excuses, by Jean Chatzky
The Lovely Bones and Lucky, by Alice Sebold
The Accidental Billionaires, by Ben Mezrich (I’m really excited for this one)
Freakonomics, by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson (I know, I’m way behind the times with this one, too)
Have you read any of these? Which would you pick for my next checkmark in my chapter?
Sidenote: after looking all of these books up on Amazon, I discovered every single one of them is four stars. I must have good taste in books!
Confession: I just totally bought half of these for my iPad after reading this. I bought the ones that sounded good but not too girly. LOL.
I’m sure we have similar tastes in books so this is exciting.
I love it! Let’s coordinate what books we read next so we can talk about them! You in?
Sure but fair warning….It will take me 6 months to read the books you listed. I read a page on my iPad about one every 10 minutes x 633 pages so it’s like 100 hours to read a book like this one
http://www.amazon.com/Too-Big-Fail-Washington-System/dp/0670021253
so sometime around december, we can meet up and discuss these 😛
Fair enough. I’ll try and keep up! 🙂
I have read The Lovely Bones, and really liked it. I mean, it’s hard to say “I loved” a book like this one which is filled with such a sad story. The “on the edge of your seat” feeling I got throughout this book is what kept me going.
I haven’t read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo either! It is definitely on my list of must reads! I want to find the audio book, which is the best way to quickly “read” a book like that!
The Accidental Billionaires sounds good too! I might need to borrow some books from your library! I see a book swap in our future!
Definitely down for a book swap! I still need to borrow Delivering Happiness from you! Ugh… too many books to read! Makes me wish I had a long commute to work every day…
Ooh, so many good choices! The Steig Larsson books are incredible but you will NOT be able to put them down (there are three out now)! The Alice Sebold books are good, although Lucky is hard to read. David Sedaris is one of my favorites to 🙂
I figured I’d start with the first in the Trilogy! Sounds like I picked some good ones – I’ll definitely keep you posted as I read!
I read “The Art of Racing in the Rain” not long ago. It was right after we put Dusty down. Not the greatest timing ever, but I truly enjoyed the book. It is written from a dog’s perspective, a style choice I found to be quite interesting. I learned from a dog’s perspective, the only difference between a dog and man is that man has a thumb. You’l have to read the book to find out the significance of this discovery. I think you’ll enjoy this book a lot and it’s a very fast read. The rest of your list looks very good. I hope, as you finish a book, you’ll share your impressions of the book here. In the meantime – Do What You Love!
I believe the copy of “The Art of Racing in the Rain” is actually yours! I will definitely let you know how I like it – I’m sure it will be hard to read even though we put Dusty down a while ago 🙁
I’m planning on posting book reviews as I finish them – it seems there’s definitely an interest! And, of course, the really good ones, you’ll have to read, too!
Freakonomics is *SO* good. I think that should be the next book you read. I just finished it, and I am reading Delivering Happiness next (thanks to sanfrancisconoobs.com), but then on to SuperFreakonomics.
I’ve heard it’s amazing! I had to get it! I need to borrow Delivering Happiness!!! I am anxious to add that to my list as well!
I haven’t read all these books, but I have read “When You are Engulfed in Flames” and “Freakonomics.” BOTH of those are amazing… David Sedaris is just plain hilarious, and “When You are Engulfed in Flames” is mostly about his life living in NYC, which I think you’d like since you recently moved to a city! It is a very easy read too. “Freakonomics” is a very interesting book- it will change your perspective on a few things. I started reading “The Art of Racing in the Rain” when I worked at Starbucks and it was on sale there, but I never finished it. Good luck with all your reading! I have a summer reading list of about 15 books! We’ll see how many I actually read! Currently, I’m reading “Precious” (see, I’m late on the bandwagon too!).
Miss you!
I’m excited to start the reading journey! You should, too! I owe you an email, as well. Can’t wait to catch up!
I used to read so much more! I guess there’s no better time to start again than now. Just finished “Delivering Happiness,” actually. 🙂
Exactly. I’m literally carving 30 minutes a day out just for reading. Putting it in my calendar and everything! I’ve heard great things about that book! Seems like everyone in SF was reading it. I read your review! 🙂
I want to read Delivering Happiness. Let me know when to start, neighbor! 😉
Will definitely do! We could have a Tweet-up, Read-up! 🙂
THE LOVELY BONES.
Omg. I hope you didn’t see the movie. READ IT ahhhh. And Lucky is intense and disturbing but still good…if that’s possible. Raw I guess is a good way to describe.
I haven’t seen the movie! I always like to read books first. I like the pictures my imagination comes up with better than the force-fed ones! Excited to dive into them all!
I’ve read Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and while I didn’t think that it was an amazing work of literature, I found it to be entertaining and engaging. The David Sedaris book is funny–like all of his books–but when you read too many of them, you start to think of his stories as formulaic. So, eh.
Hm, the Sedaris book came recommended, so I’m very interested in your perspective. Haven’t read anything he’s written. I’m excited to cross some of these off my list!