Kristin's List

I decided to join a new challenge, the Something About Me Reading Challenge This one sounds really interesting. Each participant makes a list of at least 5 books that tell something about them. Then all participants choose to read a selection of books (as few or as many as they like) from the other lists. What a cool way to learn about other people. I just didn't realize how difficult making my list would be! Anyway, here are some books that I think say something about me.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. This book is set in all my favorite places: libraries, used bookstores and archives. I share interests with both of the main characters, one loves to research and the other is a writer. The main reason I pick this book is that I really, really enjoyed it....I think it's one of the best new books I've read in years! (fiction)

Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert K. Massie. This is the book that started it all! Anyone who knows me knows that I love Russian history, particularly late Tsarist era/Revolutionary Russian history. Well, this is the book that sparked my interest. My senior year in high school I was writing a paper on hemophilia for health class and came across this book while researching. Robert Massie's research is impeccable and his writing make this book read like a novel. I still go back and read it from time to time. (non-fiction)

Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth about Miscarriage by Jon Cohen. I experienced five miscarriages before getting pregnant with Helen and this is the book I read during that time that I thought was the best. Jon Cohen and his wife also experienced multiple miscarriages so he writes with intimate knowledge of what miscarriage is like for a couple. He also includes current research about miscarriage and many stories of other couples who've experienced multiple miscarriages. I also appreciated that some of the stories he shared did not end with the woman successfully carrying a baby to term, sometimes that's just not the "happy ending" that a couple receives. Anyway, this is a good book, especially if you or someone you love has experienced multiple miscarriages. (non-fiction)

Generation Next Parenting by Tricia Goyer. This is a parenting book specifically about being a Gen X parent and how our parenting style differs from that of our Baby Boom parents. I actually won a copy of this book in a contest on one of my favorite blogs and I ended up enjoying it quite a lot. Tricia Goyer uses all kinds of fun 1980s pop culture references to make her points so, if nothing else, this book is good for a trip down memory lane. Really, though, Goyer provides lots of tips and encouragement for Gen Xers trying to raise godly children. (non-fiction)

Enduring Love by Ian McEwan. I'm choosing this book for a number of reasons. First, I had an ex-boyfriend who was kind of a stalker once so I'm familiar with the panic and fear the main character feels when being stalked. Also, I'm often plagued by the "if only" and "what if" questions of life, much like the main character. I am a huge Ian McEwan fan so I thought it was appropriate to include one of his novels here (if you don't want to read Enduring Love, I also highly recommend Atonement...it's probably better but I don't think it's exactly "about me"). (fiction)

Citizen Vince by Jess Walter. This book is about me simply because it is set in Spokane and features a lot of familiar locations. For the record, I am not an ex-con, I'm not in the witness protection program and I don't hang out with "women of ill repute." Still, this is a fun suspense novel with very interesting observations about politics (it takes place in 1980, right before the Reagan/Carter election) and life. (fiction)


I guess that's my list. It was harder than I thought it would be to narrow my selections down...there were so many more I could have included. I really wanted to include Pride and Prejudice (because I have a crush on Mr. Darcy) but I noticed that it is on another list so I decided not to repeat. So many books, so little time!