Soleil from Jehara

Okay, I have finally narrowed my list down to the following five:

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath-I love Plath's poetry. And her prose writing is just as good. She was the first poet I discovered in high school. It was "Mirror" that touched me and I have been a fan ever since. I can relate to her struggles. Her depression, her suicide attempts. She was smart and brilliant and literary and while I will not go so far as to say I am brilliant, I am literary and very intelligent.

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler-Theatre is my life. Eve Ensler is one of my heroes. She has used made this play into a vehicle for raising money and awareness with her ultimate goal being to stop violence against women and girls. I directed and produced this in college as part of the VDAY college campaign and that's when I realized that I could use my art to help people. And that is what my best friend and I have been doing ever since we started our theatre company. We donate proceeds from each show to SafeHaven of Tarrant County and right now we are working on a piece about the Juarez murders and will donate our proceeds to an organization that we are working with that is based in Juarez.

I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles-I love reading biographies and fictionalized biographical accounts of strong women. Elizabeth I is another one of my heroes. She was a strong and amazing woman. And I love how well the author fleshed out her life and gave her a voice. I could almost believe that I was reading Elizabeth's own words.

Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block-She is one of my favorite authors and I can relate alot to Weetzie Bat. She is quirky and fun. The writing is lyrical and magical. And they eat wonderfully creative and fresh foods. All of that is me.

Le Petit Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery-This is one of the best books ever! I love France. I love the language. I love the people. I lived there for a bit. I miss it. I harbor a little French girl somewhere inside. And the story is amazing. I love the little drawings and the way the prince speaks about grownups. I still don't feel like a grownup and I have made some of the same observations he makes about them. And the book is available in English.

So there is my list. ;)

A Question...

After August 1st, how long does the challenge last? I have read every single person's list here and there are 18 books I want to read so far (and some I would want to read if I hadn't already, thank goodness I've already read many of them), and people still have a month and a half left to post more lists! If the reading part of the challenge only lasts a month, I need to narrow it down, but if it goes until the end of the year, I'm in fine shape. So, what is the deadline on the reading part?

Five Books About Booklogged

I know I've been slow in posting my selections for this challenge, but I had a hard time deciding. Here are the five books that tell something about me.

1. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

I really like Lois Lowry, both as a person and an author. The other reason I chose this book is because my ancestor are from Denmark, which is the setting for this story.

2. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread by Kate diCamillo

Sometimes I feel the size of a mouse trying to conquer problems that are so much bigger than me. My tools seem silly and inefficient, sort of like Despereaux's needle and thread. And sometimes my goals are not realistic in the same way that Despereaux had his heart set on marrying the princess.

3. From the Corner of His Eye by Dean Koontz

Dean Koontz is my "chocolate" author. His books are like comfort food. When I pick up one of his books I feel like I'm "home". I know I'm going to being entertained and fully immersed.

This is one of my favorite of Koontz. He has a way of describing and defining good and evil. And I agree with his concepts in those regards. He helps us realize that we could be heading down one or the other path with the seemingly inconsequential decisions we make everyday.

4. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

I have similar religious beliefs with those expressed by C.S. Lewis in The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia. I think this little book instructs us in the methods used by the devil to gain our souls through the exchange of letters from Screwtape and his Uncle Wormwood. Screwtape is apprenticing and Wormwood is instructing.

This book reminds me that there's a battle going on between good and evil. I need to be mindful of the voices and promptings to which I listen.

5. Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading by Maureen Corrigan

Mostly, I like the title on this book, although I did enjoy reading Corrigan's thoughts concerning some of the books she's read.

Sometimes in the evening I will pop up a bowl of popcorn and sit down to read. Everyone in the family knows that is not the time to disturb me - I'm reading.


I will have these books posted on my sidebar as well as the 5 books I'm going to read from other's lists. You can see them at A Reader's Journal. Look towards the bottom of the left sidebar.

JMC's Five

This challenge sounds like fun. I've already found some of the ones I want to read when the challenge starts. I'll be diligently working through the pile on the floor beside my bed so I can devote the time to this challenge come August first. Here's my list:

Beach Music by Pat Conroy
I chose this book because it is my absolute favorite book. I'm from the area in SC where it is set, and I feel that Conroy captures it perfectly. I love when you're reading a novel and can completely relate. I even recently wrote a post about it. Also check out another of my posts about the Cooper River Bridge. It's brief mention in the novel actually plays a large role throughout, because of what happened on it.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Okay, I haven't read this book since high school, but I chose it because strangely enough, I do think about it quite a bit. Mainly because, while I would NEVER consider committing a crime, I do often think about if I DID want to commit the perfect crime, how would I go about it. It wouldn't be easy considering all the advances in forensic science. Just a little mental exercise you may want to try as you're standing in line behind that person with a full grocery cart in the 15 items or less lane.

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
I just recently re-discovered Dean Koontz. I didn't care much for his earlier work, where he is trying to channel Stephen King, because I don't usually like the supernatural intertwined into my murder mysteries, so I had given up on him. Then a few months ago, I picked up something else by him, and while it still had a little supernatural stuff going on, it was a compelling read. So I gave him another chance, and I am now enjoying his newer stuff, particularly the Odd Thomas trilogy, of which this is the first novel. I chose it here because of the dry sense of humor interspersed with non sequiturs in the dialogue of the characters. It's my sense of humor exactly, which is why it is so difficult to find anyone who understands just exactly what the hell I am talking about.

The Redhead Handbook by Cort Cass
I selected this book because I am a redhead. I hated my hair as a kid. I can still remember when I was elementary school age, being out in my yard and having high school boys ride by on their bikes yelling, "I'd rather be dead than be red on the head." Nice boys, they were. And I actually was a redheaded step-child. Anyway, now I love it. It is unusual. Other people want it. Other people have to dye their hair to get it (and it doesn't always turn out so well). There are songs written about it, there are books written about it, there are entire photo anthologies devoted to it. Now, being a redhead is great. Except for the sunburn. That part sucks.

And finally...
Stick Kid by Peter Holwitz
Yes, it is a children's book. But hey, it'll only take you a few minutes to complete one of the other people's books you are supposed to read. It's like a college crip-course. Easy "A." All that aside, there is actually a good reason why I chose this book. This is a fantastic children's book. I have children. Four of them. All girls. The stick kid in this book is a boy, but the sentiment is the same. It made me cry. It will make you cry. Unless you are cold and heartless.

And there you have it. After you read these books, you will know all there is to know about me. Except these things. And some others that I won't mention here or there, but maybe you'll find them in one of BookishJudith's five books: Postsecret. ;)

My 5 books

I had a tough time coming up with my list because I can't remember everything I've read and I really wanted to choose books that 1) I've read 2) I liked 3) represented me. So without further ado, here is my list, in no particular order:
1. Beach Music by Pat Conroy. This is my all time favorite book and I have read it a few times. I chose it because like one of the characters, my father was a holocaust survivor, although I don't think I'm as messed up as the character is by this.

2. Chocolat by Joanne Harris. Chosen because I love chocolate!

3. Good Grief by Lolly Winston. I chose this book because like the main character I live in Silicon Valley and came because of my husband's job.

4. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I chose this haunting book because I had a teenage daughter who died, but not as gruesomely as the main character in this book, thank God.

5. The World According to Garp by John Irving. Chosen because like Garp, I too harbor anxieties about my child's safety.

I will post this on my blog as well: http://chasida.blogspot.com/.

A death in our group

I just learned from Stephanie's blog that Natalie from Nattie Writes lost her battle with cancer yesterday. As Stephanie said, "She will be sorely missed. Please take a moment and pray for her son and daughter" (thanks for the correction).

Nattie's list of books is on our sidebar, but she won't be reading any of our books now. To learn something about [Nattie]: (1) re-read her book post describing her five choices, (2) read one of those five, (3) look at her blog, with her final posts dictated to her daddy, and (4) keep her in our thoughts and prayers today, as we lose one of our own. Nattie was only 33 years old.

Becky's List

Hi! My name is Becky from Becky's Book Reviews. I wanted to choose books that represented me and hadn't been chosen by another blogger. That way everyone would have more choices when it comes time to read books for the challenge.

These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder-- I haven't read this book in over ten years or so. But growing up I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I wanted to teach. I wanted to write. I wanted to grow up and marry Almanzo. So this book, the one where she gets to teach and get married...made me very happy. (Juv F)

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith--I only discovered this about six months ago, but I so identified with Francie. (F)

"From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came into adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived." (166-167)

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. How does this book represent me? Well, it is more the fact that it represents a huge transition in my life. I can almost divide my life into two halves...before Orson Scott Card...and after Orson Scott Card. And this was the book that started my love affair with science fiction. And my love for all things Card. Most of my "favorite" books are Card titles. Though I'll just list him once for this challenge. (F)

Anne of the Islands by L.M. Montgomery. I noticed that Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Windy Poplars were already on the list. I thought this would make a nice addition to those seeking to read the Anne books for the challenge. AND more importantly, the last few pages of this book alone make it one of the most romantic books ever. How could you not love Anne and Gilbert finally getting together???(F)

Persuasion by Jane Austen. I just love this one so. I love the heroine.