Megan's List

The Writing Life - Annie Dillard
I have always loved reading books about writing. My own desire to write has been with me my whole life. It waxes and wanes in frequency and intensity but I love learning about authors. I love to know how and why they write.

Boys and Girls Forever - Alison Lurie
For about six years I have been obsessed with children's literature, it's history, it's impact. These essays are great and focus on some classic children's novels I have passively dismissed. (As I commonly do, I have a classic phobia.) This book has inspired me to visit the stories that have been on the fringe of my consciousness throughout life.

Nothing But the Truth - Avi
This is a great young adult novel. For many years I have wanted to be a teacher. I have wanted to use this book as one of my opening lessons.

The Black Book: Diary of a Teenage Stud - Jonah Black
I read this book several years ago. At the time everyone was talking about it, it seems since then it has gone out of vogue. I was searching for a book about boarding school, since that was an important experience of high school. First I was going with Catcher in the Rye but it wasn't very me. And I have always hated A Separate Peace. What makes The Black Book special? It fills the void of relevant midteen fiction. Not only does it fit an age demographic that many young adult novel miss but the main character is male. I am totally in love with the style of story telling.

The Country of Pointed Firs - Sarah Orne Jewett
I was trying to find some good New England writing. Something that had really spoken to me. The writing in this book is absolutely overwhelming.

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Nattie's List

I am so lame it has taken me this long to figure out how to access this blog even though I was invited days ago. Is there a book about that?
So here is my list which is also up on my main blog.
1. A Girl Named Zippy: Growing Up Small in Mooreland, Indiana by Haven Kimmel
I picked this book because I live in Small Town USA, Indiana and I have wanted to read it forever.

2. Sixpence House: Lost in a Town of Books by Paul Collins
You should see how many books I have. It seems like a fitting title for my apartment. Lost in an apartment of books.

3. The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler
I love Anne Tyler and I've not read this one, but I understand it is about marriages being amateur affairs. I had an amateur marriage that ended in divorce after 7ish year.

4. Operating Instructions: A Journal of my Son's First Year by Anne Lamott
I love Anne Lamott and this book is about her being a single mom to her son. I am a single mom.

5. Fool's Puzzle by Earlene Fowler
I picked this one because I was a Nancy Drew fan growing up. I wanted to be Nancy Drew among other things. Earlene Fowler's character Benni Harper makes me think of a grown up version of Nancy Drew. They are one of my all time favorite mysteries.

3M's List

My final two selections have been added.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
I just finished this. It has several "something about me" qualities. It is set in Lexington, Ky, and I live less than an hour from there. The author is a UK professor and mentions the school and the Wildcats, and my husband got his undergraduate degree there and is a UK fanatic. Like Paul (the boy twin), when I was an adult I found out I had a sister that I never knew about. Like David (the husband and father), I felt like an "imposter" in my (brief) professional life. He is a doctor in the story; I was an engineer. This was probably due to his poorer family background, which I can also relate to. Like Norah, I suffered from postpartum depression. You could say I really related to all the main characters. Besides all these "similarities," I really loved the book, too!

The Echo Maker by Richard Powers
This book is set in Kearney, Nebraska, where my sister currently lives and is not too far away from where I grew up. Powers did a good job of describing the remoteness of the region. The main "something about me" here, though, and this is getting a little too personal, is that the main character suffered from Capgras' and Cotard's Syndromes. Capgras Syndrome is the belief that your loved ones have been "replaced" by imposters, while Cotard's Syndrome is the belief that you have already died. I experienced these two syndromes while I was in college. Freaky, huh?

Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
This is the book that started my reading addiction. My wonderful 2nd grade teacher, Miss French, read this to my class, and we were mesmerized and enthralled by it. A beautiful, beautiful book.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
This book really affected me in college as I sought answers to my "little crazy episode" above. Who can argue with Narnia creator C.S. Lewis?! No, seriously, Mere Christianity gives one of the best defenses of Christianity available. It is not a long book, but it is a little dense. If you need something lighter, try More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell.

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland
Did you know there is a phenomena in which people cry uncontrollably in front of paintings or other art? I didn't know it either until it happened to me. I took my 7th grade class (back when I was a teacher) to an art museum in Nashville where they were having a special exhibit on impressionism. I was looking at this painting, and lo and behold, I started sobbing without any warning. It was so beautiful. It was like I was seeing it in 3-D. I couldn't believe the beauty of it. What was the painting, you ask? It was Luncheon of the Boating Party by Renoir. If you just see this in an art book, you may ask what the big deal is as there doesn't seem to be anything special about it. See it in person and you'll see a huge difference, believe me.

The book of that title by Susan Vreeland will be out in early May. It was given a starred review by Booklist. You may see a review and summary at Amazon here.

Lest you doubt my word about the crying phenomena, check out Pictures and Tears: A History of People Who Have Cried in Front of Paintings.

Ellen's Awesome List

Hi everyone! It's been great to see what everyone's come up with so far. My list took me so long to write just because I couldn't narrow it down to just five. Nevertheless, I did it:

F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise. Sure, everyone loves The Great Gatsby, but Fitzgerald's first novel is more raw and sad and charming. I read it in high school and probably re-read it at least once a year.

Judith Kogan, Nothing But The Best. I was a high school orchestra geek and often stayed up nights re-reading this nonfiction book about students and teachers at The Juilliard School, one of the best music conservatories in the country. I was never this good, but I still loved reading about it.

Gordan Korman, No Coins, Please. This middle-grades chapter book about a bunch of boys taking a van trip across the country (and one's plan to make a million dollars, stop by stop) is still one of the funniest books I've ever read.

Margaret Atwood, The Robber Bride. This is a good introduction to the novels of Atwood, who I think is one of the best in describing relationships among female friends both treasured and toxic.

William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night. So what if I've never worn yellow stockings, dressed in drag or had a twin brother? This is my favorite Shakespeare play, hands down, and it doesn't have to be directly relevant to be enormous fun.

Heather's List

Hi readers and bloggers! I am Heather of the Madame Rubies Blog. These are the 5 books I selected:

Lolita by Vladimir Nobokov

It may scare some that this book says something about me. However, Lolita grew up with a skewed view of sexuality and how to experience it correctly. I did too. I often used my sexuality to get what I wanted, but eventually I found happiness with a man who loves me.

Everybody Wants to go to Heaven but Nobody Wants to Die by David Crwoder and Mike Hogan

This book takes you on a Bluegrass journey and that means it takes you through a piece of my childhood and also tells you a lot about my mother, who can sing like an angel with a country twang. I grew up listeing to my Mama singing with Bluegrass bands, working concession at Bill's Pickin' Parlor and singing along to Loretta Lynn tapes while dancing in front of my mirror. Heck, I am FROM The Bluegrass State - My Ol' Kentucky Home.

Seven Blessings by Ruchama King

This book involves a young girl who moves to Israel. She is actually Jewish and I am not, but I do long to experience Israel as she did. I have a crush on Judaism, and this is why I selected King's book.

Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult

This isn't my favorite, by far, of Jodi's novels. However, I suffered severe postpartum depression, and the mother in this story experiences her own version of that illness. It is a pretty realistic portrayal of what PPD can do to a person and their marriage/life.

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

Asher Lev is a Jewish artist who paints a crucifix. I can relate well to Asher. His parents want him to give up painting and drawing for a career that will actually be respected and make a living. And, when his heart moves him to paint a crucifix, it is scary. I mean, a Jewish man painting such a symbol of Christ? Sometimes, I feel like that when I am writing. What if my story doesn't live up to the expectations held for me by parents, friends, husband, children, churchmembers, etc...? How do I truly let go and let the art flow without worrying so much about other people's opinions?

So, those are my 5. I have already chosen a couple that I will read. Can't wait to see what else goes up.

Heather

Pattie's Picks

Here are the five books I believe best tell something about who Pattie is:

1. Fresh-Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson

This book totally changed my life and my view of life. It's a Christian nonfiction book by Nicole Johnson, the Women of Faith dramatist. She's an amazing woman and actress, and with the coffee metaphor woven throughout the book, it resonated with me on many levels. I still journal and attempt every day to live a "fresh-brewed life." My blog is named after this book, also (oh, and I LOVE coffee!).

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I'm a hopeless romantic. I read this book at fifteen, because the director of my high school play based on P&P required it (even though I only had one line and maybe ten minutes of stage time--I was a dancer at the Netherfield ball named "Miss Belinda."). I did eventually find my Mr. Darcy, and for years he infuriated me--then I found my feelings changing toward him, and like Elizabeth, I was so very confused. The only difference between my own sweet husband and Mr. Darcy is the hefty 20,000 pounds per annum income and estate!

3. SAHM I Am by Meredith Efken

This is a Christian fiction, mom-lit, humorous novel. It's a mostly-humorous look at the life of an at-home-mom's email loop, told through emails. I just loved it! I've also lived parts of it. I am now a contributor on the author's blog, Violet Voices.

4. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

I read Anne Frank's diary at the age of eleven and started keeping a diary in response. I've loved the movies, the plays, the recent biography, and I've tried to keep up on the latest scholarship through the years. It's an amazing work in its own right; not only a study of life in close quarters during our world's darkest days, but also a study in the development of a writer.

5. The Awakening by Kate Chopin

I first read this book at the age of 27 (just a couple years younger than the protagonist of the novel), during an Advanced Placement teaching seminar week. I was away from my husband and infant daughter, still trying to find my way as a mother and a pastor's wife, AND a teacher. I stayed up late reading it in the dorm, and while it might have been the humidity of Hot Springs mimicking the heat and humidity of turn-of-the-century New Orleans, or the strong sense of connection I felt with the heroine, I felt I understood Edna. To this day, I do not agree with her choices; but I still understand why she made them. Chopin's prose is inimitable.

raidergirl3's list

This was fun and difficult to do. What if I think of a book next week that is even more perfect? Arg. Without further ado, I present: my list.

1. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson NF
I love science, always have. I'm still in high school, teaching science because I love it so much.The beauty found in nature in all its glory, and the scientists who recognized the phenomena and put the order and structure to explain; it all blows my mind. And Bryson is humorous in explaining nearly everything. Science and funny. I love this book.

2. Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank Gilbreth NF
I love efficiency and getting things done in the least messy way. I can always get one more dish in the dishwasher. Always. I also have three children which messes with my efficiency system. This memoir of growing up as one of the children of industrial engineers has always been a humorous favorite. The chaos and efficiency in this book is what I like. Also, I'm Gemini, the twin, balancing my dual natures.

3. Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman F
This little dreamy, philosphy book is better the more and more I read it. I read it aloud to my grade twelve physics classes every year and some really like it. Others just stare in confusion, because it is not the type of book they usually read. Lightman writes of 'thirty dreams in as many nights' imagining what dreams Einstein might have had in developing his theory of relativity, in which he reconstructed how we see time. Different theories of time, like: what if time flows backwards? time is finite? there is no concept of future? time is circular?

4. Evening Class by Maeve Binchy F
I wanted to pick a novel that I really like, and this is one of my favorite. I always enjoy Binchy, and how her characters are ordinary people, with happy endings. That's like me - pretty ordinary, and a quiet life. And I am a teacher, and I went to Italy last summer.

5. LM Montgomery: Anne of Windy Poplars F (or any other LM Montgomery book you want)
You had to know this Prince Edward Island girl would pick a Montgomery book! My dilemma was in picking which one. Rilla of Ingleside is one of my favorites, and it really gives a nice view of PEI in the early 1900s and what life was like in a small Island village during WW1. I picked Anne of Windy Poplars however, because that was the book where Anne was teaching (like me) in Summerside, and when I visit my grandmother in S'side, I can still see the town as Anne described it to Gilbert in her letters. I also like this book because Anne and Gilbert are finally together. Did I mention I like happy endings?