Happy Valentine’s Day Friends!
We are back this morning after a wonderful and exciting meeting with Sony!
The kids are wearing pink and red, and we’re off to make Valentine cards.
If I can swing it during their nap time, I’m going to post the Five Finalists for the LOVE photo contest.
But in the meantime, I’m looking for some great books to take with us to Thailand.
Can you tell me your favorite novels?
Here’s what I’ve read in the last couple months and loved:
The Glass Castle–amazing true story!
Love in the Time of Cholera–my little brother’s favorite. love story that spans over 70 years.
Oh, and Brian bought me the new John Grisham book, The Appeal, but I’m waiting to start it until we get on that 20 hour flight! 🙂
Have you read “Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas”? That is one of my all time favorites.
I was going to say the glass castle. that is my fav! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll be watching this post as I need some good books too.
My favorite book last year was Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger! Our book club also read The Glass Castle – it still lingers in all our minds! The other books we read last year that were well received by our group were: Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock. And these are the books on our read list for 2008 that I can’t wait to get to – I know they’re going to be really good: Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin, and Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
‘interpreter of maladies’ & ‘the namesake’ by jhumpha lahiri…
Ok, this is not a novel, but is one of my favorites books for the busy mom who has only a few minutes to steal away.
It is a daily devotion called “Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God” by a woman named Mary Demuth.
My husband gave it to me when my then 3 year old was in the hospital for a week with some unknown illness, was having seizures and was diagnosed with Epilepsy and I had a 2 week old newborn at home. Um, yeah, not my best 2 weeks. I think he knew I was about to lose it and went to the hospital gift shop desperately looking for something with which I could distract myself.
Me Ra, you and this author both have the same wonderful ability to tap into real hurt and pain from your past and absolutely open yourself up and lay it all out on the table, so that others can benefit from your story.
I totally changed the way I interact with my children after reading this book… I seems so stupid but it had never occurred to me to admit my flaws as a mom and just say to my kids, “You know, I have been a real crab to you this morning and I am so sorry. Let’s start over, ok?”
It is one of those books that gives you an emotional boost and lets you know that there are other moms out there with PMS, loads of laundry and Cheerios stuck to the kitchen floor!
I have an extra copy if you’d like me to send it your way….
🙂
Wish I could recommend something recent – only problem is these days with two toddlers, most of my reading is in the form of parenting books. That in mind – go with a classic – Pride and Prejudice.
i’m reading the glass castle right now – love it! i’m going to keep an eye on your comments for some options on my next read.
I have a feeling you will love, “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert.
If you haven’t read “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger, then you must read it. It is hard to explain, but it is my favorite book by far!
“Traveling Mercies” by Anne Lammott is a memoir about her rugged, edgey journey to loving God and becoming a writer.
Poetry by Billy Collins.
“Sacred Parenting” by Gary Thomas and “The Optimistic Child” by Martin Seligman are my parenting book picks. Both changed the way I looked at my role as a parent and my concrete actions and behaviors of my everyday life.
“Eragon” by Christopher Paolini. Tolkein meets Lucas in a YA novel. Archetypes abound 🙂
Enjoy!
my last flight i was reading “Woman of Influence” by Pam..something….i really don’t read many novels anymore! heheheheeh 🙂
Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn….my all time favorite!
Kari beat me to the punch – “Peace Like a River” is a must read! Favorite, favorite. It’s a cross between “To Kill A Mockingbird” and “River Why” or “Brothers K” (also must reads!). Didn’t you just love “Glass Castle”!? Favorite read in ’07!
Me Ra–Happy Belated Birthday!!! Hope it was a wonderfully warm and delightfully delicious day for you!!
Books, books, books…….;-) a passion for sure.
“To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee because everyone needs a little Atticus Finch in their lives. And “Animal Dreams” by Barbara Kingsolver because it is such a wonderfully written story that stays with you after you are done reading.
Have a safe trip and enjoy every step of the way! Take care.
I’m a HUGE fan of Alice Steinbach. Her three greatest passiona are traveling, learning, and writing and she weaves the two into amazing memoriors that take her readers along with her on truely extrodinary adventures. I highly recommend both her books…’Without Reservations’ and ‘Educating Alice.’
I also love Anne Lamott’s books. ou might like ‘Bird by Bird, Some Instructions on Writing and Life’ or ‘Traveling Mercies.’
Last but not least…I’m a sap for an easy read romance so I can never refuse a good Nicholas Sparks book. The Notebook and The Wedding are two of the best love stories I’ve ever read.
There’s my two cents…
BTW…Happy belated birthday!
Me Ra,
Where to start? Some recent ones I’ve loved:
Dave Eggers, What is the What: AMAZING story about one of the Lost Boys of Sudan – heartwrenching.
Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants: The PERFECT kind of book to take with you while traveling – fascinating story set around a traveling circus.
Don Miller: Blue Like Jazz: Makes you think in a new way about your faith
Nicole Krauss: The History of Love: Short, sweet but powerful love story
I really enjoyed Water for Elephants – it’s a perfect book to read while traveling. I highly recommend it!
My suggestion is a little off the wall, it’s a freakishly huge book, but if you give it a chance – it’s extremely consuming and thrilling. It’s called “The Crimson Petal and the White” by Michael Faber. It’s a realistic look at life in the Victorian times told through the story of a prostitute and a man who becomes obsessed with her. It sounds crazy, but this is one of the BEST books I have ever read. Do I need to remind you I was an English major? I’ve read my fair share!
ENJOY YOUR TRIP! I can’t wait to read about it when you get back!
Anything by Francine Rivers…but especially “Redeeming Love”. Hope you enjoy your visit in San Diego 🙂
The color of water…great book.
p.s. I have a question for you…what is your favorite walk-a-round lens?
Have a great time in Tailand…Blessings~
I absolutely loved ‘These Is My Words’!
I just read Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides and thought it was very interesting. He has a great writing style.
so many good ones.
right now I’m reading Memoirs of a Geisha … and it’s just beautiful.
I also read recently The Beatles by Bob Spitz
what else? East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Sun Also Rises by Hemingway … lots of classics I could recommend.
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell (so good)
anything by Edith Wharton
xo
-A
Wow – some really great books here.
I read Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas all in one sitting with a LARGE box of Kleenex.
Some good ones….Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl, The Summer Guest by Justin Cronin, Talk Before Sleep by Elizabeth Berg, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards, Light on Snow by Anita Shreve, and most recently Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
Bon Voyage!
I love I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. Haunting, moving book. Highest recommendation.
Miss you! Jesse
The Power Of A Praying Wife By Stormie Omartian. That is just a wonderful book. It’s one you can re-read every once in a while.
I don’t do much of my own reading lately but I should start up again. Right now my daughter and I are in the middle of the Harry Potter series which are actually pretty fun to read and listen to. We are on book 2.
A good book I would recommend to read with the kids would be Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg By Gail Carson Levine. This is a really fun book to read and it has a whole series to follow it. Me and my daughter started with this one in Kindergarten and now she reads the new ones to me (she’s in 2nd grade now)
Hope this helps have a safe trip. I will be praying for you guys!
I have to second Kelly up there.. anything written by Francine Rivers is tremendous.. I am actually reading “Redeeming Love” right now.. but her series called “The Mark of the Lion” is my all time favorite..
Happy Belated Birthday, Me Ra!
I have recently read Plain Truth and Ninteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. They are pretty quick reads that challenge your ethics – what would you do in these situations. Keeps you interested! Let me know if you want to borrow them!
Take care,
Meg
Ooooohhhh I’m LOVING this post’s comments!! I LOVE your books! This list is fantastic!! I’m totally printing these titles off and going to Border’s today!!! Thank you so much!
I have to say that if you loved Kite Runner, his next book, A Thousand Splendid Suns blew my mind. Did anyone read it?
And OMG, Redeeming Love and Mark of the Lion is the most freaking amazing books ever! I remember meeting Francine Rivers when I was in the writing world and thinking, does she have any idea that I’m living for her next book? 🙂
Eat, Love, Pray is another book I read recently. Loved it! We almost went to Bali after reading her book, but Bali doesn’t have good weather in February I hear. Default to Thailand. 🙂
And Allison, I would love your extra copy of the book. It sounds awesome! Email me at mera@fioria.us for our address. Thanks so much for sharing it!
Almost packed East of Eden, but it’s so heavy and big. So I’m leaving it behind.
Okay, my all time favorite Non Fiction is the Crosswick Series by Madeleine L’engle. If you loved her work in Wrinkle in Time, you will be blown away with these three books. She shares her thoughts on being a woman, a writer, an artist, a mother, oohhh, i just love it. I read it all over again every year, along with her book Walking on Water.
off to bed, oh no! it’s 1:33am!! Yikes! 🙂
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffeneger
Atonement – Ian McEwan (REALLY GOOD … must read book, must see movie!)
Enduring Love – Ian McEwan
Okay, I know your packed and probably already on your way…here is one more book I think every women should read!
CAPTIVATING- Unveiling the Mystry of a Women’s Soul- John & Stasi Eldredge
EAT, PRAY, LOVE… a definite read!
Happy Belated Birthday to youuuuu!
Haaaapppy Birrrthhdaaay toooo youuuuuu! (cha cha cha)
HAPPY BIRRRTHDAAAY TO MEEEEERAAAAAA (cha cha cha)
Haaaapppy birrthdaaay to YOOOOOUUUUU (that was a high note).
Hope you had a great V-Day and B-Day!
Jen
The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is incredible. It is a historical romance that deals with time travel and is set in Scotland. There are 5 or 6 of them in the series and I can’t wait until the last one comes out.
Also, I just finished the Secret Life of Bees which was a really good story.
Before that I read Eat, Pray, Love and really enjoyed that too.
The Time Traveler’s Wife is good too.
This is one is one of my favorites:
Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes
You have to check it out!!!
Enjoy!
I just finished beyond the green box. THANK YOU! I received both of your dvds from my husband for my birthday last week, thinking I’d need Refuse to Say Cheese more than the second one….well I was pleasantly surprised~ Beyond the Green Box was just for people like me~ I’ve hit my glass ceiling on A mode. I started out like you, somewhat by accident, and have just raised my prices for the first time (go me!).
I love your work and check your blog often! Thanks Me Rah!
EEEEK I spelled your name wrong. SORRY!
I have a sinus infection, so that’s my excuse! Doing any workshops near Philly anytime soon??? 🙂
Soma….
Soma….
Entire Crappy.