Craig Nash tagged me with this book do-hickey, and of course I’m going to do it, because 1.) it’s Craig, and 2.) it’s about books. But I have to say, it’s really hard to choose. Books have influenced me all my life, from when my mom gathered us wee ones on the couch to read The Secret Garden, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and Winnie the Pooh to the books I’m reading right now. Completing this exercise is like walking into a truffle store and being told I can only pick one.
I could make things easy and put The Bible for every answer (except #7), and I’d be telling the truth. But I wouldn’t be telling you much about my tastes in literature. So, I’m imposing my own boundary: no books by God. (If any of these authors think they’re God, that’s outside my control.)
Here we go.
1. One book that changed your life.
I Kissed Dating Good-bye by Joshua Harris. Ha! Just kidding. I never read that one, but the idea of it changing my life made me laugh, especially since it came out long after I was married. For reals, I’ll go with The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
2. One book that you have read more than once.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. And I’ve read all her other books, too.
3. One book you would want on a desert island.
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Depending on how long I’m stranded, I’d probably have enough time to marvel over the gorgeous prose, meditate on the profound symbolism, emulate the inspiring characters, and slowly digest all 1400 pages.
4. Two books that made you laugh.
My Name is Russell Fink by Michael Snyder. Hilarious! It releases in mid-February, but you can pre-order it online now. God Loves My Kitchen Best by Mab Graff.
5. One book that made you cry.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
6. One book you wish you’d written.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (and anything by A.A. Milne or C.S. Lewis)
7. One book you wish had never been written.
I imagine such books exist, but I don’t think I’ve read them.
8. Two books you are currently reading.
I typically read one at a time. Right now it’s A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers. Next up Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village by Sarah Erdman, a book Luke sent me for Christmas.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read.
Modern Art and the Death of a Culture by H.R. Rookmaaker
10. Five people that I tag: Jen T., Heather G., Tina H., Mary D., and Madison R.
I’ll have to put some thought into this one, if for no other reason than to narrow it all down to one book each. Except for where they say two.
I try to finagle a way to make it your direction at Christmas to see the lights, but it didn’t work out. 🙁 Maybe next Christmas.
Heather G.
http://www.heatheragoodman.com
A thinking one, I see. Hmm. Okay. It’ll be up on my blog tomorrow. About time I put something up there other than pictures of my dumb dog.
Actually, this has sort of inspired me to get back to keeping a journal of my reading since I’m so poor at remembering it.
Jen T.
I put my meme up yesterday.
Have you read The Enchanted Places by Christopher Milne (A.A.’s son, aka the real Christopher Robin)? Very sweet memoir. One that you curl up with and romp through forests.
heather g.
http://www.heatheragoodman.com