Woke up early to a cold and rainy winter day. Lil Bit crawled into bed with me to watch the morning news and enjoy a cup of “coffee” while listening to the rain fall. Eventually we switched the telly over to cartoons while I surfed Goodreads for the next few books I would like to read. I came across so many great books! One thing led to another and I found myself on Oprah.com searching her recommendations.
I have to admit I am not a huge fan of Oprah. I don’t dislike her or like her because I don’t watch much TV. When I do I am usually absorbed into a documentary or some silly show like “Duck Dynasty”. I have a secret obsession with Real Housewives of New Jersey, Greys Anatomy and Once Upon a Time. Even those pile up on my DVR until I get notices I either watch them or they will be deleted. Gives me a great excuse for some “me” time.
Oprah.com has many great books that are in her current book club and in the past club. I have read most of what she has listed but there were several I hadn’t seen yet. By the time the big girls were up and ready for school I had compiled a list of 275 books I want to read this year. Typically I read around 50 and 100 books a year depending on what is going on with life.
Since Christmas I have read “Lone Wolf” by Jodi Picoult, “Safe Haven” by Nicholas Sparks and am currently reading “Twelve Tribes to Hattie” by Ayana Mathis which is on Oprah’s 2.0 book club. I am a huge Picoult and Sparks fan but they can never write as fast as I can read. I don’t have the patience to savor their books. Typically, I get the book in my hand and it feels like fresh money burning in my pocket. I have to clear the schedule, run a hot bath, grab a glass (or a bottle) of wine and seclude myself for hours until I have indulged in every glorious word. Seriously, I am obsessed!
My all time favorite book is ” The White Bone” by Barbara Gowdy. If you allow yourself to pick this book up you will be in for a real treat. I read this book before I had children when I was really sick with my Lupus. My system was shutting down and this book gave me insight, hope, friendship and strangely enough- encouragement. I was absorbed into the story so much I was able to forget for a moment the discomfort I was in. What is your favorite book? Can you pinpoint just one book that you have read in your life that has changed you or made its mark on you long after the last page was turned? I know “The White Bone” changed my outlook on life in so many ways and has imprinted so much of way I look at life. I have always felt this great connection to elephants. I can’t explain it, but it is more than a deep love for the animal or great appreciation. It is a strange cosmic feeling when I am around them. Because this book is based on elephants I found deeper respect for them. Barbara made me able to relate to these elephants more than I ever have with a human. To this day I still relate to them more than I do humans. So, I ask you reader, what is your favorite book? What makes it special?
scribblechic
January 11, 2013 at 8:59 AM
Fiction titles I can recommend confidently: Cold Sassy Tree, The Thirteenth Tale, Gone Girl, The Paris Wife, The Weird Sisters. Rather than explain, I would suggest you read the first few passages and decide if they speak to you.
copycatmom
January 17, 2013 at 7:38 AM
Thank you for the title suggestions. I will look into them.