Awhile back I was out of town visiting my brother who happens to live nearby to my most favorite thrift store ever. And because he loves me he consented to take me and my three kids over to prowl the store for awhile—he even walked the kids around the store and kept them entertained so I could rummage through all the patterns and smelly fabric. (Ah! The scent of moth bally polyester!!!)
Anyways when we went to leave he and Simon had a purchase to make—a big, thick, old book called “The Way Things Work”. It was for Simon. Simon loves to read, make up inventions, and learn how anything is made. This book was right up his alley. I also found some super sweet treasures and we all left the store happy. (Thanks again Zach.)
The next morning at home I was unpacking all of our things from the day before and ran across Simon’s book. As I went to find a home for it on a book shelf I opened the front cover and found this inscription:
If I didn’t love the book before I loved it then…Who was Walt? What kind of things did he love to make work? What was his ever faithful wife like? How old were they when this gift was given and for what occasion?
In my minds eye I imagine them…older…retired…him thumbing through the book pointing out mistakes or alternate methods to make things and saying things like “oh that’s an interesting way to do that…” all while she sat in her comfy chair smiling to herself and crocheting an afghan.
(But then again he may have been a young, greasy creep who kept this book in a stinky bathroom. So I wiped that sucker down before it ever even touched my bookshelf…sure I’m a bit of a romantic but when it comes to what comes into my house my germaphobia overrides any of my romantic notions. And that book got the cleaning of it’s life.)
I love books. I really do. A lot. I have 6 large shelves FULL of books…and books stashed in every room…and in the storage room…and in the mini van…and even one in my purse. I love how they look and smell (new, not used of course) and my dream is to one day have a room dedicated only to being a library in my house. (And then I wouldn’t have to keep all my books separated in different areas…all the adult non-fiction here, and the young adult fiction there, all picture books here, all the art books there, and so on. It would be so awesome!)
One day I’ll have my library but until then I’ll just be happy adding to my collection and reading through what I own. Which brings me to this…my reading list for 2013. Earlier this week I said I’d share my list, so here it is. I chose 24 books and 4 alternates for this year. I chose the books on this list because they are books that I can’t believe I haven’t read yet—whether it’s because everyone in America has already read them or whether it’s a classic that I’ve missed. It’s a random list but one that I’m looking forward to reading through.
1. The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
3. 1984 by George Orwell
4. Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne (I’ve read it before but not since I’ve had children.)
5. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
6. The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
7. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
8. The Help by Kathryn Stockett
9. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon (I’ve read the first half, got side track and have never finished…I need to finish.)
10. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Athur Conan Doyle
11. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank Baum
12. A Room with a View by E.M. Forester
13. A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (yes, I know it’s a play)
14. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakaur
15. Night by Elie Wiesel
16. The Clue of the Leaning Chimney (Nancy Drew) by Carolyn Keene
17. The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
18. A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
19. Silas Marner by George Elliot
20. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
21. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (I started it but never finished it)
22. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
23. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Nineth (I stopped on book 8 and haven’t finished up the series)
24. The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louise Stevenson
A1. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach (I just ran across this beauty and can’t believe I hadn’t heard of it before. I’m dying to read it…no pun intended.)
A2. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
A3. The Art of Teaching Children by Daryl Hoole (In love with the Art of Homemaking but I haven’t read this one of hers…yet…)
A4. One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus
It’s in no particular order. I’ll just choose which ever one sounds good for the week and when I’m finished cross it off the list. Right now I’m reading “The House of Seven Gables”. I started with it because I don’t know how many times I’ve attempted reading it…and I never get finished…probably because I hate it.
(And why am I reading it if I hate it? Well, that’s a post for another day. As for today I’m going to say goodbye since this post has gotten wicked long. Have a good weekend everyone and if there is a good book that I’ve missed, please let me know!)
liZ
Awesome! One reason I love old books is because of the inscriptions. I have an old reader from a school that had a custom-made bookmark from a student stuck in it. Too fun!
I hope you will love A Little Princess. It was my very favorite as a child and I still love it.
Such a fun find in that old book… and I’m pretty sure we had that particular book hanging around my house growing up. It’s a good one. 🙂
That is quite the list of books–I wish you luck. I’ve read (or attempted to read) several of them–it’s a good list, but some of them are not exactly page-turners. 🙂
And last thing, Stiff is an excellent book. Read it for bookclub a few years ago–SO fascinating, and I still find myself thinking and talking about it. So interesting.
I watched the Shirley Temple movie of A Little Princess over and over again as a little girl and loved it…I just don’t know why I’ve never read the book. I’m looking forward to reading it.
-liZ
I watched the Shirley Temple movie of A Little Princess over and over again as a little girl and loved it…I just don’t know why I’ve never read the book. I’m looking forward to reading it.
-liZ
I’m so glad that someone else has read the book…and that they like it!!! It’s the one I’m the most excited about on my list. When I saw it, I knew I’d have to read it! Maybe, that’s the one I should read after The House of Seven Gables, to reward myself for finishing it.
-liZ
I’m so glad that someone else has read the book…and that they like it!!! It’s the one I’m the most excited about on my list. When I saw it, I knew I’d have to read it! Maybe, that’s the one I should read after The House of Seven Gables, to reward myself for finishing it.
-liZ
I’m glad Simon enjoys the book. we will need to go on another thrifting adventure here soon.
Oh my goodness, I love your book list! Wuthering heights is my absolute favorite book ever. If you love a good romance that is a little different from the average, you will love wuthering heights! A dolls house is also great. A real look into what it was like for women before we had rights and the controversy that surrounded it in its era is almost as interesting as the play itself. I would definitely suggest doing your research on it while you read it – it will make the ending seem so much better 🙂 there are a lot of books on your list that I feel like I need to read as well!
Giants in the Earth by O.E. Rolvaag. This was the book that made me realize that the books that are considered classics are classics for a reason. A pretty heady discovery for a freshman in high school who has loved to read her whole life. I average 2-4 books a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on size and/or genre.
Wicked long? Are you from the Northeast? Loved the whole post, but I perked right up at that last line 🙂
OK…I read very few books and it is usually one John Grisham a year (always had a thing for him and his books since young). Ya know–busy mama!!! But I have to say you must read Night!!! Sooo good, important, short (cross one off the list quick!). I read it for a class in college. We had been to Camp Dachau in Germany. The experience and book still bring me chills as I write this. A favorite that was good for me to read on a personal level was The Shack written by William P. Young. Very Good! Good luck on finding the time! My dad gave me the perfect gift this year–one day devotionals (Jesus Calling by Sara Young)which makes me sit, if for just a few minutes!!!
I got to visit the house where Hawthorne and his wife started their married life in Concord – in the window panes in his study, there are verses that she composed, that he inscribed on the panes with the diamond from her ring. Anytime I’m slogging through one of his books (and let’s face it, they’re wonderful but not easy reads – but the stories stick with you) I remember that story of how he was a complete romantic at heart.
No, I’m not from the Northeast..I’ve been there but I live in the intermountain west…and just write like I talk, which is crazy town talk.
liZ
No, I’m not from the Northeast..I’ve been there but I live in the intermountain west…and just write like I talk, which is crazy town talk.
liZ
I’ve never read a John Grisham book (something which my grandma CAN NOT believe–she loves his books)…maybe I should put one on the list. And I have THe Shack on my bookshelf, a gift from a friend, but have never read it…maybe that could be an alternate!
liZ
(Ps—I have a friend who also has Jesus Calling and loves it!)
I’ve never read a John Grisham book (something which my grandma CAN NOT believe–she loves his books)…maybe I should put one on the list. And I have THe Shack on my bookshelf, a gift from a friend, but have never read it…maybe that could be an alternate!
liZ
(Ps—I have a friend who also has Jesus Calling and loves it!)
Skip right down to the Joy Luck Club. Read it and cry for those strong women and then go right out and get anything else Amy Tan has written. She is goooood.
Just wanted to say that if you’re reading something you hate, you should put it down! Life’s too short and there are too many books to read as it is. If you’re not enjoying yourself, move on!
Love seeing Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House on the list! 🙂 since he’s Norwegian and all – the book is on my students reading list every year.
Started The Hitchhiker’s .. but wasn’t able to finish it. Doesn’t like Virginia Wolfe either, but love Winnie the pooh, Hawthorne and Bronte!
my students read A Doll’s house every year at school, and watch it! It is a really good play!