Winter finally blew in on New Year’s Eve. I’m trying to pretend that howling wind is the ocean~ at night it’s been working, try it! A beautiful snow covered the brown that has been somewhat freakishly eying us the last few months and the wind has nearly blown it away again.
It had to happen sometime. Didn’t it? The tundra is inevitable, I’m pretty sure. So let’s just go with it.
Nothing says COZY like a good book.
If you haven’t read the following books, you might like to give these a try…
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay is a fictional account of a journalist who uncovers secrets in her own family while writing about the Vel d’Hiv round up, which took place in Paris during the War. The story follows Julia, the journalist, and Sarah, the little girl whose family was captured. There are gut-wrenching moments in this story that will forever stay with me. We watched the movie over the weekend and it closely followed the book. The DVD also has extensive special features~ often my favorite part of a movie. This book is especially worth reading.
I’ve written about this series before, but it bears repeating…
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I got on this bandwagon late and read them all within a few days…I don’t like waiting for a sequel, so this works! It’s crazy to even explain what it’s about. It’s a “young adult adventure science fiction” series, but pretty violent for anyone very young. The twists will keep you guessing until the very end. (I’m Team Peeta, by the way.) I’m nervous about them wrecking the story with a movie, but we shall see…maybe it will be done right.
If you prefer nonfiction, anything by Donald Miller, Anne Lamott or Madeleine L’Engle will be worthwhile.
My daughter adores the Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L’Engle…
And I adore this one…
Circle of Quiet by Madeleine L’Engle is another favorite of mine. And Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh. And The War of Art by Steven Pressfield…and I could go on forever…
Think you don’t have enough time to read? I used to think so too. And since my deepest wish is to read or write 24 hours a day, I’ll probably never feel there’s enough time in the day for it…however, once I gave up the idea of long, leisurely reading and just took whatever time I could get, it began to work.
Did you know besides the obvious~ reading before bed, in the tub, or while waiting for your kids during their dentist appointments, you can also read while…
Brushing your teeth
Waiting for the coffee
Boiling water
At a stoplight
Any time a football game is playing
On the dentist’s chair or doctor’s table~ he/she can work around you!
Do you have a favorite place to read? Growing up, I had a window seat in my bedroom where I spent hours reading. It was such a wonderful spot. Now, I like to read on our front porch swing or in the red chair in our Cozy Daisy. (That’s what Greyley dubbed our family room when we moved in.) Anywhere by windows is nice…
So, happy reading! If you have any favorites to recommend, I’m all ears.
*Reading now: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone...
I, too, love to read and was just getting ready to find out what you were reading. So, YAY!! Last years favorites: (In no order)
The Help
Water For Elephants
Slave – would have to say this was the best!
I Know This Much Is True
Riven
These are the one’s I can think of now
Keep reading and sharing them with us. I am always looking for the next great book, and always slightly depressed when I finish a book.
Thanks so much for the list, Brett! I haven’t read Slave or Riven, but loved the others, especially The Help! I get a little down when I finish one too…so I try to hurry on to the next.
Kim Guzman
Lori I got a Nook for Christmas and I have finished two books already. Love that I can read any free moment haven’t tried while brushing my teeth yet though but great idea! Thanks for the heads up! : )
Bawled during both the book and the movie of Sarah’s Key. Love, love, love The Hunger Games series! SO GOOD. Also loved the Harry Potter series. Didn’t actually read it until last year! Check out the Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It’s a true story about cancer research. Very interesting, pretty sad and I would have never had read it if not for my book club!
Oh my goodness, me too…it shook me up!
I’ve looked at the Henrietta book, will have to read it. Thanks for the recommendation. Happy New Year, Bree! xo
Good luck with that, Kim!!! hahaha My family thinks I’m crazy.
Good thing my daughter is as bad as me when it comes to reading!
Love your taste in literature, Lori. We’ve been visiting the ‘grands’ here in Houston, so in between hugs and games and etc., I’ve started 2 books this year. The first, The Tenth Song by Naomi Ragen (one of my personal favorite authors) was excellent and the second…..wish me luck…..is Anna Karenina. We just saw the movie about Tolstoy’s tumultuous love story with his wife. ‘The Last Station’ and it inspired me to try Tolstoy again. If you haven’t seen The Last Station, I highly recommend it. Happy New Year!
I will put The Tenth Song on my list~ I haven’t read any of Naomi Ragen. Thanks so much for the recommendation!
I’ve never read Anna Karenina~ you’ll have to let me know how you like it! I LOVED The Last Station.
Have a great rest of the trip!
Les Wick
Lori, if you remove the speakers from either end of one of Nates old & unused head sets, remove the cord and glue large conch shells onto it, one on either side, you’ll have the sound of your ocean. Someone with your imagination can do this. #:0)
I’ll get right on that, Les. Thanks for the tip.
I’ve tried that “at a stoplight” reading. Very frustrating . . . both to me and the cars behind me : ).
I just got a Nook for Christmas, and I’ve been carrying that thing everywhere! Even if I only have 2 minutes to spare, I’ll gladly take that time to read a great book!
BTW, I LOVED a Wrinkle in Time when I was your daughter’s age! So great.
I adore my Nook! It’s made a big difference in being able to read a ton at anytime! Yay for you!
Angela Angeloff
my daughter and i just finished reading Hunger Games series….love it!
You know I LOVE to read….my favorite place is anytime I can be outside in the warm sunshine on my porch swing, or on my back porch. I always have my book with me and get quite a bit of reading time when I am waiting on Jantzen after school!
I will be checking out your books! I haven’t read the Hunger Games series but Brian has and now Jantzen is reading them! They love them!
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes was one of my favorite books.
Happy Reading my friend!