One of my great enjoyments of life are books. The old-fashioned kind that you carry in your purse, car, & backpack. While I have favorite authors, I am always open to new authors, too. Today is the perfect book day. Rain outside, quiet inside. Like a squirrel, I spend my summer preparing for winter. I go to estate sales, garage sales, & book sales, hoping to add new reads to my “winter” pile.
My husband surprised me with a Kindle Fire for Christmas. Electronic books? I have about 30 books downloaded to read in it. But late at night when I cannot sleep, I still grab a book instead of the Kindle. Maybe I find comfort in the rustling pages? I don’t know. Maybe I just don’t want “books” to become extinct…
One of my daughter-in-law’s said to me a while back that I seem to find all the answers in books. I didn’t realize until I pondered on that for a bit, that’s exactly what I do. If someone has something going on in their life, positive or negative, joyous or tragic, I have a book for them. Sorry, dear family & friends, if that’s irritating. It’s just me, but it comes from my heart. ♥
A new baby in the house? “ Love You Forever”~ Robert Munsch
Child’s birthday? “The Very Hungry Catepillar” ~ Eric Carle, ” Where’s My Teddy?”~ Jez Alborough
Getting married? “The Gift of the Blessing” ~ Gary Smalley
Graduation? “Oh the Places You’ll Go” ~ Dr. Suess ; “The Dream Giver” ~ Bruce Wilkinson
Can’t Say No? “Boundaries” ~ Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Where am I going with my life? “Eat, Pray, Love” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert; “Women, Food and God, An Unexpected Path to Almost Everything” ~ Geneen Roth
Encouragement to start writing? “The Wednesday Sisters” (a novel) ~ Meg Waite Clayton
Need to spring into action and start doing something with your life? “The Art of Non-Conformity” ~ Chris Guillebeau
Forgiveness? “The Shack” ~WM. Paul Young (you must read it TWICE to get it)
Need to Laugh Out Loud? “Junie B Jones” childrens’ books by Barbara Park (ANY of them will make you smile)
Selling yourself, ideas, products? “The One Minute Sales Person” ~ Spencer Johnson (love all of his books!)
Marriage Trials? “Change Your Heart, Change Your Life”~ Gary Smalley
Need to NOT hang with negative folks/family? “The Grace Awakening” Charles Swindol
Want to take charge of your life? “Reposition Yourself”~ T.D. Jakes
Do you need new perspective? “The Noticer” ~ Andy Andrews (LOVE, LOVE all his books!)
Just want a good novel? John Grisham (“Testament” ~ all time fav) and then Oklahoma novelist, Billie Letts (“Shoot the Moon”!) ~
I could go on with lists forever. I do love books. They become my friend while I am reading them and I am bummed like football season has ended when I finish a good read.
For good daily encouragement, there’s an old book written in many languages and variations, that can give you wonderful insights and guidance. Yes, I’m talking about “The Bible”. I prefer the New King James, myself. But there’s lots of good stuff to be discovered in those pages and it never grows old.
If you ever need a book suggestion, let me know! Now, I would love to have YOUR book suggestions! Please reply with your favorites! I want to add them to my pile!
stuff i tell my sister 
I totally agree!! Books are my passion also!! Thanks for all the Book suggestions!!
I think that’s why we are such good friends, Ms. Dottie….we share books and sports! 😉
Love it and completely agree…though I am coming to love my Kindle Fire…so many great books all in my purse!
Here are a few I love: Under the Tuscan Sun (and others) Frances Mayes and the Christ the Lord series by Anne Rice, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt and Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. All multiple read books for me. As for the Bible, NIV, NRSV, NASB, ESV….love’em all.
Thanks for the new read suggestions, Karen! And I agree, I do love to have the Kindle Fire with me when I’m out & about. I am NOT a patient waiter and the Kindle helps!
Excellent!
and your suggestions, sister? (cuz I know you have a pile too, I’ve added to it!)
Love, love, LOVE today’s post. I honestly believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the love of books! I cannot count the number of “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” that my husband and I have given for graduation gifts; it’s my reliable standby gift. Some of my other favorites: In the mystery genre, anything by John Sandford (especially the Prey series), James Patterson (Alex Cross series), Lee Child (Jack Reacher series); for a good fun read, anything by Jennifer Crusie (she’s a hoot)! Also, I love my Kindle but have a tendency to save it for road trips.
Thanks Christi! I have read some James Patterson and really appreciated the writings. He’s in the winter pile, actually. I’m going to check out some of the others you mentioned as well. I always enjoyed reading to my boys and I miss that. There was something really special when I would close the book for the night and they would say, “Oh please Mom, just one more chapter!” Thankfully, they both love to read. ♥
Good post today…..heard an anchor comment that books will become somewhat extinct (except for maybe some older generations; like the newspapers – if it isn’t electronic, it just isn’t. Dara and I LOVED Gone With The Wind. Personally I read ‘Hawaii’ by James Michener…I trudged through like a trooper about 3/4 into it, laid it down for a year and MADE myself finish it. I loved “Memoirs of a Geisha” and way back when in high school – The Good Earth by Pearl Buck was impactful. Then the very sad “The Lovely Bones” brought tears to my eyes. The older I get the less I read – my eyes don’t want to cooperate. THANKS for sharing the book tree photo and your wise words.
Isn’t it interesting when some books are so sad or difficult to read….we still have to finish them. You could always do audio books! Those are great in the car. Thanks for you input. It’s ALWAYS appreciated cause you are AWESOME!
OH! And my hubby tagged me with the book tree. We are thinking of doing that next year in lieu of a “normal” tree”. 😉
I have kept a journal of every book I have read since 1998, and my thoughts about them. + Here are some of my favorites: “Digging to America” by Anne Tyler + “We Are All Welcome Here” by Elizabeth Berg + “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral” by Kris Radish + “Leota’s Garden” by Francine Rivers + “All She Ever Wanted” by Lynn Austin + “Ida B” by Katherine Hannigan + “Twenty Wishes” by Debbie Macomber + “Beneath a Marble Sky” by John Shors + “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows + “When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It’s Time to Go Home” by Irma Bombeck + “Let Them Eat Cake” and “Bon Appetite” and “Piece de Resistance” by Sandra Byrd (3 books of a continuing story) + “Her Mother’s Hope” by Francine Rivers + “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett + “Magdalene” by Angela Hunt + “Until We Reach Home” by Lynn Austin. And the list goes on. Love to read!
Thanks so much for sharing your list, Delores! I have only read a few of these. I recall your telling me that you kept a list of books you’ve read, so I bought a journal to do the same….but I’m so great about keeping it updated. You inspire me to try harder, though!