Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Book Meme

My beloved blog-friend Suebob tagged me for a meme on books. Hopefully, I will not be too boring.

Total number of books owned: It's hard to tell. Between Husband and I, we have two overflowing bookcases. Books are also in piles on the floor and stacks on nightstands. Sometimes I think a book volcano erupted in my apartment and buried a small city. I also have two very tall book cases in my old room in my parents' house that are overflowing.

Last book bought: For my Sept. 9th book club meeting, I bought San Remo Drive by Leslie Epstein on Sept. 6th. Nothing like the last minute, and I had to go to two Barnes & Nobles to find it.

Last book read: See above. It was a very strange book about Hollywood in the 1950s, HUAC, adolescence, and race and religion based on the author's life. I partly recommend it. Overall, I think I liked it, but it was also kind of fucked up. I think our next book is going to be This Book Will Save Your Life by AM Homes. I'm pretty excited about it. Not that this relates to the question.

Five Books that Mean a Lot to You:
  • It by Stephen King - this book is a beautiful story about friendship, courage, and growing up when it is not scaring the fucking crap out of you, dear reader

  • Sport by Louise Fitzhugh - a hilarious tale about family and friendship that I often re-read when I am seeking solace from the world

  • Backlash by Susan Faludi - I read this when I was a sophomore in high school and it absolutely changed the way I looked at the world and re-affirmed my burgeoning feminist belief system

  • Take a Nap Harry by Mary Chalmers - a picture book my mom read to me that I loved because I hated naps and my mom read it in the greatest way (sadly it is out of print now)

  • Savage Inequalities by Jonathon Kozol - another book I read in high school that inspired me to take action to make the world a better place, I was devastated at how the US systemically cheats poor kids


  • Best Five Books You Read in the Last Year (I wish I can remember what the hell I read over the past 12 months, but I'll do my best):
  • Winner of the National Book Award by Jincy Willet

  • Sweet and Low by Rich Cohen

  • The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

  • Strivers Row by Kevin Baker

  • Random Family by Adrienne Nicole LeBlanc (OK, I didn't actually read the book yet, but I've been meaning to do so for ages...)


  • I tag:
    Major Bedhead
    Valerie
    Urban Pedestrian
    Michelle
    Ev and Kwatch

    8 comments:

    1. I LOVED Random Family. Read it NOW!

      My word verification is zedqoxy. Kind of has a ring to it, no?

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    2. Random Family is amazing. Don't hesitate. You'll love it, especially since you got so much from Kozol.

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    3. Should I post the write-up of my interview with you for my popular materials class from Spring '06 semster? You told me about all of the same 5 books that meant a lot to you. I'm surprised that you liked a Jincy Willet book. I don't know anything about that one but I tried to read another one of hers based on praise from David Sedaris. It was crap and I couldn't finish it. I recently read on goodreads that other fans of Sedaris were similarly mislead.
      Steph

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    4. Thanks for the tag. You never have to ask me twice to talk about books.

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    5. i was just thinking about the book sport and how i loved it but didn't hve a copy anymore and had even forgotten the name. i am going out and getting it today.
      another book i loved as a kid and only recently reread (and it was just as good) is the Genie of sutton place. excellent.

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    6. Thanks for the nice comment about my interpretation of Harry. He alllllmost fell asleep..... but he didn't!!!

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    7. I remember talking about BackLash with you in physics in high school.

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    8. Ooooh ... thanks for the tag. We're meme virgins, and we love books! We're all over this ...

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