Books Tag
Peder tagged me to do this and for once, I'm going to try to comply.
1. One book that changed your life.
This one is a tough one. No matter how hard I think about it, I can't seem to come up with anything concrete. I've read a lot of books that inspired me at the time but nothing that pops right into my mind. I want to say the Bible, because I don't know what my life would be like without faith, but the truth is, I've never really read the Bible, though I know great amounts of stories from It. I may have to take a raincheck on that one.
2. One book you've read more than once.
I've read the entire "Little House" series about seventeen times and each time I get something different out of them. I've read "Gone With the Wind" at least five times. Also, Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence", Larry McMurtry's "All My Friends are Going to be Strangers". I've read "Cold Mountain" three or four times. "Anna Karenina" at least twice. There are many books that I've read multiple times and some that are my absolute favorites that I will never be able to read again, like "The Time Traveler's Wife". I tried to reread it, but it's just not as good when you know what is going to happen.
3. One book you'd want on a desert island.
The Bible because I haven't read it in its entirety and because not only is it filled with inspiration, but just regular good stories, too. And it's nice and long and would keep me busy. Otherwise, "War and Peace" because I've always meant to read it and it too, is uber-long.
4. One book that made you laugh.
Shannon Olsen's "Welcome to my Planet (Where English is Sometimes Spoken)" still gets a laugh out of me. I've read it several times. It used to pertain to my life a little bit more because Shannon was a single lady looking for love and a bit confused (not that I'm not a big confused now). She's from Minnesota, Chaska to be exact, and described living in Minneapolis and St. Paul, going to school at the U, and her addiction to Target, which I totally identified with. Even though my single days are behind me, reading that book makes me remember being 24.
5. One book that made you cry.
I just finished Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth" for the second time and I cried several times throughout. I first read this book in high school and thought it was pretty good, for required reading. I've been reading a lot of Asian-based books lately and recalled this and picked it up. It's different reading it as an adult and more importantly, as a parent. It's just such a good story of one good farmer's life. In parts of it, there is a drought and his family is starving. The have to travel to Shanghai to survive and live by odd jobs and begging on the street. At one point, they begin to think they'll have to sell their baby daughter to live, but circumstances change just at that point. Wang Lung, the farmer, refuses to believe he'll have to sell a child to live and he doesn't. Reading about the poor children starving and how it affects Wang Lung and how badly he wants to return to his land and keep his family together. Besides this, "Gone With the Wind" always makes me cry--Scarlett O'Hara's last words "After all, tomorrow IS another day" just kill me. She's relentless.
6. One book you wish had been written.
I always thought that I would write down my grandfather's war stories. Not to publish, per se, but just for myself and our family. Maybe I would have had it properly printed and bound. He always had so many stories about his life, the war...and I rarely truly listened. I always though I'd have enough time to start on it next week or next month. Now he's been gone for seven years and I still wish that I would have listened and written his words down.
7. One book you wish had never been written.
There are a lot of books that I think are complete trash, but hey, it's anyone's prerogative to write a book. Go for it.
8. One book you're currently reading.
I just finished "The Good Earth". I'm reading a biography of MacArthur slowly but surely and I'm about to start "Theater" by W. Somerset Maugham. I read "The Painted Veil" by Maugham a little while ago and really loved it (movie is NOT as good as the book), so I'm trying some more of his stuff.
9. One book you've been meaning to read.
My grandpa loaned me a book many, many years ago about his Division's action during WWII that of course, I've been meaning to read for these many, many years. Maybe now that I have a brilliant and handsome husband to explain all the minute details to me, I'll take it up.
I see I've not really been able to limit myself to just writing about one book for each question, sorry. But there you go. Have to dash as the chicken nuggets are almost done and still have to microwave the french fries!!
1. One book that changed your life.
This one is a tough one. No matter how hard I think about it, I can't seem to come up with anything concrete. I've read a lot of books that inspired me at the time but nothing that pops right into my mind. I want to say the Bible, because I don't know what my life would be like without faith, but the truth is, I've never really read the Bible, though I know great amounts of stories from It. I may have to take a raincheck on that one.
2. One book you've read more than once.
I've read the entire "Little House" series about seventeen times and each time I get something different out of them. I've read "Gone With the Wind" at least five times. Also, Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence", Larry McMurtry's "All My Friends are Going to be Strangers". I've read "Cold Mountain" three or four times. "Anna Karenina" at least twice. There are many books that I've read multiple times and some that are my absolute favorites that I will never be able to read again, like "The Time Traveler's Wife". I tried to reread it, but it's just not as good when you know what is going to happen.
3. One book you'd want on a desert island.
The Bible because I haven't read it in its entirety and because not only is it filled with inspiration, but just regular good stories, too. And it's nice and long and would keep me busy. Otherwise, "War and Peace" because I've always meant to read it and it too, is uber-long.
4. One book that made you laugh.
Shannon Olsen's "Welcome to my Planet (Where English is Sometimes Spoken)" still gets a laugh out of me. I've read it several times. It used to pertain to my life a little bit more because Shannon was a single lady looking for love and a bit confused (not that I'm not a big confused now). She's from Minnesota, Chaska to be exact, and described living in Minneapolis and St. Paul, going to school at the U, and her addiction to Target, which I totally identified with. Even though my single days are behind me, reading that book makes me remember being 24.
5. One book that made you cry.
I just finished Pearl S. Buck's "The Good Earth" for the second time and I cried several times throughout. I first read this book in high school and thought it was pretty good, for required reading. I've been reading a lot of Asian-based books lately and recalled this and picked it up. It's different reading it as an adult and more importantly, as a parent. It's just such a good story of one good farmer's life. In parts of it, there is a drought and his family is starving. The have to travel to Shanghai to survive and live by odd jobs and begging on the street. At one point, they begin to think they'll have to sell their baby daughter to live, but circumstances change just at that point. Wang Lung, the farmer, refuses to believe he'll have to sell a child to live and he doesn't. Reading about the poor children starving and how it affects Wang Lung and how badly he wants to return to his land and keep his family together. Besides this, "Gone With the Wind" always makes me cry--Scarlett O'Hara's last words "After all, tomorrow IS another day" just kill me. She's relentless.
6. One book you wish had been written.
I always thought that I would write down my grandfather's war stories. Not to publish, per se, but just for myself and our family. Maybe I would have had it properly printed and bound. He always had so many stories about his life, the war...and I rarely truly listened. I always though I'd have enough time to start on it next week or next month. Now he's been gone for seven years and I still wish that I would have listened and written his words down.
7. One book you wish had never been written.
There are a lot of books that I think are complete trash, but hey, it's anyone's prerogative to write a book. Go for it.
8. One book you're currently reading.
I just finished "The Good Earth". I'm reading a biography of MacArthur slowly but surely and I'm about to start "Theater" by W. Somerset Maugham. I read "The Painted Veil" by Maugham a little while ago and really loved it (movie is NOT as good as the book), so I'm trying some more of his stuff.
9. One book you've been meaning to read.
My grandpa loaned me a book many, many years ago about his Division's action during WWII that of course, I've been meaning to read for these many, many years. Maybe now that I have a brilliant and handsome husband to explain all the minute details to me, I'll take it up.
I see I've not really been able to limit myself to just writing about one book for each question, sorry. But there you go. Have to dash as the chicken nuggets are almost done and still have to microwave the french fries!!
Comments
I think that the one good thing that I did as a parent was to read to you guys when you were little. Look at the worlds that it opened up. I seem to be stuck in the wars this country has fought although I did read "grapes of wrath" recently. Love Steinbeck and wish I had talked more with Fritz too.
Hope all is well with you guys.
Krissy