Hey guys. I know, it’s Saturday. Who blogs on Saturday? Well here’s the deal…the good Dr. has made it clear that this baby is not going to stay put much longer. But in the meantime I’m still on bed rest. After last night I thought my brain might melt out of my head if I watch one more minute of reality TV….I don’t want to waste any more precious time. I’ve compiled a small and do-able list of things to do before the babe gets here….so here’s my question for you. I loved all the music recommendations I got for a summer mix–still compiling that one–and I loved hearing from familiar readers and hey-I-didn’t-know-you-read-my-blog readers alike. So friends, if you had just one book to read in your last days before life got turned upside down, what would it be? Remember I’m not going to have time to tackle War and Peace or The Fountainhead but I can definitely read something. So give it to me! Whatcha got?
AMY! Its been so long! I found your blog when you posted t on FB a while ago and I've been following it since. I've loved your updates, your projects and the pics of your cute family!
I have 2 recommendations: 1) Shel SIlverstein "The Missing Piece Meets the Big O" (10 min read — think its even on you tube?)
and
2) The Four Loves by CS Lewis.
Good luck and I"ll be looking forward to another post with the new little lamp!! 🙂
I love the book "Expecting Adam" by Martha Beck. Yes, she's a little controversial, but this beautiful true story was something that I couldn't put down and couldn't stop thinking about. It was beautiful, uplifting, and I felt really inspired after reading it. It really gave me a glimpse into the eternal nature of our lives and relationships and children. I still find myself thinking about specific sentences that I had to read out loud they were so good.
It's a little big, but reads really fast. I think I finished in under a week.
Expecting Adam by Martha Beck.
You should pick mine. Seriously.
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. A beautiful memoir of poverty, love, dysfunction and family.
If you haven't already read it, My Life in France by Julia Child with Alex Prud'Homme is utterly charming.
Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
I don't know if you've already read "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society". It's SO lovely, and not very long!
(I don't think you'd have access to this one, but if you could find it, I'd recommend it even MORE: "Marathon of Faith" by Rex and Janet Lee.)
My recommendations are: The Help, The Hunger Games, or The Lost Symbol. Those are the last 3 I've read for my book club, and they're all super good.
I'm proud of you, Miggy! You're doing so great with all that has come your way.
Ok–
So I've read The 4 Loves, The Hunger Games, and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. All great recommendations–so that of course makes me excited for the others.
Expecting Adam–that sounds good, I wonder if I can find it at the Cincy Library. The Glass Castle and My Life in France both sound good. Love Walked In, The Lost Symbol and The Help…also good…I'm going to start searching what our Library carries… Keep em coming! Even if I only read 1 now, I can always do some books on tape while nursing right?
And Kris–seriously! It has been SO long…I'm gonna go check your blog…
Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin. Actually, all of his books are fantastic.
If you haven't read "The Hunger Games", definitely go for that one. But if you have, I'd recommend "Something Missing". I just finished it and it's a quirky, unexpectedly tender story of an OCD Thief.
Good luck with the early arrival of Lamp! You're in my prayers.
Middlesex by Jeffrey eugenides is one of my favorite books of all time. And east of Eden by Steinbeck. I just finished it and I loved it.
Miggy – Glad the end of bed rest is in sight.
I second the "Expecting Adam" recommendation and would also add "Little Bee." You could read the latter in one sitting, it is a very compelling story.
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.
The first five pages might throw you off, but the rest of it is straight up awesome.
I loved The Help, but the history of love was something different and so much lovelier than anything i'd read in a long long long time.
Good vacation books: The Help. The Red Tent. I'm sure you've read Eat Pray Love and These Is My Words, but if you haven't you should. Peace Like a River – so beautiful. The Thirteenth Tale – so fun and addicting. The Secret Life of Bees, you've probably read. I'm done.
"Expecting Adam" was a really good read, but also discouraging towards the end because the author took too many liberties with her imagination, but stated it as the truth.
The Help was really good and easy to put down and pick right up again.
These Is My Words. If you haven't read it, it will be a GREAT distraction with a main character that you love. And a love story that is the best ever!
I ditto on "These is my Words"
Since you've read a lot of the ones I would have reccommended, I'm going with These is My Words as well! Have you read Little Women?
Sarah
Rebeckah
Rachel and Leah
Ender's Game (All by O.S. Card)
Krik! Krak? by Edwidge Danticat
My Antonia! by Willa Cather
Agree with previous commenters on Middlesex, East of Eden, These is My Words (and the rest of the series), and Glass Castle.
the glass castle is amazing. you should definitely read that at some point. east of eden is my favorite book, and i couldn't like anything after reading that until the glass castle. i really think you'd like it.
The Giver by Lois Lowery – you have probably read it – maybe in elementary school, but it is worth a reread and is quite short.
Amy,
I thought I might cruise by your blog and see what you were up to…and boy! You are such a strong woman. I'll be thinking of you and your family a lot in the next few weeks and wish the world for you.
-Michelle
Ps. For book recommendations the last thing i read that i truly loved beyond anything was song of solomon by toni morrison. it's a pretty quick read too.
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. . . absolutely beautiful. OR anything by P.G. Wodehouse. . . absolutely hysterical.
These Is My Words is a great book.
Ooh "the glass castle" is fab & quick you don't want to put it down!
I'm actually listening to "the help" right now- because I drove 12 (or more) hrs to get to my vacation spot & I'll be driving 12 (probably more) hrs back in a couple of days. It's really fun to listen too. (shhh don't tell my book group)
"sweetness at the bottom of the pie" is really quick & fun also.
I agree with Kage and Erin. Read Expecting Adam. I read it a few years ago and I think it is just a wonderful story. I'm currently reading the Historian and so far, I love it…it's kind of a spin off Dracula (but not Twilight-ish).
Good luck with everything!!
i'm a "didn't know you read my blog" reader but would love to suggest anything (everything!) by jodi picoult.
most know her for writing "my sisters keeper" but all of her books have been amazing! theres always strong ties of family and relationship and always a twist!
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Its a page turner and very well written, a good bedside read that won't make you feel like you are just reading crap.
The Book Thief — a bit more of a tear jerker, but again great writing.
anything by Rosamunde Pilcher is more of a bath tub reader if you want some brain candy. The Shell Seekers is my fav.
Happy Reading 🙂