April's A-to-the-Zizzle: H

H is for History.

In this crazy world we live in, some of us are more interested in the past than the present.  Seriously, who wants to hear more about how any day now North Korea will attempt to fire a weapon at the U.S. (only to have it shot down into the ocean before it gets even remotely near us, by the way)?  Not me.

I started college as an English major.  I love stories, I love reading, I love writing.  English seemed like a natural choice for me.  I soon discovered, however, that with each new English course I took, my love for it dwindled a bit more.  Such a disappointment.  There were exceptions, like American Literature and English Literature.  I could take those courses over and over.  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, anyone? Anyhoo, from that I switched to Education because deep down I've always known I wanted to be a teacher,  no matter the subject.  After one semester I decided to take a "break" which turned into six years.

When I returned to college in 2010 I picked up with the Education major, but deciding to go ahead and get the prerequisite courses over with, I scheduled two History courses and a Political Science.  I LOVED those three classes.  I never missed a day.  I showed up every day, excited to hear what the professors were going to share.  The stories captivated me, the people enthralled me.  After rambling to my husband for the seven millionth time that semester, he said, "Why aren't you a History major?  You obviously love it."  I stared at him for a moment, then the little lightbulb came on and I realized Hubs is a genius.  After spending a few days   letting it marinate, I realized Hubs was absolutely right, and felt like a moron for not figuring it out myself.  I went  to the university and changed my major.  I have never had a single moment of regret or uncertainty since.  History is my niche.

Think about it.  Studying History can take you anywhere in the world, to any time period, or any specific

singular moment that had great significance.  You can find hundreds of books on a single topic, such as the JFK assassination, or a single war, or even a single battle.  You can find dozens of books on a single significant person.  You can learn what made people who they were, you can read about why people made the decisions they made, why someone took that extra step that made them greater than the average person.

My favorite History topics are Colonial American, the American Revolution, World War II and British History.  I'm always amazed that while I cherish American history so deeply, it is such a considerably short period of time when compared to most other nations.  When I was in England and France, it repeatedly struck me that many of the homes and buildings we saw were centuries older than my own country.  Such a bizarre realization to have.

I've been driving Hubs crazy with the construction on my new home office, because before the room was even framed up I had already purchased replicas of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, various paintings of the American Revolution and famous historical characters, a Lincoln bust and other historical knickknacks to decorate my office with.  I just couldn't help myself.  I'm obsessed.   I also drive Hubs crazy whenever we watch anything with historical references because I'm always like, "That didn't happen like that.  That's not right.  No, he didn't say that."  Don't even get me started on Disney films...

My hope is to someday be a professor that, while lecturing students taking prerequisite courses, one of the stories I tell will captivate a student so much that he or she realizes their own love for History.  I've been so fortunate to have several professors who are so enthusiastic about what they teach that it's contagious.  They make you want to learn more.

Moral of the story?  Find something, anything historical that interests you, and study it.  Read about it.  Check out multiple books about it to get different viewpoints.  Talk about it with others.  And for God's sake, please don't believe everything you see in "historical" films.  It still pains me to let my children watch Pocahontas.  She married John Rolfe, not John Smith, Walt!

I swore I'd never do it, but here it is: My Harry Potter Post

I know, I know.  Everybody and their cousin is blogging about Harry Potter right now with the fantastic, gargantuan, epic finale coming this weekend.  I told myself I would not join the hooplah, even though I am a Potter fan.  I did put off reading the books until last September, but hey, at least I jumped on the bandwagon before it all ended.  (For those of you who want to inform me I'm not a true Potter/Rowling fan because I haven't been on pins and needles for the past decade waiting for each book and subsequent movie to come out......sorry, but I had other stuff going on.  There just wasn't enough time, what with getting married and having children, to immerse myself in Potterpalooza.)

I figured the best way for me to go about sharing my thoughts on HP is to just give you guys a list of my favorites from the series.  It gets a bit confusing, because some of my favorites from the books are not the same as my favorites from the films.  Tricky, isn't it?  Nonetheless, here we go:

Favorite Nonimportant Character

It's hard to consider any character nonimportant in Harry Potter, because they all have a purpose or reason about them.  One that had very little to give in the way of storyline, yet managed to catch and keep my attention, was Luna Lovegood.  She was so odd, but funny and sometimes uncomfortably honest. 

I loved her in the books, and thought they made an excellent choice in Evanna Lynch for the films.  She portrayed Luna perfectly and beautifully. 

Best Teacher at Hogwarts

Minerva McGonagall

Seriously, this chick was awesome not only in the novels but also in the films (portrayed by the fabulous Maggie Smith).    I love that she was strict and somewhat intimidating, but also had a bit of fun here and there.  I also admired how fiercely loyal she remained to Dumbledore and Hogwarts. 

Favorite mythical creature

Gotta go with hippogriffs on this one.  I thought it was great how Buckbeak was a creature that demanded respect, but once he accepted you he was a tender and playful pet.  He also saved Harry and Hermoine from Lupin (as a werewolf) and helped Sirius escape.  Winner. 

Course at Hogwarts I'd most like to take

 

At first I jumped to Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I probably wouldn't really enjoy that class, mostly because I'm a chicken, but partly because of the weirdos who passed through that class posing as professors.  I think the class I would most enjoy would be Transfiguration with McGonagall.   Who wouldn't want to turn stuff into other stuff? 

Favorite parents

No question about this one, most definitely Arthur and Molly Weasley.  I'd have to say they're my favorite family as well.  I love how Arthur is infatuated with Muggle objects, and he's got the most amusing personality.  Molly is sassy and bossy, but is a wonderful mother to her children, and practically adopts Harry.  I would love to spend a day inside the Weasley house with that family!

On a side note, I've seen Mark Williams (Arthur) give interviews, and he seems like a cool, fun dude.  Bonus points to the Weasleys!

Favorite BFF to Harry

This one is a toughy because Ron and Hermione are both such great friends to Harry.  I sorted it out by breaking it up.  My favorite BFF to Harry in the novels is Hermione.  She's brilliant, quick-witted, honest and loyal to Harry, although a bit of a prude half the time.  If it weren't for her, Harry would've bit it in the first book. 

My favorite BFF to Harry in the films is Ron.  He's such a dork, and can't help but envy Harry's constant place in the spotlight, but he was Harry's very first friend at Hogwarts and stuck with him through the worst of it all.  He's also pretty funny.

Best Quidditch match

Gotta go with Harry's first ever match.  Being the youngest Seeker in a century, having just learned how to fly and managing to win the match while nearly choking on the snitch?  Greatness.  I was surprised to find how much I enjoyed the matches in the novels.  It was even better to see the games brought to life in the films (although in the first film they all resembled stick figures on a computer screen - thank God for advancement in digital art!)

Favorite villain(s)

This was another tough one, because honestly Voldemort wasn't my favorite villain.  Yeah, he's terrifying.  Yeah he's freaky looking.  Still, not my fave.  Again I had to divide my favorite into film and novel. 

Novels:  Dolores Umbridge.  That chick was psycho.  I spent most of the book just waiting for the kids to do anything and everything to piss her off.  Plus, she forced the creation of Dumbledore's Army.  When twenty-something kids have to form a secret army to fight a tiny little woman, you know she's badass.   

Films:  Bellatrix Lestrange.  Maybe it's because Helena Bonham-Carter already weirded me out, but this character was scary good.   Her maniacal laughter and cackling all the time.....creepy.   She also killed Sirius, the only good family Harry had left, which makes her a pretty evil lady in my book. 

Favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher

Gotta be Remus Lupin.  He was kind, honest and the only truly decent D.A.D.A. professor those poor kids had.  I loved that he was once one of James Potter's best pals in school, and his immediate need to look out for Harry.  

Favorite Member of Dumbledore's Army

Neville Longbottom.  I felt so sorry for this kid throughout the majority of the books, and was pleased to see him begin to come out of his shell, gain confidence and turn out to be one of the most important characters in the series.    Matt Lewis did a great job portraying Neville, and I can't express how glad I am that he grew up to be a cutie.  I was worried for a few years there that he'd never catch up to those teeth. 

Characters I'd most likely have a crush on if I were a student at Hogwarts

Obviously, Fred and George Weasley.  I have a thing for troublemakers who are also funny, and these two are the epitome.  Loved them in the novels and adored them in the films.  This is part of the reason I was so upset while reading Deathly Hallows. I know I'll be crying my eyes out at some point during Part Two on Saturday.  Sheesh. 

Favorite novel (and film)

Would have to be Order of the Phoenix.  Umbridge was so deliciously bad.  Fred and George were at their most creative and daring.  Bellatrix was there.   Dumbledore's Army.  The Order.  The only part I hated, of course, was Sirius being killed.

By the time we're on year five, the characters are all solidly developed, relationships have been forged, enemies made and the Dark Lord is back.  I was swept up in this novel from start to finish. 

Most Favorite Character in the Novels (and films)

Surprisingly (even to me), Severus Snape.  J.K. Rowling was brilliant in the creation of Snape.  Additionally, they could not have picked a better man to portray Snape than Alan Rickman if they tried.  The man is a genius.  I went back and forth on whether or not I thought he was good guy/bad guy until the very last novel.   You hate him so much, but at the same time have to appreciate his ability to confuse you.  The way he treats Harry is abysmal, but multiple times he was there to protect the kids from harm.  He's the guy we all love to hate. 

Well there you have it.  Do I share any of your favorites?  If not, who would you pick?

Book Seven of the 7 Fantabulous Re-Reads: Skipping Christmas

Yeah, yeah, my deadline was the 26th.  I actually did finish this on the night of the 25th, though, I promise!  I've just been busy, what with Black Friday shopping, three days of college ball and Sunday NFL!  Can't help that.

Anyhoo, the point is that I did finish all seven books, and just in time, too, because today starts the last week of classes before finals.  DUM DUM DUMMMMMM (think threatening theme music).   So, here we go with my review for Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.

My first time "reading" this book was via audiobook.  I had an hour and a half commute to and from work, a one-year-old and a newborn at home, and very little time for reading, so I found Skipping Christmas on audio and figured I'd give it a try.  It was my first time using one, and it took me a while to get used to someone reading a book to me.  Very strange. 

Once I'd finished, I went to the bookstore and bought the novel because I wanted to read it for myself.  I felt like I had probably missed a lot of details since I was mostly paying attention to driving while listening to it.  So I read it through, and loved it.  I also have the movie Christmas with the Kranks, which is a really close adaptation of the book. 

Skipping Christmas is about Luther and Nora Crank, whose daughter Blair has joined the Peace Corps and will be gone for Christmas.  Typically the Christmas season is full of spending, decorating and parties for the Kranks, but with Blair leaving, Luther decides he just doesn't feel like getting into the spirit this year.  He gets the brilliant idea of skipping Christmas - they would save their money and go on a cruise instead.  The only stipulation is that they would have to skip everything involved with Christmas:  no tree, no decorations, no donations, no presents, no party, and especially NO FROSTY. 

Frosty is the Kranks' neighborhood decoration.  Each house on Hemlock has a Frosty, and every year each neighboor puts one on the roof, so that the entire neighborhood has the same decoration.  The self-proclaimed leader of the Hemlock neighborhood is Abe Fromeyer, who seems to know everyone, including the police chief and mayor.  When it becomes apparent that Luther and Nora are skipping Christmas, it becomes Fromeyer's mission (along with the help of Luther's nemesis Walt Scheel) to "free Frosty" and save Christmas in the neighborhood.

While Nora struggles with every piece of Christmas they refuse, Luther just becomes more adamant about his decision, and prides himself on being steadfast and determined.  The Kranks' cruise will begin on Christmas Day, and Christmas Eve morning they wake up, prepared to pack and get ready for the trip, when a surprise phone call reveals that Blair is coming home for Christmas - and bringing a fiance' with her! 

Suddenly the Kranks are in a hurry to pull off a Christmas miracle to give Blair and her fiance' a proper welcome home.  Of course, finding a tree, decorations, food for a party and guests to attend prove to be more difficult than ever on Christmas Eve for Luther and Nora. 

I won't ruin it and tell you whether or not they are able to pull off the perfect Christmas, but if you've seen the movies, then you already know.  Although, even if you have seen it, I still recommend you read the novel.  It's really entertaining, especially Luther and Nora's conversations. 

Well that's all of my Fantabulous Re-Reads!  Hope everyone has a great Monday!

P.S.  Next Monday I will resume Movie Delight Mondays, and it will be the start of December, which means I will be covering my favorite Christmas movies!  Yay!

Book Four of the 7 Fantabulous Re-Reads: American Psycho

First let me say that this novel is not for those who are uncomfortable with graphic violence and sexual content.   This serial killer is WAY out there.

In American Psycho, author Bret Easton Ellis introduces us to Patrick Bateman, a well-to-do Wall Street businessman who hangs with other equally boring yuppies and has an affection for Peter Gabriel and Huey Lewis and the News.  Patrick is engaged to Evelyn, a woman who he doesn't really care for, and who he suspects is having an affair with his friend.  Patrick, Evelyn and their friends spend their nights trying to get into the newest clubs and restaurants, flaunting their wealth and snorting cocaine in bathrooms.  While to others Patrick appears to be just another rich guy enjoying life, he spends his nights as a serial killer and having obsessive compulsive tendencies to be absolutely perfect in every way.

It takes a long while before the actual murders start, but throughout the first half of the novel Patrick makes comments to his friends about being a psychopath, but his friends always misunderstand what he's saying or think he's being funny.  Patrick has affairs with random women, and it's with these women that he acts out his sick desires, including toture, cannibalism and mutilation.  As his ability to keep his public and personal lives separate, Patrick begins to lose control.  

I think maybe I'm in too jolly of a mood, and because of that I sort of just robotically read through the novel this time around.  I didn't really invest too much feeling in it, which is strange for me, especially since this story is so disturbing.  After publishing American Psycho, Ellis received a great deal of complaints, and "concerned" groups even tried having the book banned in various cities.  Although yhr novel contains some truly dark and awful content, Ellis' ability to create such a complex character is deserving of at least the same courtesy as Stephen King.

Up Next:  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Book Three of the 7 Fantabulous Re-Reads: Island of the Blue Dolphins

The first time I read this novel, about sixteen years ago, I loved it.  We had to read it for school, and I so enjoyed the story of Karana that I read it through three times before the rest of my class had finished it. 

The Island of the Blue Dolphins (so named because if you stand at the highest ridge on the island, the island appears to be in the shape of a dolphin) is a small island, inhabited by a tribe of Indians, the tribe of Ghalas-at, with the chief's daughter Karana as the main character.    Karana's mother died years before so she and her older sister care for their father and younger brother, Ramo.

The Ghalas-at tribe is peaceful, and are only cautious and weary when a group of men, called Aleuts, show up on the island to hunt otter.  Karana's father allows the men to hunt on the promise that they will share half of their catch before they leave at the end of the summer.  When the time comes for the Aleuts to leave, it becomes evident they have no intention of making good on their word, so the chief and the men of the tribe go to the beach to confront the men.  A battle breaks out, and most of the men, including the chief, are killed. 

A new chief is appointed, and he decides the indians need to leave the island.  He leaves to find a new land and promises to return with a ship.  The tribe waits for him for a long time, but he does not return.  After winter passes, a ship comes to take the tribe, as they were instructed by the chief.  They all leave the island, but in the process Karana is separated from Ramo.  As the ship is sailing away, she sees that Ramo has been left behind on the island, but the captain will not turn around so Karana jumps ship and swims back to her brother.  The ship sails away, leaving the two of them all alone.

Almost immediately Ramo is killed by wild dogs, and Karana finds herself alone, without weapons and unsure of how to make them.  She can't bear to stay in the village, so she burns it down and decides to find a new place to live.  She begins to learn how to make weapons and use them, build a shelter, mend canoes and fight off the wild dogs.

As time passes, Karana learns that she is capable of doing anything she sets her mind to, and finds that although she is alone, she can befriend some of the local animals to ease the loneliness.  She tames a wild dog, catches birds, helps an injured otter and tries, but fails, to keep a fox as a pet. 

The story is one of great personal growth and survival.  It's actually based on a true story, which makes it even more interesting.  The novel is only 181 pages, and it's meant for young readers, so it's a quick and easy read.  I still suggest it to anyone and everyone, because Karana is such an endearing character.

Next up:  American Psycho!

Book Two of the 7 Fantabulous Re-Reads: Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe

First off, I have to make a confession with this one.  Usually I insist on reading novels before ever watching a film, but it was reversed this time.  The movie Fried Green Tomatoes has been one of my most favorite movies since I was very young.  My mother, aunts and older cousins all watched it all the time, and it soon became a beloved to me as well.  It wasn't until my preteens that I realized the movie was based on a novel, and of course, I had to read it then. 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg is more a favorite novel because of the movie, I think.  The novel isn't absolutely fabulous, or even very captivating.  I love it because it gave me more insight to the characters, and specifically, it let me see deeper into the relationship between Idgie and Ruth.

The novel is one of those odd works that continually flashes from the past to the present, and all over the place, so it takes a few pages before you adjust.  Evelyn Couch is a middle-aged woman, afraid of death and afraid of life.  She's in a loveless marriage, and constantly confused by the way people act.  On a routine visit with her mother-in-law at a retirement home, Evelyn meets Ninny Threadgoode.  Ninny is another "guest" at the retirement home, and her ramblings about the old days soon catch Evelyn's attention as she learns about life in the 30s and 40s in Whistle Stop, Alabama.

The Threadgoode family is one of the largest and most well-known in town.  They treat colored peopel fairly and are the most generous people around.  Their home becomes the favored place for picnics, weddings and celebrations.  People meet and fall in love at the Threadgoode home, and Ninny's stories mostly revolve around young Idgie Threadgoode, the tomboyish baby of the family.   After Idgie's older brother and best friend Buddy dies, Idgie refuses to get close to people.  This goes on for a few years, until a young woman named Ruth comes to stay with the Threadgoodes for the summer as a church youth aid.  Young Idgie immediately becomes infatuated with Ruth, and an odd relationship begins between the two.

The novel takes us simultaneously through Evelyn's personal crises and the war, depression and everyday life of a small Alabama town.  The more Evelyn learns about Idgie, the more confident she becomes.  She begins to think of herself as having an alter ego, Towanda, whose only goal is to right wrongs and take down evildoers.  It's hilarious, really.  She almost seems as if she's going off the deep end.

At the same time, we see Ruth move away to be married to a Georgia man named Frank Bennett, and Idgie is heartbroken.  Ruth's devil of a husband is abusive, and she eventually gets the nerve to leave him and rejoin Idgie in Whistle Stop.  Soon after Ruth's return, she realizes she is pregnant.  Ruth and Idgie open a small cafe and after Ruth's ex-husband comes sneaking around, he mysteriously disappears.    Investigators suspect Idgie and her hired man Big George, but no body and no evidence leads them to drop the case.   Years later, though, Frank Bennett's truck is found near Whistle Stop, and Idgie and Big George are charged with murder.

While reading the story, Idgie and Evelyn become similar characters in your mind, and you root for them both fervently because they're such wonderful characters. 

Although I enjoy the novel, I have to say that this is the one and only exception where I love the movie more than the book. 

Next up:  Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Book one of the 7 Fantabulous Re-Reads: The Other Boleyn Girl

On Friday I told y'all that I'm attempting to re-read seven of my most favorite novels in order to make the time between now and November 26th pass faster.  Well, book one was a partly-historically-accurate-and-partly-malarky novel about the Boleyn sisters Mary and Anne, and their affairs with England's King Henry VIII.

I love this novel because despite some of the inaccuracies, you feel like you're really getting a glimpse into what life was like for a 15th century courtier and life among royals.  Growing up American, we have no real appreciation or understanding of the history of pride in a royal family, or living under the rule of a king or queen.  The whole concept of a royal heirarchy and birthrights and all of that is just an alien idea, and that's mostly why, I think, I enjoyed this one so much.

Author Philippa Gregory introduces us to young Mary Boleyn at the young age of 13, having just been married off and starting out in the service of Queen Katherine of Aragon, aka Henry VIII's first wife.  Mary belongs to the Howard family on her mother's side, and the Boleyn family on her father's side.  The Howards have great ambitions in regards to title, wealth and station.  Her uncle, a Howard, is the most ambitious of them all, and the head of the family.    When Mary catches the eye of the young, attractive king, her uncle orders Mary away from her husband to seduce and bed the king in order to advance the Howard family. 

Mary's older sister, Anne, returns to the court from France soon after she's caught the king's eye, and as Anne is witty, beautiful and smart, it becomes Anne's job to keep the king interested in Mary and away from all other girls vying for his attention.  Anne is resentful of her orders because she considers herself to be much better than Mary, and the two are bitter rivals. 

Mary is young, unsure and afraid, but she does as she is told, and thus becomes a favorite of Henry and soon finds herself in love with the king of England.    After much effort on the part of Mary, Anne, their brother George and the rest of the Howard family, Mary ends up mother to two of the king's children.  Despite Mary's good nature and obvious fertility, the king begins to lose interest in Mary, thanks to Anne. 

Mary soon learns that Anne has her own agenda, and it is to take Queen Katherine's place as Queen of England.  It is clear that Anne is determined, will stop at nothing and will do anything and everything she must in order to take the throne. 

As the lies, risks and gambles of the Howard family become more and more outrageous, Mary tires of life in the court and wishes for nothing more than to be left to her children and love. 

This book is a delicious read, not only for the saga of Mary and Anne Boleyn and their fight for the throne, but also because it's packed with good humor, some wonderful romance and, of course, an actual love story thrown in as well.  Mary's eventual true love interest is a good, honest man and you find yourself rooting so hard for Mary that you really want Anne to lose(which, as we all know, she does). 

I don't know if the real Anne Boleyn was anything like she is in this novel, but if so, I don't blame Henry for having her beheaded.  The woman was a snake.  Awful. 

I told the hubs it's a good thing I wasn't living during that time, because I'd have been one of those stubborn women who refused to do as she was told.  The hubs laughed and agreed with me.  Yes, indeedy.


Next up:  Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg

Passing on the reading gene

I love to read; I always have. I remember being a wee little one, even before kindergarten, sitting on the laps of my grandparents while they read books to me.    My most dominant memories from both second and third grade are of my teachers reading books to us young pupils. 

My mother has always been an avid reader, and fortunately she passed that love on to myself and my sister.  During summer breaks we used to trade books every other day.  We read just about every young adult fiction series there was:  we started out with The Babysitter's Club and Goosebumps, then moved on to Fear Street, Sweet Valley High (followed by SVU), Love Stories, Christopher Pike's Chain Letter books, etc. 

Eventually, as I got older, my tastes matured and I began to delve into deeper subject matter, but these series established a love of reading in me, and I hope my daughters will one day look back and have the same sense of affection for similar book series.  Of course, it all starts with the "baby" books....

These are some of my most treasured books from early childhood that I have already purchased in the hopes that my girls will love them as much as me:

The first book I remember being read to me.

As a first grader, I thought this was the funniest book in the world.

I don't know anyone who doesn't remember this one fondly.

My third grade teacher read this to my class on the first day of

school, and we begged for it every day for the rest of the year. 

I always thought Alexander was being a sissy.

I loved this little bear, and I thought it was amazing when they made a movie version of the book.

I wanted to go there, so badly.

The hubs isn't much of a reader, but his parents read him all of the Dr. Seuss books, which he still loves (and Mimi hopes our girls will love also).

What were your favorite books as a child/young adult?

Literary Lovin'

I woke up this morning, fixed a cup of coffee and logged into my various internet accounts:  Hotmail, Blogger, Facebook, 20sb.  A new photo album published on Facebook by a young girl from my church caught my attention, so I browsed through the pics, then took a look at her profile.  As I read the lists of favorite movies, books, music, etc., I was appalled.  When did Twilight become the absolute favorite book (series), and all other literary classics (ie: gold) become necessary evils of school reading lists?

(Editor's Note:  I do, in fact, own the Twilight Saga, and have read it numerous times.  That doesn't make it my favorite.)

It's disappointing that kids have no desire to read wonderful pieces of literary art anymore.  When I was a teen, I read classics over and over again, astounded at how an author described the characters in such a way that I developed an image of them in my head.  The stories unfolded like a movie in my mind, and I cherished them all.  Now you can only get a kid to read F. Scott Fitzgerald if their English grade is dependent upon it.

Shameful.

So, in my own form of protest, I've decided to list my ten favorite novels of all time in the hopes that young people will be inspired to go to the library or bookstore and read something other than Harry Potter or Twilight.

NOTE:  I'm not including The Bible in this list, because - in my opinion - everyone should own a Bible and read it often.  

Also, you won't find The Hobbit, 1984, Animal Farm or Of Mice and Men on this list, because although they're considered classics, I hated them.  Every stinkin' page. 

So, here we go....

10. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

The book that inspired the movie that started the original vampire craze. No lovey-dovey vampire/human relationships in this book.   

  

9. The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

A true story about the incurable Ebola virus.   Stephen King himself described it as "one of the most horrifying things I've ever read." The film "Outbreak" was loosely based on this book.

8. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Battles of wit between independent Elizabeth Bennet and the charmingly cocky Mr. Darcy.  A lovely literary classic, entertaining from start to finish.

7. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Multiple personality disorders, a secret society and extremist organization run amuck in this awesome book later turned into a film starring Brad Pitt and Ed Norton.

6. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

A story about sisters, feminism, individuality, hardships, love and family.

5. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

A collection of short stories - all entertaining.  The movie "A Knight's Tale" is based on one of the stories and two other characters.

 

4. American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 

Investment banker by day.  Raping, murdering obssessive-compulsive 80s music buff by night.

Also inspired a movie starring Christian Bale.

3. A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice

The first novel by Anne Rice's son, a gripping and dark look into the lives of four childhood friends torn apart - and eventually brought back together - by alcohol, sex, homosexuality and tragedy. 

2. The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

Excellently written story of Mary Boleyn, lover of King Henry VII, and the competition with her sister Anne.  Not completely historically accurate, but still a wonderful read. (Also much better than the movie, as usual.) 

1. The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgerald

Bachelor Nick rents a home between two mansions, and after observing the aristocrats inside, becomes wrapped up in a world of unrequited love, mysteries and murder.  The Great Gatsby is considered by many to be a fictional examination of the "American Dream" (the 1920s version, that is).

One of the best books ever written, and my personal favorite. 

For need of sharing, I've also included a few "honorable mentions" for you guys:

That's all, folks.  Now go to your library, check a few of these out and enjoy!

Inspiration and Intimidation

I've been reading quite a bit lately. I've always loved to read. Fiction, non-fiction, romance, comedy, mystery, autobiography, history, anything and everything. I have always tried to limit myself to one book at a time, but recently I've been reading two or three at a time. Makes for interesting dreams...

I also have always loved to write. Because of that, when I read an excellent piece of literature, I feel so inspired. I admire the author, and his or her ability to take a brilliant idea and put it on paper so eloquently. Yet at the same time, I also feel completely intimidated.

When an idea for a story comes into my head, I grab a notebook and start writing. The problem, though, is that the ideas move so rapidly through my head and get so jumbled that I find myself overwhelmed and frustrated. It makes me second-guess my ability to write well. Am I too scatterbrained to be a good writer? That's a very good possibility. Sometimes I feel like my brain is really a train station, and my inspired thoughts trains that move in and out of the depot at a rapid pace, never staying long enough to stick.

Maybe I should go out and buy Writing for Dummies...

Just last night I was conversing with a very dear friend of mine about writing. He discovered that I blog, and understandably requested that I let him read it. It's always interesting to get a glimpse into your friends' minds. He read a bit of my stuff, and began to encourage me. His opinion was that I am a talented writer, and have a way with words. Flattering, obviously. It made me feel more confident of myself. It's always nice to know that someone appreciates what you do and believes in you. Maybe I'll find a way to sort my crazy thoughts and someday I'll actually finish a novel....