One book that changed my life:
I just can't select one title to fit that big bill. I guess it's more the act of reading that has shaped my life over the decades, it is truly one of the most pleasurable things in life, and books have always been a companion to me.
One book that I have read more than once:
Oh, you mean a book that I have intended to reread and not because I've forgotten that I've already read it? (Please tell me I'm not alone here). Well, I just have too many books that I have yet to read (see my answer to the last question) for that to have happened very often and, here it is again, I've forgotten which books I have reread. I do intend to reread Patrick White's The tree of man one day.
One book that made me laugh:
Elizabeth Jolley's "Mr Scobie's riddle". Elizabeth Jolley is a West Australian author who came to publishing her work late in life. I would recommend any of her books. Mr Scobie's riddle, by the way, also has some very poignant passages, as well as lol bits.
One book that made me cry:
Can I pass on this one? It has been so long since I've read a book that made me cry, I just can't remember. There are plenty of stories in the newspapers these days though that make me cry.
One book I wish I had written:
I know this is not what is intended here, but too bad. I wish I had written our family history. And with encouragement from Alice, I may yet do that.
One book I wish had never been written:
Mein Kampf
One book I am currently reading:
Well, I always have my "currently reading" in my sidebar, but that one as of today's date (Cassada by James Salter) I've just finished. However last night when I wanted to start on one of the books I have out on loan from the uni and local libraries, both of the ones I tried were not my cup of tea. I always have some backup things to read, such as the weekend papers which will of course contain more book reviews. One book my husband borrowed looks interesting, and I may read that: The evolution of useful things: how everyday artifacts - from forks and pins to paper clips and zippers - came to be as they are by Henry Petroski.
One book I've been meaning to read:
Oh my goodness me, where do I start? After years as a librarian, coming into contact with interesting titles from so many sources, including the university library catalogue which I was practically connected to by umbilical cord for 16 years, I have accumulated hundreds of printouts from the catalogue, clippings from newspaper and magazine reviews, those wonderful catalogues sent out by bookshops in time for Christmas shopping (pardon me while I wipe the drool off my chin) - I have a binder full.
But one title in particular has been recommended by one of my readers, so I'll highlight that one: Roberta Sykes' autobiographical Snakes dreaming, which is in 3 volumes (Snake cradle, Snake dancing and Snake circle).
4 comments:
Hi Val ~ WOW! Your binder fascinates me...full to the brim!
I have been thinking of you these last couple of days and wondering how your course went. It was this weekend?
Kali,
The course didn’t happen as the tutor was ill and it has to be rescheduled. So instead I went to the Carlton-Hawthorn game on Sunday and watched my Blue Boys have a bad day!
Today I’ve been to the library and borrowed a few of those books in my binder, plus a delicious looking book on bookbinding.
Thank for an interesting posting about your beloved books. I think they do shape our lives, just as our lives will shape future authors ideas, to the extent our cultures changes and evolves. I like the idea that books offer real, life companions.
I always tell people I'm a book 'ho. No matter how many unread books I have on the shelf (at least 200) or the beside table (probably 8), I can always find some that look better at the library, used bookstore, or on the bookshelf at church. Our church has a shelf with donated books--$1 for hardbacks & 50 cents for paperbacks. It's a paradise for me.
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