Books and Authors
Now that the kids are older, I have had the gift of time to read books. Although, I can't seem to find enough minutes in my day to enjoy each new book I find. It has become a love affair with me. I am a non-fiction girl and love learning from others. I also love "fluff books" where I get lost in the characters. I thought it might be fun to share with you some of my favorites.
The Bible
Non-fiction
How can I do anything else but list the Bible at the tippy top? It has been my handbook for life. The Old Testament reads a bit like a soap opera combined with wonder, mystery and miracles. I have always loved the Psalms and Proverbs but I think I have a natural bend toward the New Testament. It is a great read when you need encouragement, support and guidance. It will also help you understand God and His ultimate plan. It's all about love people. (I bet no one ever gave a book review of the Bible like this).
"Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Nonfiction
Most of you have probably already read this moving book. I learned about it through our neighborhood book club. What a treasure. The cover characterizes this book as "a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman that bound them together". This is a very emotional, dark, moving true story of two very different men and a woman who listened to God. I could seriously go on and on about this book but please, read it yourself. It made me grateful for my life and where God decided to "plop me" and opened my eyes to others who are born in an environnment where they begin their life struggling and some are never free from it.
"Big Stone Gap", "Big Cherry Holler", "Milk Glass Moon", "Lucia Lucia", "The Queen of the Big Time", "Rococo", "Home to Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani
Fiction
Oh how I just love this author. She is an Italian women who writes about family and food and often times takes you to Italy in her books. Her books are light and easy reads.
"Traveling with Pomegranates" by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
Non-fiction
I just finished reading this book about a Mother and Daughter and their travels to Greece and France. They live in the Charleston area which I just love and they love to travel and write. The Mother got on my nerves a bit, I skimmed through some of her soliloquies on Greek Mythology, etc. but I really liked the daughter. She was very transparent.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Bella Tuscany" by Frances Mayes
Fiction
I have read these books a couple of times. Great story about a couple buying a home in Italy and all the twists and turns that come with purchasing a home in a foreign land. I thought the movie was terrible and didn't follow the story line. So Hollywood. I picked up another one of her books a year ago or so (forget the name) and did not like it. Too wordy and descriptive to keep my attention.
"Hand in Hand" by Laura Margaret Evans
Non-fiction
This is a lovely little book that my Grandmother gave to my Mother and my Mother passed on to me and I will do the same with Sophie. It is filled with questions from her children and her responses to those questions. It is chock full of inspiration and reflection. I am not sure when this book was published. I believe in the 1950's so you will have to be open to the 1950's mindset. Look past that and embrace the lessons learned.
"Riding the Bus with My Sister" by Rachel Simon
Non-fiction
A beautiful, funny, insightful book about two sisters. One is mentally retarded and the other is a successful workaholic. The bus becomes a classroom of sorts. Characters abound in this book and most all have a lesson to teach if you will listen.
"French Toast" by
Non-fiction
Mom found this little book for me and I read it on the flight home from LA. It is about a small town girl from Iowa, meeting and marrying a Parisian and spending the last 20 years living in Paris. She writes about the French culture including business, manners, style, romance, food, education, etc. She still feels like she is outside looking in when it comes to the French. It is a cute read for anyone but I was so thankful that it fell into my lap when it did. Thanks Mom!
The Bible
Non-fiction
How can I do anything else but list the Bible at the tippy top? It has been my handbook for life. The Old Testament reads a bit like a soap opera combined with wonder, mystery and miracles. I have always loved the Psalms and Proverbs but I think I have a natural bend toward the New Testament. It is a great read when you need encouragement, support and guidance. It will also help you understand God and His ultimate plan. It's all about love people. (I bet no one ever gave a book review of the Bible like this).
"Same Kind of Different as Me" by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Nonfiction
Most of you have probably already read this moving book. I learned about it through our neighborhood book club. What a treasure. The cover characterizes this book as "a modern-day slave, an international art dealer, and the unlikely woman that bound them together". This is a very emotional, dark, moving true story of two very different men and a woman who listened to God. I could seriously go on and on about this book but please, read it yourself. It made me grateful for my life and where God decided to "plop me" and opened my eyes to others who are born in an environnment where they begin their life struggling and some are never free from it.
"Big Stone Gap", "Big Cherry Holler", "Milk Glass Moon", "Lucia Lucia", "The Queen of the Big Time", "Rococo", "Home to Big Stone Gap" by Adriana Trigiani
Fiction
Oh how I just love this author. She is an Italian women who writes about family and food and often times takes you to Italy in her books. Her books are light and easy reads.
"Traveling with Pomegranates" by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor
Non-fiction
I just finished reading this book about a Mother and Daughter and their travels to Greece and France. They live in the Charleston area which I just love and they love to travel and write. The Mother got on my nerves a bit, I skimmed through some of her soliloquies on Greek Mythology, etc. but I really liked the daughter. She was very transparent.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Bella Tuscany" by Frances Mayes
Fiction
I have read these books a couple of times. Great story about a couple buying a home in Italy and all the twists and turns that come with purchasing a home in a foreign land. I thought the movie was terrible and didn't follow the story line. So Hollywood. I picked up another one of her books a year ago or so (forget the name) and did not like it. Too wordy and descriptive to keep my attention.
"Hand in Hand" by Laura Margaret Evans
Non-fiction
This is a lovely little book that my Grandmother gave to my Mother and my Mother passed on to me and I will do the same with Sophie. It is filled with questions from her children and her responses to those questions. It is chock full of inspiration and reflection. I am not sure when this book was published. I believe in the 1950's so you will have to be open to the 1950's mindset. Look past that and embrace the lessons learned.
"Riding the Bus with My Sister" by Rachel Simon
Non-fiction
A beautiful, funny, insightful book about two sisters. One is mentally retarded and the other is a successful workaholic. The bus becomes a classroom of sorts. Characters abound in this book and most all have a lesson to teach if you will listen.
"French Toast" by
Non-fiction
Mom found this little book for me and I read it on the flight home from LA. It is about a small town girl from Iowa, meeting and marrying a Parisian and spending the last 20 years living in Paris. She writes about the French culture including business, manners, style, romance, food, education, etc. She still feels like she is outside looking in when it comes to the French. It is a cute read for anyone but I was so thankful that it fell into my lap when it did. Thanks Mom!
