Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Summer Book Stacks Sitting By My Red Chair *Updated And Adding More As I Remember Them

{If you have read (or do read) any of these, please let me know... I would love to hear what you think, too.}  

This is what I love about summer: a reading stack, icy drinks, a sun hat, kids playing in swim-suits and way less schedule! I'm just hoping for that consistent sunshine part now...


ART & BEAUTY

Life is a Verb; Patti Digh (Reading this in "chunks.")
Why I Wake Early; Mary Oliver (She who makes me cry.)
White Pine; Mary Oliver
Red Bird; Mary Oliver
Thirst; Mary Oliver

RUNNNING

Mile Markers; Kristin Armstrong (Already a long-term favourite. Love her with all my gratitude.)
Sole Sisters ~ Stories of Women and Running; Lin and Warner (A family favourite.) 
Ultramarathon Man; Karnazes (Amazing)
Running With Joy; Ryan Hall

SPIRITUALITY & GRATITUDE

The Gifts of Imperfection; Brene Brown (Life-changing and life-affirming.)
I Thought It Was Just Me; Brene Brown (Giving me new language for deep values.)
Gift From The Sea; Anne Morrow Lindbergh (I reread this every summer.)
She Walks In Beauty - A Woman's Journey Through Poems; Caroline Kennedy (This is so lovely.)
God Laughs and Plays - Churchless Sermons in response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist right; David James Duncan (Cannot wait to discuss this with book club.)
Unconditional; Brian Zahnd (Two weeks ago my husband and I had an eight mile running date. He talked a lot about how this book was rocking his world as we ran. The stuff he quoted already made me cry and feel beyond challenged. I am reading it to catch up but I am scared! )

INTENTIONAL FICTION

The Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness; Joel Izzy
The Complete Stories; Flannery O'Connor
The River Why; David James Duncan
My Story As Told By Water; David James Duncan
Imagination in Place; Wendell Berry
Life and Work; Wendell Berry
The Glass Castle; Walls (Again, amazing.)
The Worry Week; Lindbergh (Reading out loud to the kids - it's delightful, funny and adventurous.)

Also ReReading For My Children's Sake For The UpTeenth Time & One Honourable Mention

Strong-Willed Child or Dreamer; Braund and Spears (My all-time-very-favourite-ever parenting book. I reread this in every big development transition.) 
The Happiness Project; Gretchen Rubin (Not impressed yet, but also not giving up yet because I like her premise.) 






10 comments:

renee @ FIMBY said...

Well you asked so I'll add my comments. I personally was not impressed with the Happiness Project. To me it just seemed like a project orientated to do list -accomplish these things and be happy. I didn't finish it. Haven't mentioned this anywhere else because everyone seemed to love it.

I love your reading lists. Thanks for sharing them.

Jessica Stock said...

I love you reading list- you've given me some good ones to add to my list! Wish I could discuss your book club book too- what a fascinating title!

Misha said...

Renee - same. I keep waiting for it to change but it feels so very self-focused/shallow. Not that she is, but the endeavour felt that way. It's losing me. I also wanted to ask you - have you read Unconditional; Brian Zahnd? That's also on my list - probably should add it to this post as I'd love to hear other's thoughts on it.

Jess - come talk with us! : ) It's not until this Fall.

WordGirl said...

I want to read Strong Willed Child or Dreamer - I've had one other friend recommend this as well. I recently finished (and loved) The Art of Family by Gina Bria. I'm not a big reader of parenting books, but this book left me feeling affirmed, not convicted.

I love that you reread Gift From the Sea every year. It's one of my favorite books of all time.

Here's hoping you have many moments to curl up with a good book (preferably with kids nearby curled up with their own books).

Chelle said...

I've just got to say friend, I adore your book recommendations. Big time. And I have never read Gift from the Sea...but it's going to the top of my book list.

Chelle said...

P.S. Because if for know other reason than you love it that much, I have to read it.

Alishia said...

River Why: Laugh out loud funny. I've been reading some Maisie Dobbs mysteries...light and fun. Have you ever got into the Ladies First Detective Agency books? Favorites. Wendell Berry is great, too. Ever read his Home Economics? Also good in that same vein is Edward Abbey.

Misha said...

Wordgirl - I have been tracking with you and it's on my amazon book wishlist. I think I want to own that one based on all you've said! So excited to read it - hopefully sometime soon!

Chelle - Would love to hear what you are reading, kindred friend!

Alish - Haven't ever done Maisie Dobbs. Going to have to now. Also haven't done Home Economics. Nor Abbey - love your recommendations so much!

The Watters said...

So excited to find a new reading list...can't wait to read some of your suggestions!

Unknown said...

Thank for the list.. a few I haven't read.
Mary Oliver makes me cry too. And feel alive.

I love the way you write about running . It validates and affirms my feelings in many ways. And I get to run with my hubby on dates , who knew? I did my first track work the other day. I felt like a kid. Except as a kid I would never have been on the track :). Better late than never. It was midday on a sweltering hot pmsy day, but I finished what I set out to do . And it's empowering,no?

love to you

deb