Monday, November 12, 2007

So, I've been reading a book called Motoring with Mohammad about a man's journey back to Yemen to find his journals he'd left the first time he was there (due to a ship wreck)--such and interesting read about life there . . . and it's a true story.

The book was also one of the hand-me-downs from our
Australian friends. They lived in Yemen for a year and worked for the UN before coming to Scotland.

. . .Some other books I love:


The Self Healing Cookbook . . . and you can read it like a book. It is so delightful and philosophical in a very unpretentious way. I totally recommend it if you are into whole foods and balance in your life. Many thanks to Amber, my dear friend.

The Scarlet Letter -Did anyone else just love reading this book in high school? So revealing in so many ways. I think I should read it again.

Angela's Ashes --There was a tidbit about it on The Office and it made me laugh . . . although the book is heart wrenching.

Primo Levi--I had to read this in Italian and it was tough. Thank goodness for the class discussions.

I finished reading Kitty and her Sisters a few months ago and it was not an epic but I was glued until the very end with lots of sister drama.

The next book I'm going to read is a Feminism: Issues & Arguments by Jennifer Mather Saul. Jason brought it home from the university library for me. After that I have to read Freakonomics recommended by Charla.

I've not been a person that goes from one book to the next always reading and reading but lately I've started to want to read more and more. I've always been really kinesthetic and needed to get up and move around after a 20 page read--even if I was loving the book. I'd get tired in a restless way--tired from sitting! So I really enjoyed short stories for a while (has anyone ever read the short story The Sound of Thunder? -- it's a good one). Anyway, I'm happy to find that I can sit and be calm for longer and maybe it has something to do with being a mom and being busy even when I have nothing planned. Reading has become an escape.

What are some of your favorites?? . . . Or books you have read lately?

15 comments:

Michelle said...

I have The Scarlet Letter on my book list still waiting. I just finished again Into the Wild and again loved it, The Color of Water is a great book and still haven't finished Guns Germs and Steel- supposed to be a great book, I think you'd like it!

Bridget said...

I have been wanting to re-read the Scarlet Letter- it has been on my mind but my next book to read to the kids is the Golden Compass!!!! I think that I'll be reading the Glass Castle next- has come highly remomended.

Meaghan said...

I just finished 1776. It's a really easy read even if you're not a history person. It has a lot of journal entries from men who fought in the war and it's just incredible how they were willing to sacrafice everything for future generations.

I normally don't recommend fiction but there's a YA trilogy of books out by an LDS author that is all the rage in CA right now. It Twilight by Stephanie Meyers. A quick and easy read.

I read a lot. It's my weakness!

Carol said...

Well Cammie, I love to read. But nothing as intelligent sounding as your reads, huuu.

Elizabeth said...

So great to see a list of your favorite books. I will have to request some form the library.

Stephanie said...

My reads include children's homework and the Book of Mormon. Not much time for anything else. Mike and Becky are the big readers.

Emily S. said...

u are smarter than I. And I teach ENGLISH!!

:)

My tops: East of Eden, Education of Little Tree, Expecting Adam, Watership Down, Harry Potters 1-7, Secret Life of Bees.. and on and on.

Anonymous said...

Hi Aunt Cammie. This is Benny. I am doing a report in school about Scotland. Do you have any fun pictures you can send me?

Love,

Benny

jaredandmatisse said...

I recently read "The Great Gatsby" At first you think it is all about bootlegging and money, and then you finally realize, "This is the great American Novel". I also love Hemmingway. "For whom the Bell Tolls", and "A Farewell to Arms" are so moving, especially for an American living in Europe.
Does your husband have an recommendations for a good novel on the subject of Buddhism? I have been searching for a good "Eastern" Novel.-Matisse

Cammie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Cammie said...

Matisee, I'll find out as soon as he comes home. Do you like Thoreau? I really enjoy him too.

Benny, Of course. I can't wait to send photos.

Carol and Emily, I was never really into reading like some of my sisters growing up. I'd read books here and there and for school but wanting to read more is really a new thing and I'm happy about it but, I'm not a smarty pants AT ALL! I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do.

charles said...

you READ? when? you're never home!

I'm (still!) reading American Sucker by David Denby--one of my favorite writers. He's one of the film critics for the New Yorker, and he's oh-so intelligent.

One of my favorite books is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down.

We're just about to read The Golden Compass, too! It's especially exciting after all the neo-conservative hype about the author's alleged pov's.

And I have to say that we CANNOT get through the 1st Twilight book.. It makes me nauseated and it's dripping with ultra-cheese.

charles said...

Peter wants me to tell you that the new Fabio-inspired Harlequin is de-lish!

suvi said...

I just started a book called "Noisy Outlaws, Unfriendly Blobs, and Some things That aren't as Scary, Maybe, Depending on How You Feel About Lost Lands, Stray Cellphones, Creatures from the Sky, Parents who disappear in Peru, a Man Names Lars Farf, and One Other Story we Couldn't Quite Finish, So Maybe You Could Help Us Out." Whew! That is quite a title, for quite a book of really clever short stories published by McSweeny's.

Also, ditto on Charla's The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I think you would love it. And love the Kite Runner (if you can get passed the really depressing beginning).

The Eatons said...

My dream is to have bookshelves line every inch of our house. Oh how I love talking about books. When I meet someone who doesn't enjoy reading, I have to try really hard to like them. I am so happy that you had The Scarlet Letter on your list. That is for sure on my top ten. The old school movie is pretty good too (but only if you have read the book first). I liked Freakonomics and Angela's Ahses too. I will have to check out your other suggestions, especially that cookbook one. I would also add Secret Life of Bees to the list. I LOVED it. Some others I recently finished are:
Small is the New Big By Seth Godin, Hold on to your Kids By G.Neufeld, The Infinite Atonement By Tad R. Callister, and
Jane Austen 'A Life' By Carol Shields.
Thank you for the book discussion. Its always nice to hear about what other people are reading.