The Book Meme Has Struck

The Number Of Books I Own

I own a lot of books. A lot. I love books. I buy books I never plan to read just because I love the way they look. When I was moving, the teenage girl that helped me counted 100, but that’s only the books I have at home. I probably have another 50-60 in storage and at the office.

The Last Books I Bought

Quidditch Through the Ages and Magical Beasts and Where to Find Them by JK Rowling. They were the only of the series that I’m missing. At JK’s site (we’re tight), she suggests that there are clues to the storyline in these books. I think she just likes money, but I bought them anyway.

Last Book I Read

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. With the 6th book due in July, I need to remember the backstory. Unfortunately, my limited intellect only grasps one more paragraph per reading. Therefore, I will actually be able to speak intellectually about the books in 20-30 years (JK mentions some very good sites where people smarter than me discuss the novels. I love Mugglenet.)

Five Books That Mean A Lot
**I’ve left out works of scripture to maintain a general audience. For my religious readers, you know which books I would place here**

A Flower Pot Is Not a Hat by Martha L. Moffett

My first book of philosophy. From its opening statement (“A flower pot is not a hat. If you put it on your head it is.”) to its closing encouragement (“Little brother is not a chair. If I sit on him, he is.”), I learned that utility not form define an object. My mother regrets reading that book to her children. We spent a lot of time quoting it while we sat on our brother.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

This book contains my literary doppleganger, Marianne Dashwood. Jane Austen wrote it early in her career, so its tone is bitter but romantic. Kinda like me. I think there’s a lot of truth about family, relationships, sacrifice, and the beauty of women in this book. It doesn’t get near the recognition it deserves.

The Complete Works of John Donne

He’s the only romantic poet I read. His words take my breath away, just like love should. He’s not silly, or excessive, or immature about love. And that defines my experience of the emotion.

No Doubt About It by Sheri Dew

In my opinion, Sheri Dew is the voice of reformed feminism. This is a religious book, but it’s also a book about embracing womanhood. Sheri expresses the things that make women unique – our open hearts, our drive to experience beauty, our need to excel, and our emotional brand of communication. She encourages women to build their talents as they accept every aspect of their lives, and to shun the voices in the world that degrade or disillusion. Too few people say that stuff to women.

How to Get Your Kids to Eat But Not Too Much by Ellyn Satter

This book could put me out of a job if parents would only read and apply it. Ellyn’s advice is so simple yet perfect that nearly every child will respond. I have based my entire practice on its principles and have never been disappointed.

Honorable Mention: Enchanting Pleasures and Fool for Love by Eloisa James. Few people can write funny romance and funnier sex. Eloisa is a miracle in this genre. She writes “normal” people and could make the world’s greatest cynic sigh with hope for these “average” romances..


One Book That Meant A Lot to Burn

The Biochemical and Physiological Aspects of Human Nutrition. Yeah, I know. I got grabbed by the title, too. But it didn’t live up to the hype. I thought the discussion on cellular metabolism overdone and the lengthy list of each vitamin and its purpose - who hasn’t read that a million times? The ending was so ridiculous, I laughed outright – antioxidants can prevent cancer! Come on! Who believes this tripe?! Just another example of the dumbing down of popular literature.

After the final, we held a book burning. (Every good Christian should attend at least one, don’t you think?) Unfortunately, I needed it for the next semester, so I learned a lesson about freedom of the press as I chinked down another $150 for the most boring book ever written. Now I don’t dare burn the thing.


People I Think Deserve This Kind of Trouble (Generally, people who owe me money.)

Sorry to ping you if you’ve been pinged before, but…

Cate – I look forward to seeing you try and whittle down the list to 5 as I’ve never heard you list fewer than 5 books you’re currently reading.

Jon – You supposedly have an English degree. Here’s your chance to put that degree to good use.

Scroob – I know Myth of Beauty will be on there somewhere (and I plan to read it soon as HP obsession has passed) and I can’t wait to see the rest.