"If you have a garden and a library,
you have everything you need."
Cicero
(106 BC - 43 BC)
you have everything you need."
Cicero
(106 BC - 43 BC)
Readers may not be interested in this post. It is just a running list of books I have read the past few years which I am keeping as a record for my own forgetful self. (Now, what was the name of that book?...)
The truth is, I haven't read many this past autumn and winter, because I have read blogs more than books. There are 192 blogs in my list I try to follow, and I keep adding to it. I can't read them everyday, but I do spend a lot of time living vicariously deep in the lives of others.
SPRING 2010
(Date Published)
(2008) Elizabeth Strout: Olive Kitteridge
(2009) Cindy Woodsmall: The Sound of Sleigh Bells
WINTER 2010
(Published)
(1898) Elizabeth Von Arnim: Elizabeth and Her German Garden
(1922) Elizabeth Von Arnim: Enchanted April
(1973) Thalassa Cruso: To Everthing There Is a Season
(2008) Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
(2009) Gregory Maguire: Matchless a Christmas Story
WINTER 2009
(1901) Mary Johnston: Audrey
(1909) William J. Locke: Simon the Jester
(1911) Henry Sydnor Harrison: Queed
(1915) Gene Stratton-Porter: Michael O'Halloran
(1916) Emerson Hough: The Magnificent Adventure
(1924) Emilie Loring: Here Comes the Sun!
(1928) Peter B. Kyne: The Thunder God
(1933) Rhys James: Worth Remembering
(1943) Cleo Dawson: She Came to the Valley
(1950) Marie Campbell: A House With Stairs
(1986) Ernest K. Gann: Fate Is the Hunter
(2005) Markus Zusak: The Book Thief
(2006) Charles Colson: Loving God
(2007) Sheila Roberts: On Strike for Christmas
(2008) Jon and Kate Gosselin, and Beth Carson: Multiple Bles8ings
AUTUMN 2008
13 volumes
(1862) E.D.E.N. Southworth: Broken Engagement
(1877) Martha Finley: Elsie's Children,
and
(1891) Elsie's Vacation
(1891) (Kentucky author) James Lane Allen: Flute and Violin
(1904) (Kentucky author) John Fox Jr.: The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come
(1905) (Kentucky author) James Lane Allen: The Choir Invisible
(1905) Thomas Dixon Jr.: The Leopard's Spots
(1906) William J. Locke: The Belove'd Vagabond
(1907) Meredith Nicholson: Rosalind at Redgate
(1915) J.M. Barrie: Sentimental Tommy
(1996) Frank McCourt: Angela's Ashes
(1998) Nancy Pickard: The Blue Corn Murders
(2006) (Kentucky author) Kim Edwards: Memory Keeper's Daughter
Winter 2008
(1980) The Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson
(1999) Stories for a Woman's Heart, a compilation of uplifting writings by numerous writers, compiled by Alice Gray. Some of the writers are: Ruth Bell Graham, Philip Gulley, Robin Jones Gunn, Erma Bombeck, James Dobson, et al.
(2004) His Excellency George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
(2005) A Christmas Promise, a novel by Katherine Spencer, with covers illustrated by Thomas Kinkade.
(2005) Fannie Flagg's novel, A Redbird Christmas
A trilogy by Mary O'Hara:
(1941) My Friend Flicka,(1943) Thunderhead,(1946) Green Grass of Wyoming.
Winter 2007
(2003) The Hornet's Nest by Jimmy Carter
(2003) The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
I Will No Longer Show Dates for when I read the book. From now on it will be just an ongoing list.
(2001) Night Watch, A Long-Lost Adventure in which Sherlock Holmes Meets Father Brown.
by Stephen Kendrick
(Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto)
(1973) Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton
W. W. Nortan and Company
(2000) A Cat's Life, Dulcy's Story by Dee Ready
J. N. Townsend Publishing
(1996) Desert Queen by Janet Wallach
The Extraordinary Life of Gertrude Bell, Adventurer, Adviser to Kings, Ally of Lawrence of Arabia
Doubleday
(1922) Seven Pillars of Wisdom
by T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia")
Publisher: private edition
And a later edition by Doubleday (1966)
Internet Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Pillars_of_Wisdom
(1992) Loitering With Intent, The Child by Peter O'Toole
Hyperion
(1954) My Several Worlds by Pearl S. Buck
The John Day Co.
(1931, 1932, 1935) House of Earth a trilogy including
(1) The Good Earth
(2) Sons
(3) A House Divided
by Pearl S. Buck
John Day Co.
(1936) The Exile by Pearl S. Buck
Biography of her mother
John Day Co.
(1936) Fighting Angel
Biography of her father
The John Day Co.
(1942) The Chinese Children Next Door by Pearl S. Buck
(1947) The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck
(1946) Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck
(1948) Peony by Pearl S. Buck
"The Cat Who..." novels by Lilian Jackson Braun
Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
1. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards (1966)
2. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (1967)
3. The Cat Who Turned On and Off (1968)
4. The Cat Who Saw Red (1986)
5. The Cat Who Played Brahms (1987)
6. The Cat Who Played Post Office (1987)
7. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare (1988)
8. The Cat Who Sniffed Glue (1988)
9. The Cat Who Went Underground (1989)
10. The Cat Who Talked to Ghosts (1990)
11. The Cat Who Lived High (1990)
12. The Cat Who Knew a Cardinal (1991)
13. The Cat Who Moved a Mountain (1992)
14. The Cat Who Wasn't There (1992)
15. The Cat Who Went into the Closet (1993)
16. The Cat Who Came to Breakfast (1994)
17. The Cat Who Blew the Whistle (1995)
18. The Cat Who Said Cheese (1996)
19. The Cat Who Tailed a Thief (1997)
20. The Cat Who Sang for the Birds (1999)
21. The Cat Who Saw Stars (copyright, 1998; published, 1999)
22. The Cat Who Robbed a Bank (2000)
23. The Cat Who Smelled a Rat (2001)
24. The Cat Who Went up the Creek (2002)
25. The Cat Who Brought Down the House (2003)
26. The Cat Who Talked Turkey (2004)
27. The Cat Who Went Bananas (2005)
28. The Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell (2006)
29. The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers (2007)
Short stories
1. The Cat Who Had 14 Tales (1988)
2. The Private Life of the Cat Who... (2003)
3. Short and Tall Tales (2003)
Several Nero Wolf mystery books by Rex Stout.
I lost my list.
(1940) The Power and the Glory by H. Graham Greene
(1904) The Deliverance by Ellen Glasgow
(2013) W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton
(1911) The Iron Woman by Margaret Deland
(2012) Shepherds of Coyote Rocks by Cat Urbigkit
(2001) The Cat Who Came for Christmas by Cleveland Amory
(1990) The Cat and the Curmudgeon by C. Amory
(1997) Ranch of Dreams by C. Amory
(2011) Gathering Memoir of a Seed Saver Diane Ott Whealy
(1874) Middlemarch by George Eliot
(1860) The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
(1862) Romola by George Eliot
(1859) Adam Bede by George Eliot
(1883?) Collection: Impressions of Theophrastus Such, Essays and Leaves from a Note-Book, and Poetical Works G. Eliot
(1860) Silas Marner by G. Eliot
22 comments:
Oh, thank you, Barbee'! Recommended books are sweeter to us than maple syrup on French toast. Yum!!!
I'm smiling at Our Friend Ben's comment. Too true!
I find I read more blogs than books these days too. Fascinating reading...and so many to keep up with, as you say.
Thanks for this list, and here's one to add to yours: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It's a wonderful story.
I hope you're seeing plenty of those lovely spring bulbs in your garden. My first crocus blooms opened on Sunday to the warm sunshine :) But we are having clouds and rain this week so the buds are staying closed.
Happy spring, dear Barbee!
Hi Barbee...What a treasure your book list is. You and I have similar tastes and you have given me so many choices for books to read. I have read some of them, but there are many for me to choose from.
How have you been? Are you waking up from that long cold winter? The sun is shining and we are to have a day in the high 50's. I have work to do in the house, but I just can't stay in...when the sun is shining. Have a wonderful day.
Balisha
One of my favorite quotes, Barbee! I'm reading THE HELP (Kathryn Stockett) now and can't put it down. Will look over your recommendations. Thank you and happy spring :)
I loved reading the Flicka books. I haven't read any of the others. Good idea to get all the books listed in one place. Thank you!
Hi..Barbee.. The same here too"
I haven't read much of anything either over the winter months.
Hope to get back to doing so soon.
That book list sounds like some intriguing reads.. Thanks for sharing them.
Vetsy..
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ben, love it!! Actually, these are not recommendations; they are just running lists of books I've read past few years. The lists make up a crutch for my memory. It is not easy to recommend books to people if you don't know what kind they like. I was just reading what I had here at hand. I was given those really old ones by an older, dying friend. They are probably out of print. I treasure them in my own library now, and feel so rich. I'd rather have books, music, and flowers than money.
Dear Kerri, I hope I can find that book. If it isn't in our library, I will find it on line. I truly thank you for taking the time to tell me about it. I am between books right now, so this is a good time to look for it. And, now you have me anticipating and anxious to start reading it. Yes, we have enjoyed the crocus blooms. We do not have a great number of them, but there are some different species which makes it interesting. People who see them tend to say which kind is their favorite. :)
Dear Balisha, I think I did pretty much hibernate through the fall and winter. Last week I decided I am on too much medication (although, I am on baby size doses I tend to react more than normal people), anyway, I quit both of them cold turkey, and seem to have awakened along with the bears. Now, as I wrote to Ben, these books are not really recommendations, the lists make up an annex to my brain and memory. I did enjoy them, though. Only one was difficult to trudge through, but the true story was a learning experience for me. It could also be, an insight into conditions that caused some of my ancestors to come to America. That one is Frank McCourt's autobiographical book about his Irish Catholic family: Angela's Ashes. I wonder if you have read it. Each day now there are more blooms out there and the goldfinches are getting quite bright! I am always torn between what I should do indoors and what needs to be done outdoors. Usually, I flounder about and accomplish very little of either one. But, as a friend says to me: "I have a choice."
Joey, I LOVE hearing from you! Isn't that quote the sweetest! I would just add music to his list. I think I will Google your book and see what I can find out about it. If you can't put it down, hmmmmm. And, happy spring to you, too. Smiles!
Oh Callie, I know you are so, so busy, I doubly appreciate your coming by to check on me here and saying hello. Re. the Flicka books: I read them when I was a kid and enjoyed them, but when I read them again now, as an adult, I enjoyed them so much more than the first time. I am so impressed with her extensive vocabulary!
Hello Vetsy, Thank you so much for the comment. You are welcome for the lists. I didn't expect to get this much response to them. I keep getting lost in Blog Land. There is really a lot of good writing (and interesting posts) out there. As you know. It may slow down a little as gardeners rush to their gardens now that the weather is getting more bearable.
Barbee, I was so happy to read this list and find you are also a reader of books from many eras. Some are new books from familiar authors, some are old friends, some are unknown to me, but I bet we have compatible tastes.
Kerri, I'm with you about The Guernsey Literary...etc. it is the most fun paeon to what books can do for you. And Joey, I also just inhaled The Help.
I just picked up this book on books at the library, by Michael Dirda. In the front he has a quote from Michel Foucault (a hard read, but worthwhile):
"The main interest in life and work is to become someone else that you were not in the beginning. If you knew when you began a book what you would say at the end, do you think that you would have the courage to write it? What is true for writing and for a love relationship is true also for life. The game is worthwhile insofar as we don't know what will be the end."
Pomona, you would dangle this intriguing quote in front of my eyes! You knew I couldn't resist it. Another one to add to my "must read list". It is so fun to have you over to join the discussion. Thank you.
Beautiful header picture! And some great reading suggestions!
Thank you, Vicki. My husband took that photo in our back yard a few years ago. I'm not much of a photographer. I take good pics, but I carry the camera around and forget to use it.
Hi Barbee! I also love books, I've always wanted a library of my own in the house. But I agree with you, I tend to get lost in blogs sometimes! There's alot of good blogs out there!! happy reading!
~Lynn
Hello Lynn, I know what you mean. I have wished for a room that is combination dining room and library. I thought the dining table would be a good place to spread books and papers for taking notes when it's not in use for eating. Most of our eating is done at the kitchen table. However, I would want the library to have one nice comfy chair with a good lamp - maybe beside a fireplace... LOL I'm such a dreamer.
Barbee, This is my first visit to your blog; a reader and a gardener! I will definitely be back.
I keep a spreadsheet of the books I have read. I have just read three on your list....so I have more to check out.
I love lists!
I don't have that long a Blog list so I have read probably 2 or 3 books a week all winter long. I forgot to keep track of all of them......
How can you think people aren't interested in lists of books? I'm always so curious. It's the same as when you go into someone's house for the first time ... I always gravitate towards their bookshelf to see what they read. Thanks for signing up on my blog. Good to meet you!
gld, I enjoyed your friendly comment so much. Thank you. Hmm, you love books, and you love lists. Seems a good fit to me :) I hope you will come back.
Fran, I never thought of it that way, thank you. Another thing I like to do is go to a blogger's profile page and read their list of blogs they follow. That is how I found you, but I don't remember where, there have been so many blogs and so many lists. I do get lost in the maze... frequently.
Hi Barbee,
Just wanted to say thank you for your kind visit to my blog!
I'm still catching up on your older posts. Love what I am seeing.
I will go back and read the entire list later. You gave me a great idea and I will start to keep a list of the books that I read as well. Never thought to do that before. My husband is getting ready to serve Easter dinner, so I have to run. Happy Easter, dear Barbee.
I've been wondering when you'd post again. Nice to have you back.
Marilynne Robinson (Gilead) is one of my favorite authors. Housekeeping is at the top of my list for favorite books read.
This was a very interesting post. I enjoyed it.
donna
Hello Toni, you are welcome, I enjoyed that visit. I am glad you popped over here to check things out. Hope to see you here again sometime. I wish my muse would hurry back, I haven't posted much lately.
Hi there, Canyon Girl, How nice to be having your Easter dinner with your husband, and even nicer that he helps with the cooking. Interesting isn't it, that so many bloggers are "book people", but I guess that rather fits. It is interesting to see the books people have read or are reading. Your Edith Holden book The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady looks very familiar to me. I am sure I have read it, and am wondering if I might actually have the book here somewhere.
Donna, thank you! I have been greatly surprised at the interest this post generated. I never dreamed of it. I must keep House Keeping in mind, thank you for mentioning it. I read and added to the list two more books the past 2 weeks. They were easy reads; one recommended by Kerri (above), and the other a short romance set in a gentle, sweet, loving, and supportive society. The name of that one is The Sound of Sleigh Bells and was a Christmas gift from our daughter-in-law. She is a hard working mom of 3 (plus 5 small dogs, and 1 cat) who holds down 2 jobs outside of their home. She usually has only one day to do her shopping for relatives. As I mentioned before, she chooses books by their covers as she runs through the book store, and has no idea about them at all, other than, they look like they would be a good Christmas gift. With a name like that one it was sure to be selected :)
Our friend Ben said it all! Except in the spring with 5 kids, a garden, and a camel I have no time to read...sniff. Kim
Hello Kim, ha, ha, ha, I know you don't for sure!!! I follow your blog and love reading all the things you have going on. Sorry to say, I have no more little children here, so am not participating in your gardens with/for children, but I read about it on your blog. Your current header photo of your camel Gizmo with his spring fresh, juicy grass stained mouth is so amusing. We never get too much about Gizmo. Thanks for popping over here for a visit.
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