Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Les Livres

bib⋅li⋅o⋅phile [bib-lee-uh-fahyl, -fil]: a person who loves or collects books





In case you haven't checked out my blogger profile (see right), i am a bibliophile, aka lover and collector of books. My love affair with books began long ago when i was in elementary school and lived in Lafayette, Louisiana. My mother had a store in downtown Lafayette, mere blocks away from the Lafayette Public Library. On the days we accompanied my mother to work, my sister and i would spend our afternoons at the Library, reading, absorbing and checking out a multitude of books. (Back then i thought that Library was huge. Who knows how big it actually is because after all, every place seems huge when you are a child, n'est ce pas?)

Every summer the Library had reading contests in which you got little prizes for x number of books read. My mom and dad would sign off on this piece of paper where i listed all the books i had read that summer. I always ran out of space and had to request more and more sheets. I was a voracious little reader, i couldn't get enough! To this day i am frequently reading several books at a time. I'm also a freakishly fast reader so it doesn't take long for me to get through them. (It took me one day, working day mind you so really just a few hours, to read each of the Twilight books, except Breaking Dawn. But that's because i didn't want the series to end, and let's be honest, that book kind of sucked compared to the others.)

Unfortunately, these days i often start too many books at one time and find it difficult to actually finish them. One of my June goals is to finish 2 of the books i'm currently reading, which in theory, should not be that hard to do. The problem is new books are so alluring that i often cannot stop myself from starting another and another and another. This is why my bedside table (which isn't really a table after all but really just a tray, and i desperately need to replace it with something that can actually house some of my books, candles, chargers, etc.) is overflowing with books. It's a serious problem.

I just got home from a trip to Tarjay. While i was there i picked up about ten different books, but only 4 made it back home with me (don't worry, they were paperback and discounted so not terribly expensive). I'm currently seeking chick lit, as it's lighthearted, fun, and i haven't read one in awhile. Plus this summer heat also inspires me to buy beachy reads. I bought:

1. A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand
2. One Fifth Avenue by Candace Bushnell
3. Shoe Addicts Anonymous and 4. Secrets of a Shoe Addict by Beth Harbison (per recommendation by Jen Lancaster)

Have you read any of these? Thoughts? Should i return any of them??

Books I Am Currently Reading (aka have started but not finished):

1. The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn
2. Juicy Pens Thirsty Paper by SARK
3. Make Your Creative Dreams Real by SARK
4. French Women for All Seasons by Mireille Guilano
5. Pretty In Plaid by Jen Lancaster
6. La Dolce Vegan by Sarah Kramer
7. The Women's Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden

See what i mean?

A Note On Audiobooks - While i love hard copy books, i also frequently enjoy a good audiobook, especially these days when i have less time to read due to my annoyingly full-time job. Currently playing in my car is Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck read by Ms. Ephron herself. This is not the first time i've listened to this audiobook, i've had it for years, and i adore it. Nora is delightful, witty, and charming. I want to be her friend. I highly suggest you pick this one up if you like audiobooks. I honestly think it's better listened to by the author herself than read. Her tone and inflection are priceless.

I should probably get off the computer now, unpack my Target bags, brush my teeth, wash my face, and get in bed with one of my many "currently reading" books. But let's be honest. I'll probably open one of my newbies. Old habits die hard!

But first, i have to know: what are you reading these days?


9 comments:

DS said...

I know what you mean about books! I always get into one book but soon start another. Book ADD perhaps? Currently I am reading Fried Green Tomatoes by Fannie Flag (one of my favorite authors!) If you enjoy chick lit, I am a huge fan of Jane Green. Her books are fantastic!

Lauren said...

I'm reading both of those by SARK too! I have a nightstand (and three overflowing bookshelves) of books to dive into this summer. I just finished "Pretty in Plaid" and "Bright Lights, Big Ass". I'm reading a non-diet diet book called "Intuitive Eating", Tom Friedman's "The World is Flat" and BKS Iyengar's "Light on Life". Also blisschick just started a mini reading group with one of Stephen Cope's yoga books. I obviously have the same problem of starting too many!

I'd highly recommend "The Time Traveler's Wife", if you haven't read it. It takes a long time to get into but it's so worth it.

I need good chick lit recommendations, so when you finish those up, I'd love to hear what you think!

Analiese said...

I second "The Time Traveler's Wife" recommendation. It's a gorgeous read. I didn't want it to end!

I recently read Curtis Sittenfeld's "American Wife" (the same author that wrote "Prep") and loved it. Highly recommend that one.

Right now, I'm reading "The Complete Artist's Way" (which includes the two sequel books), "Hip Tranquil Chick," "Simple Abundance" (Sarah Ban Breathnach), "The Art of Simple Food" (Alice Waters) and "A Homemade Life," by Molly Wizenberg.

Another good chick lit/food lit book (along the lines of "The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry") is "Cooking for Mr. Latte" by Amanda Hesser. I tried a few of the recipes she includes, and they're really delish!

Anonymous said...

I hear ya! I'm a book addict!!! And I don't let anyone else near my books in case they damage them or crease the spine or bend a page!
I'm not really a chick lit person so Candace Bushnell would make me run a mile! I'm trying to build up my classics collection. I read Dracula and The Great Gatsby a few weeks ago, and then Lady Audley's Secret and next on the list is Anna Karinina. I have to read some proper 'me' books in between each one though,like The Secret History, To Kill a Mockingbird and Special Topics of Calamity Physics!

melimo said...

i dont know if youve heard ot "true blood" on HBO, but the series of novels the show is based on are worth a read! ive read all 9 books, and naturally the books are WAY better than the show. and really.. who doesnt love vampires?

Caitlin said...

I had the privilege of taking a class at the University of Pittsburgh called "Vampires: Blood and Empire" and have surprisingly been able to use some of the information I learned in other classes! I used to be a HUGE reader, that is until I had to read for school, then I feel guilty about reading books other than my assigned texts. One more week of summer classes then I can read for fun again!!!!!!

Hope to read Twilight, The Jungle (Upton Sinclair) and 5-ish or so business/yoga books as recommended by Kimberly Wilson.

Happy Reading!

Anonymous said...

oh I adore books! I am always at the library - and I take home a huge stack every single time. I just can't get enough.

Right now I am reading The End of Overeating as well as Thrive (A vegan nutrition guide).

I just bought The Help and want to get started on that too.

Sarah said...

I love reading too, and wish I would spend more time doing so. Lately, I fall asleep too early to get to it. Right now I'm currently working on:

-Choke by Chuck Palaniuck
-Naturally Thin by Bethenny Frankel
-The Magnificent Mind at Any Age by Daniel Amen
-Smart Women Finish Rich by David Bach

And of course my wellness coaching certification book.

I'm super excited for Kimberly's ebook this summer!

Bits of Splendor Shop said...

Yes if you haven't read Time Traveler's Wife, it is a must! I also reread Joy Luck Club but mostly because I can relate to many of the characters so it makes me remember to appreciate all the blessings I have.