Ten Things That Start with "F"

It's my turn! The lovely Cornflower gave me the letter "F" weeks ago. Surprising enough it took me less than ten minutes to come up with my ten.

French Vanilla Ice Cream. It's plain but tastes great with a waffle bowl.

French Vanilla CoffeeMate in my coffee. I've tried other flavors, but vanilla is the one for me.

Feist. Listening to her puts me in the best mood.

First, Body: stories by Melanie Rae Thon. I read this haunting collection of short stories many years ago and have not been able to get it out of my mind since. I have only one book left of Thon's to read.

Fridays. Not because there's no school for me, but because it's one of the few days I get my mother to myself for a couple of hours.

Family. That's not cheating. Their last name starts with "F" also.

Fables series by Bill Willingham. This series is so addictive.

Fresh Flowers. I try to buy fresh flowers just once a month. Even if I'm broke, I know I can buy some baby breath for two or three bucks.

Four weddings and a Funeral. I just love great movies.

Folgers Coffee. I'm a zombie until I get this stuff into my system.

One Book Meme

Taken from Eva.

One book you're currently reading: Farewell Navigator by Leni Zumas


One book that changed you life: What's Eating Gilbert Grape? by Peter Hedges. An honest portrayal of what depression looks like.


One book that you'll want on a deserted island: I'm going to have to think about this for a while


One book you've read more than once: East of Eden by John Steinbeck


One book you've never been able to finish: The World According to Garp by John Irving


One book that made you laugh: God Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips


One book that made you cry: The Geography of Love by Glenda Burgess. I have never cried so hard because of a book ever in my life.


One book you keep rereading: any book from the Harry Potter series


One book you've been meaning to read: A Language Older than Words by Derrick Jensen


One book you believe everyone should read: Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Finally,
Grab the nearest book. Open it to page 56. Find the fifth sentence.


"Eleanor had run into the convent thinking to fetch help, but once there, an overwhelming urge to write down what had happened overtook her."

from Tales of Burning Love by Louise Erdrich

The Happiness Project

If you were to look at my bookmarks on my Windows Explorer, you would see many sites in the blog folder. I have saved the web addresses of blogs about books, poetry, reading challenges, science, and much more. One of those sites is Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. Gretchen spent a year trying every happiness "principle, tip, theory, and study" she could find. Though the year is over Gretchen uses what she's learned to share with the rest of us.

One of Gretchen's own resolutions is "ask for help." She's asking all her readers to spread the word about The Happiness Project. So check it out and spread the word about this great site.

A Book Meme

I had so many things I wanted to say but instead I'll just answer a meme I found on Wendy's blog.

What are you reading right now? I just finished Flight Volume 2. And now I'm tackling Sinners Welcome by Mary Karr, which is Karr's fourth collection of poetry.

Do you have any idea what you'll read after that? I have a large stack of books waiting for me at the library and on my bookshelf that I want to get read before fall semester starts in 11 days. I think I'll have a personal read-a-thon this weekend to celebrate my birthday and get these books out the way. They are:

The Canning Season - Polly Horvath

The Montague's Tales of Terror - Chris Priestley

The Year of Magical Thinking - Joan Didion

Animal's People - Indra Sinha

The Year of Disappearances - Susan Hubbard

No one belongs here more than you - Miranda July

Her last death - Susan Sonnenberg

People of the Book - Geraldine Brooks

The Odd Sea - Fredrick Reiken

Y: The Last Man Vol. 1 - Brian Vaughan

What magazines do you have in your bathroom right now? None.

What's the worst thing you were ever forced to read? I don't remember what it was but I do remember it was in 10th grade English.

What's the one book that you recommend to just about everyone to read? There are so many: Good Poems edited by Garrison Keillor and All of Us: collected poems by Raymond Carver.

Admit it, the librarians at your library know you on a first-name basis, don't they? I rarely ever talk to the librarians. I already know what books are checked on or where they're located. But the library clerks do know me by name.

Is there a book you absolutely love but for some reason, people never think it sound interesting, or maybe they read it and don't like it at all? Go to the recommendations question. No one reads poetry anymore.

Do you read books while you eat? While you bathe? While you watch movies or TV? While you listen to music? While you're on the computer? While you're having sex? While you're driving? I try to read books while I eat but the kids so mess with me. Now I'm trying to get them to read while they eat. I definitely read while I'm in the tub, watching movies and TV, and listening to music. Not while I'm on the computer, but I have tried reading while having sex. It was okay. I don't drive but when I do, I am not reading. I kind of like life.

When you were little, did other children tease you about your reading habits? No, but they were in awe of it.

What's the last thing you stayed up half the night reading because it was so good you couldn't put it down? Last night rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.