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Monday, May 19th, 2008
A Novel Summer
To all my loyal readers (aka Mom), sorry I've been MIA. After spending the last few weeks of the semester chained to my computer, I developed a clinical phobia of my laptop and couldn't bring myself to be in the same room with it. But humzoo's siren song was too strong to resist so SallyPants is back, back again, tell a friend...although I think it'll be months before I'm able to double-click the Word icon.
Now that school is out for the summer, I can start to recuperate from what was a punishing first year in the doctoral program. I plan on spending the next 3 months watching soap operas, eating bon bons, and napping no fewer than three times every day. I'm also looking forward to some pleasure reading. There's nothing better than getting lost in a good novel.
This summer I'd like to read the Great American Novels that I should have read in high school but never did, like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, or check out some giants of the literature world, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. But I'm also interested in less critically acclaimed books. I'll pretty much read anything: instruction manuals, cereal ingredients, tea leaves.
Humzoo community - do you have any book recommendations? If you've read something, fiction or otherwise, that has drawn you in and kept you reading well past your bedtime, I'd love to add it to my list.
A Novel Summer
To all my loyal readers (aka Mom), sorry I've been MIA. After spending the last few weeks of the semester chained to my computer, I developed a clinical phobia of my laptop and couldn't bring myself to be in the same room with it. But humzoo's siren song was too strong to resist so SallyPants is back, back again, tell a friend...although I think it'll be months before I'm able to double-click the Word icon.
Now that school is out for the summer, I can start to recuperate from what was a punishing first year in the doctoral program. I plan on spending the next 3 months watching soap operas, eating bon bons, and napping no fewer than three times every day. I'm also looking forward to some pleasure reading. There's nothing better than getting lost in a good novel.
This summer I'd like to read the Great American Novels that I should have read in high school but never did, like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, or check out some giants of the literature world, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. But I'm also interested in less critically acclaimed books. I'll pretty much read anything: instruction manuals, cereal ingredients, tea leaves.
Humzoo community - do you have any book recommendations? If you've read something, fiction or otherwise, that has drawn you in and kept you reading well past your bedtime, I'd love to add it to my list.
I love "Running with Scissors" though - I think it may be my favorite book I've ever read (although, that's a short list) :)
Shocking and beautiful at the same time.
Definitely read "...Caged Bird..." I read it many years ago, and with Maya Angelou living in Winston-Salem, it made it that much more personal. Hard stuff but incredible how the human spirit can overcome so much.
"My Grandfather's Blessings" - a book on healing vs. curing, by Rachel Naomi Remens. She shares beautiful stories.
I really missed you! It has been dullsville without your witty comments. Welcome back.
Spike, I tried Eat, Pray, Love, but I got so annoyed by the narrator that I couldn't get through the first chapter. I rarely leave books unfinished, but that was one I couldn't get through. But I've talked to so many people who've loved it. I'm wondering if there's something wrong with me. White Noise is another I want to read.
Here are a few good books I strongly recommend for your summer reading selection:
Troubleshooting and Repairing Microwave Ovens (Paperback) http://www.amazon.com/Troubleshooting-Repairing-Microwa...
Earning Money From Your French Home http://www.amazon.com/Earning-Money-Your-French-Home/dp...
and my personal favorite:
Quilting with the Muppets: 15 Fun and Creative Patterns http://www.amazon.com/Quilting-Muppets-Fun-Creative-Pat...
I am in the middle of My Sister's Keeper, but I took a break to read America: The Book, which was amazing. Although, Sally, you might want to stay away from it for a while, because it looks alot like a text book.
I missed you SallyPants.
Awesome awesome awesome suggestions! Thanks everyone. I haven't heard of some of these authors, like Picoult, Wiesenthal, or Flagg, but I'm looking forward to checking them out.
LimeyGeorge- I've read Kosinski's "Being There" but hadn't thought about checking out his other stuff.
Spike- I read "White Noise" in a class a few years ago. Great book!
Denny- you are totally correct to be envious. The life of a student is so difficult, what with the reading, writing, and frat parties, that we deserve 3 months of being useless, unproductive members of society. Okay, maybe not, but it's a great perk. Thanks for the awesome book suggestions. Amazon only has 2 more "Earning Money From Your French Home" in stock, so I better act quickly.
Betsy- "America: The Book" is so great. Have you read Colbert's book? Also someone on humzoo, I think it was Scott, mentioned that John Hodgman wrote a book. I bought it for Andrew for "his" birthday. Yeah, for him. That's why I bought it. :)
It is soooooooooo great to "see" you again here in Humzooland!! You sure are missed when you take off like that!!!
Please don't leave us again!!!
Are you all packed for the beach??
Can't wait to see you!!
Love,
AJ
I was not aware that (((()))) are hugs. I thought they were parentheses. I feel silly. I used lots of those in my last term paper. My professor must of thought I was hitting on him. How awkward!!!
Thanks for the kind homecoming, everyone. It feels nice to be missed!
**** are kisses too. ((***)). LOL
"Walk the River"
"On the Occasion of My Last Afternoon"
and now my mind goes blank. I"ll come back with more ideas for you. I stay up reading too late every night!
A fun page turner I've enjoyed recently re-read is The BFG by Dahl. It's a kids book, but I love it.
Enjoy your time off from school and whichever book you end up choosing!
Lionheart, I would recommend anything by Roald Dahl. He's an amazing author. One of my favorites.
Its called Blankets, by Craig Thompson.
Its not comic-booky at all (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I personally think its a pretty damn moving story. :)
http://www.amazon.com/Blankets-Craig-Thompson/dp/189183...
Jay, cool suggestion. Truth be told, I can't actually read words, so I'm all about the picture book. I've got a suggestion for you. It's a light summer read by a dude named Genovese called "Roll, Jordon, Roll." The 800 pages fly by! Definitely a beach read.
I'll take that one under advisory.
Ok, you might scratch the last two off that list.
Okay, so here a couple of 'classic' recs: Huck Finn--absofrigginlutely--Twain is a literary genius, The Great Gatsby, Death of Salesman, Beloved, Of Mice and Men, Tess of the D'Ubervilles and/or Jude the Obscure, Doll's House, Native Son, and All Quiet on the Western Front.
More contemporary stuff: Extremely Close and Incredibly Loud (or something like that), The Book Thief, All Souls Rising, I Am America and You Can Too (audio book--sooooo much better to have Colbert yell it at you personally), A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, What is the What?, and the Johnson-Evinrude Engine Manual and Mainetenance Guide--an oldie, but a goodie in the genre.
Happy Reading!