Wednesday, July 14, 2010

On the Subject of Books

My friend Amanda is hosting one of her fabulous "Dishing it!" parties today - and I'm excited to participate. :)

Photobucket


Summer reading has always been a passion of mine. Growing up we had an awesome library, with a really great summer reading program. I think that's why I always think of books when I think of summer. In the past few years the books have turned into magazines (unfortunately, maybe one of these days I'll have enough time to get involved in a book - I've always wanted to read War and Peace), but when I was younger it was always books, books, books.

I love a good book series, getting involved in the characters and lost in a fictional place; perfect for daydreaming about while relaxing at the beach or in the backyard. The first series I fell in love with was Beatrix Potter's amazing children's books; I think my favorite parts were how teeny tiny the books were, and the dreaminess of the watercolor illustrations. Many more series
followed, and some have become some of my favorite books to re-read as an adult.

Of course, I also love books that aren't associated with a series so I've added some of those, too :)

My Top Five Summer Re-reads

1. The Little House Series - I find something new every time I read these books. As an adult I am especially aware of the way Laura writes about food. I'm pretty sure that as a child, her stomach was never full.

2. The Anne of Green Gables Series -Another classic. And the number one reason I want to visit Prince Edward Island.

3. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers - The real story behind The Sound of Music, written by Maria. I love this book, it's not the movie, but I think it's great. Plus my copy came from my Grandma, and she taped an envelope in the front with a newspaper clipping from the 60's (which is just SO Grandma) - I'm happy just to hold it :)

4. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - I have vivid memories of devouring this book at a cottage in Northern Michigan one summer. If you somehow missed this book as a child, you must read it. Francie's story is wonderful and will stick with you forever.

5. The Dollmaker - This one is not light reading, it can be very depressing - I'm not sure a book has ever made me cry harder than this one did. But it's an excellent book, detailing the life of an Appalachian woman who moves to Detroit with her family during WWII. I'm not sure I would take this book to the beach, but it would fit right in during a summer thunderstorm.

5 comments:

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

Looove The Little House series. I think I must have read them each 5 times growing up. :) I learned a lot from Laura Ingalls Wilder. :)

One of these days you'll get a break from Moo, Baa, La La La (one of my girls' favorites!). ;)

Thanks for joining in!!

Becca Ray said...

LOVE your list! All my Little House books and Anne of Green Gables books are falling apart from my sisters and I reading them so many times. I have never read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn but plan to now! I have also never read The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers but I love the movie so it think it would be right up my alley.... It hasn't been till recently that I've discovered how much I love Beatrix Potter's books. I know I read them when I was little but it's just now that I've really come to appreciate them...

Thanks for sharing your list!

Karen & Gerard Zemek said...

We read Melissa Gilbert's autobiography which was very interesting--she really was a great actress on Little House On The Prairie! We just got the autobiography of the actress who played Nellie Olson in that series! Looking forward to reading it.

I'm stopping by from "Dishing It" party, but didn't get there soon enough to link up but wrote a post anyway: http://ourstack.blogspot.com/2010/07/dishing-it-party-summer-reads.html

roseassophie said...

The party is over but I'm stopping in regardless. Ann of Green Gables was the fictional character I decided to hang out with on the deserted island. Can you imagine all the fun we'd have being imaginative?!

Laura said...

Oh yes! Little House and Anne, both! Also anything by Louisa May Alcott, esecially Little Women! Nice to see you again!