Stephenson Family Ties: Books

Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Reading is a staple of life,

like bread and water.

Or chocolate.

-Rhett MacPheron

Picking a favorite book from all that I have read this year has proved quite difficult. As you will quickly notice..This was the year of Non Fiction for me. And for the more astute, you may notice that Im a tree hugging, adventure seeking, peace seeking soul.
But...if I use the same criteria for picking my favorite books that I used in selecting movies, then a couple of books rise to the top.
Which book(s) do I think about the most after having read them?
The answer is... THE HIDDEN LIFE OF TREES by Peter Wohlleben
This book has literally changed the way I see the world and the trees and forests in it.
I say- God is masterful!!
(God is never mentioned in this book...if I recall correctly..but He is there nevertheless!!)
I thank Peter for opening my eyes even wider to the wonders of this world. Anyone who loves the outdoors should read this book. The trees in your back yard and on city streets or in parks or forests will never look the same!! Love, love LOVE this book!!

This second book was oh so difficult to put into second place.
TO SHAKE THE SLEEPING SELF by Jedidiah Jenkins
This is another book (like the one afore mentioned) that when you finish reading it...you pick it up and hold it to your heart and utter a prayer of thanksgiving for a fellow human that was so good and talented to write such a book.
Oh how I wished I could have done what he has done...ride a bike, from Cally to Patagonia. If I have a regret in life...its that I didnt go for more adventures or take more risks. Jedidiah is a young man who learned to speak his truths out-loud, and to embrace the world, and even go it alone or with fellow humans was a true inspiration for me!! He writes like a dream and is a very deep thinker! I cant remember ever wanting to actually be someone else before...but I felt this a LOT when I read this book. He has no fear, no judgments, he loves his fellow man and is truthful in his search for himself and for God...its all so inspiring!!

Lastly...I cant leave this list without adding two more books.
PILGRAM AT TINKER CREEK by Anne Dillard

Ive been enjoying small quotes from Anne Dillard from her book for years. But now that I've read the book from cover to cover I have a whole new appreciation for this woman and her love of the natural world. This is another fascinating book along the same vein as The Hidden Life of Trees, but I found it even more calming and restful in how she describes what she sees and does outside in her "backyard". Bugs and birds and streams and trees and worms will never be the same in my eyes. Every chapter is a science course in plants, and animals and entomology and weather and anatomy and human psychology ....all so easily learned at her feet. I found it a form of meditation reading/listening to her. This woman can write! She can see...really see! Anne can explain what she sees with great passion and with a deep love for this natural world. Here is another book that will change how you see this magnificent, intricate world in which we live and spin around on. We must open our eyes!!

And lastly...my very honorable mention...THE UNTETHERED SOUL by Michael A Singer
A beautiful book...about overcoming the ego, and learning to love and let go. Amen

And my favorite work of Fiction this year- ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr
Oh look!! It won the Pulitzer Prize! What a brilliant story of a blind girl during WWII. Be intrigued!!

Books

BOOKS IM READING NOW

{click on the image to go to my Amazon book store}

"Every man who knows how to read has

it in his power to magnify himself, to

multiply the ways in which he exists."

— Aldous Huxley

Books Read in 2015

The Martian by Andy Weir

The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson

This is My God by Herman Wouk

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo

Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson

Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo

Siddhartha by Herman Hess

Illuminata by Marianne Williamson

Manifesting Change by Mike Dooley

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling

Vorge Valley by

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

Virtue and Vice by CS Lewis

The Selection by ??

Tuck Everlasting by??

BOOKS READ IN 2013
Liesl and Po by Lauren Oliver (YF) ***1/2
The Posionwood Bible ****
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner *****
Botany of Desire (NF) by Michael Pollen ****1/2
Help, ??? Wow by Anne Lamott ****
Driving Mr Albert by Michael Paterniti ****
The Continental Divide **

BOOKS READ IN 2012

A Three Dog Life by Abagil Thomas *****

Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas *****

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson ***** (NF)
The World and the Prophets by Hugh Nibley ***** (NF)
Under the Net by Iris Murdoch ****3/4
Small Gods by Terry Pratchett ****
Four Essays on Love by Truman Madsen *****(NF)
Dune by Frank Hurbert ***3/4
The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner *****(NF)
Longitude by Dava Sobel **** (NF)
Fluke: Or I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings by Christopher Moore ***
English Creek by Ivan Doig ***
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson ****1/2
Book of Mormon *****
Fizz by Zvi Schreiber ****
MARCH by Geraldine Brooks *****
Gossamer by Lois Lowry ***1/2
The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn ***
Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks*****
Have A Little Faith by Mitch Albom ***** (NF)
State of Wonder by Ann Patchett ****
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks****
Andersonville
The Widow's War by Sally Gunning****1/2
Strength in What Remains by Tracy Kidder***** (NF)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Sijie Dai****
The Wedding Officer by Anthony Capella ****
The Holy Secret by James L. Ferrell *****
Crown Duel by Sherwood Smith ***
The Dive from Clausen's Pier by Ann Packer ***1/2
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand ***** (NF)
The Art of Love by Erick Fromm (NF) ***
These Records Are True by Monte Nyman (NF) ****
The Passion of Artemisia by Susan Vreeland ***1/2
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick (NF)
Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard by Kiran Desai ***
The Divine Center by Stephen R Covey **** (NF)
A Wrinkle in Time by Madaline le Engle ***
Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott *** (NF)
The Phantom Tollbooth by ***1/2
Falling to Heaven by James L Ferrell **** (NF)
The Beekeeper Apprentice by Laurie R King ***1/2
Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson ***
Papa Married a Mormon by Fitzgerald *****
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman ****

BOOKS READ IN 2011
Dont Leap with the Sheep by S. Michael Wilcox *****
My Hope for Peace by Jehan Sadat ****

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute ****

Blue Willow by Gates (JF) ****

What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell ****

Last of the Mohicans by Cooper ** (if you count reading 198 pages)

House of Learning by Richard & Kathleen Walker ***1/2
As I Lay Dying William Faulkner **1/2
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J.K. Rowling ***
Animal Dialogues Craig Childs *****
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire JK Rowling ****
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban JK Rowling ***
A Chance to See Egypt by Sandra Scofield **1/2
Dracula by Bram Stoker ****
The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron ***1/2
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett ****
The House Next Door by Anne Rivers Siddon ***1/2
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool ****
Book of Mormon *****
Little Britches by Ralph Moody ****
Discourses on the Holy Ghost Compiled by N.B. Lundwall ****
Bunnicula by James Howe JF ****
Plan B by Anne Lamott ***** (some profanity)
A Fine Balance **1/2
Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly *****
The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry *** (profanity)
The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine B by Sandra Gulland ****1/2
Thunder Dog by Michael Hingson *****
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Neffenegger ***
Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe by Sandra Gulland ****
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein **1/2
The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart ****1/2
Words I Wish I Wrote By Robert Fulghum *****
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz ***** (but too dark for me)

Books on My Bedside stand...waiting to be read

Call It Sleep -Roth
Return to Paris -Rossant

The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Physics and Philosophy -Heisenberg

Oliver Twist
The History of Love - Krauss
The Moon In the Mango Tree
A Discovery of Witches -Harkness

Redeeming Love
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian -Alexie
Before I Go to Sleep -Watson
Every Last One -Quindlen
The Dry Grass of August -Mayhew
We're Not Leaving (nf) Luft
Between Shades of Gray -Sepetys
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County -Baker

Publish Post

Books Read in 2010
The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig *****
Savvy by Irgid Law ****
Walking On Water by Madeleine L'Engle****
Little Bee by Chris Cleave ***
The Handmaid and the Carpenter by Elizabeth Berg ****
Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell ****
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown *****
The Road by Cormac McCarthy *****
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger *****
Digging to America by Anne Tyler (after 40+ pages...DUD!!)
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy ***
Dear and Glorious Physician by Taylor Caldwell ****
Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card ***
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull ***
Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine ***
The Help by Kathryn Stockett *****
The Real America by Glenn Beck *****
A Train to Potevka by Mike Ramsdell ***1/2
Christmas Jars by Jason F Wright ****
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer ***3/4
All The Little Live Things by Wallace Stegner ****
Book of Mormon *****
Far From Cactus Flat by Lyman Hafen ****1/2
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley ****
Where Rivers Change Direction by Mark Spragg *****
Blade Runner by Phillip Dick *** The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L.Konigsburg *** Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley **** Precious Jeopardy by Lloyd Douglas *****

...I learned the comfort that can be
taken from the pages of a book, and
all the friendship that can be found
in a story.
from: The Book That Changed My Life
by: Chris Bohjalin

Its been a wonderful year for me and books!!
Here's to hoping that 2010's bedside stack of books brings as much satisfaction.
I pledge to be even more discriminating
I will look to others for recommendations.
I have people.
I have a LONG 'to read' list.
Im excited to begin a new tally for 2010.
And Im 'publishing' last years list for posterity.
And again, I send out many thanks to Cathy for recommending what is possibly my favorite read of the year- The Book Thief
But wait....
thats too restricting to isolate just one book...
there were many delightful, intelligent, escapist reads this last year!!
Bless all talented, gifted authors!!!
And may 2010 bring more treasures!!
Happy Reading Friends!!!!
The 1st book on next years list-- THE WHISTLING SEASON by Ivan Doig (I've already read the first few pages...I cant wait to really dive in!!!)

# Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott ***
# Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott ****
# The Enoch Letters by Neal A Maxwell ****
# All God's Critters Got a Place in the Choir *****
# Dont Bite Me, Im Santa Claus by Tom Plummer *****
# The Book Thief by Markus Zusak *****
# The Book of Mormon (again) *****
# The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins ****
# Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho ****
# These Is My Words by Susan E Turner *****
# Harvest Home by Thomas Tyron
# The Big Fisherman by Lloyd C Douglas *****
# The Book That Changed My Life edited by Coady ****
# Yearning For the Living God by F. Enzio Busche *****
# The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan ***
# The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold ****
# The Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase ****
# Nick of Time by Ted Bell ****
# Jumping Off Places by Laura Stratton Friel *****
# The Princess Bride by William Goldman ****
# Refuge by Terry Tempst Williams ****
# Collect Stories by Wallace Stegner *****
# The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis NF ****
# Two Old Women by Velma Wallis ****
# Chocolat by Joanne Harris ***
# Shosha by Isaac Bashevis Singer **
# Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster *****
# Pioneer Voices of Zion Canyon by Jean M. Smith-Carros ***
# The Peacegiver by James L. Ferrell *****
# She Touched the World by Sally and Robert Alexander ***
# Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter *****
# The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne ****
# Blink by Malcolm Gladwell *****
# Bird Lake Moon by Henkes **
# Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale ***
# 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson ****
# Crispin by Avi ****
# Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levin **e
# Chains by Laurie Anderson *****
# Body Surfing by Anita Shreve ***
# The Shack by Wm Paul Young *****
# Missing May by Cynthia Rylant *****
# The Day They Gave Babies Away by Dale Eunson **
# Geology Underfoot In Southern Utah by Richard Orndorff ****
# The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch ***
# Half Broken Things by Morag Jos *

I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise

everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.

from: A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night

by: Mark Haddon

What I've Learned Today:

I am fortunate...at least 50 friends took the time to say something nice to me for my birthday. I am grateful for all the birthday wishes this week. I am grateful for another year!

If I had a 100 million dollars or even 2 billion dollars I should give it all away to help others. This is the way to find true happiness. (I bet you can tell that I watched THE ULTIMATE GIFT with my mom) Or, as C.S. Lewis said, "I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away to little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charities expenditure excludes them."
gulp

I am indeed a terrible passenger. Road trips are best when I can have command of the wheel.

Again, nothing is for sure in life ...except for change.

Living one day at a time is easier said than done.

My dad's Toyota Prius will spoil me for the rest of my life. Gas prices suck!!

I do love hiking with Lovely people.

My dad and mom are so very generous.

My kids' joy is my joy

Pepsi is a thorn in my side.

My mom has a beautiful smile...and.. shes always smiling.

Baby girl Evelyn is a princess. Already.

Im grateful I wasnt born in 1682 in tsarists Russia. So grateful. (Reading Peter the Great by, Robert Massie)

I'd almost forgotten what rain looked like, felt like and smelled like. Salt Lake has had rain!!

This Is How My Week Looked

There came a time, he realized, when the strangeness of everything

made it increasingly difficult to realize the strangeness of anything.

from: Lost Horizon

by: James Hilton

(I wish this was the scene at our house)

The mailbox that hangs by our front door contained a water bill. A water bill so exorbitantly high that it was cause for serious alarm. A hole was dug...to investigate. Come to find out that there is a leak...leak is the wrong word..for that suggest a dripping...a small giser might describe it better...from the main water line to the house. It became the city's problem. But alas..it seems to be my problem still..for it still spouts water into an unseen underground stream somewhere. The city has done nothing but put up an orange barrier around the hole and have not returned to repair it. The tree hugger in me is fuming. So much water wasted. 100s of thousands of gallons!! And I see no way to stop the madness!!

The sweet boss lady at work called me the sexiest waitress in the joint. I know shes lying. (that would be a sad state of affairs if she werent) But she loves me. And of course there is a part of me that wants to believe her.

Today's Sunday School lesson gave me fits. (I suppose they all will) Todays topic was Baptisms for the Dead.
Ugh
But I suppose it'll be a walk in Merlin Olsen Park compared to the lesson coming up in 2 weeks. The subject matter ... The martyrdom of Joseph Smith. (Did I already tell you that I dont enjoy the Doctrine and Covenants?) Teaching is even harder than I imagined it would be.

I'm back to the point that I'll give up food before I'll give up my beloved Pepsi. And I often do. For so long...when I was on the wagon...I would tell people and myself that I didnt want to drink my calories. Well you woulnt recognize me now...as I blissfully guzzle them down now.

Its been quite a few years since I've done any water bath canning. This week I bottled some delicious apricots. They'll help this winter to be a little brighter. Thats the hope anyway. They already make me happy, just lined up there on the counter.

The semi-annual Man vs Grill took place this week at Center Street Grill.
There was barfing.
And there were a couple of "winners."
Are you really a 'winner' of you can shove down a 3 1/2 pound burger in less than 45 minutes?
You decide.
I got to clean up.
ps- the grill wins ...the majority of the time.

My Builder promised me a puppy.
But I can't remember how long he said I'd have to wait.

How do you spell T-E-N-S-E?
There is rabbit food news. There are several very hopeful prospects and possibilities for improvements. But I cant talk about them....for I 'get too emotional.' Maybe after it becomes old news I can then discuss it with My Builder. Maybe then My Builder and I can talk again. The same thing goes for conversing about the future....I 'get too emotional.' So we dont talk about that either. What do we talk about? The promise of puppies and our beautiful grands. That'll do.

More hot flashes.
Less sleep.

WEST WING..out new favorite tv series. Plus there is no need for talking. We watch, we laugh, we learn. Not a bad deal. Thank you good actors and writers for such a great show!

Im reading again!! Im halfway through a wonderful book. Its the one I was carrying around in my purse for so long. Its a treat. And all you readers out there have undoubtedly read it already...The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society...(quite a mouth full.) I can now check # 15 off the below list. Whew.

Not a bad week my friends.
Peace

Reading is a staple of life, like

bread or water. Or chocolate.

— Rett MacPherson

A Pensive Moment by Jules Joseph Lefebvre

Nidhi Chanani

"No entertainment is so cheap as reading nor any pleasure so lasting."
— Lady Mary Wortley Montague

Toshiyuki Enoki

"There is creative reading as well as creative writing."

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Chiara Raineri

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born January 3, 1892. Today he would been 121 , a remarkable age for a hobbit. He left us an incredible legacy, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion , and more. So today raise a mug of Shire-made beer or a glass of Elven wine, or even just a lovely cup of tea to the memory of J.R.R. Tolkien, gone since 1973 but always remembered for the world he brought to life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PROFESSOR TOLKIEN !

Literature was not born the day when a boy crying “wolf, wolf”

came running out of the Neanderthal valley with a big gray wolf

at his heels; literature was born on the day when a boy came

crying “wolf, wolf” and there was no wolf behind him.

- Vladimir Nabokov

Anton Pieck

Animales lectores ilustración de Okada Chiaki

Maurice Sendak

Patricia Metola

"People without hope not only don't write novels,

but what is more to the point, they don't read them."

— Flannery O'Connor

Albert MOORE

Edward Hopper

Heidi Berger

Károly Ferenczy

Of course anyone who truly loves books buys more of them than he or she can hope to read in one fleeting lifetime. A good book, resting unopened in its slot on a shelf, full of majestic potentiality, is the most comforting sort of intellectual wallpaper.—

David Quaimen