I received the book The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson a few weeks ago (thanks sis!) and am about halfway through it. If you wonder, “why would I enjoy a book by a Swedish author that has a silly title?”, you’re not alone. I wondered the same thing.

There is one incontrovertible fact about Swedish people–they are all good looking (and some are now single and rich!). But do I really want to widdle away hours with a Swedish novel that contains no pictures of actual Swedish people?

At the halfway point, I would say most definitely “yes”.

I remember seeing these Stieg Larsson books on the bestseller lists early in the summer. At the time, his books occupied three of the top ten bestseller spots (it looks like they are still there) and they all had peculiar names that really didn’t make me want to read them.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo? Continue Reading »

 ”Why should I read?”, my older nephew asked me as he was waiting for me to finish my book, eager to get to the pool.

“Reading,” I told him “will teach more about the world you live in.”

“Like what?” he asked.  Continue Reading »

Often, a person’s personal library says a lot about them.

I have no idea what mine says about me, but I’d thought I’d share with you some of my Favorite Books. These are the books that I usually have near the nightstand and am apt to pick up and read time and time again.

Also, as I am traveling now and had to part with many possessions, this list will be helpful to me as I will be re-buying all of these books upon my return.

Without further ado, here she is!

Continue Reading »

The Timeless Ideas of Michel de Montaigne

In a university philosophy class , I was exposed to the essays of Michel de Montainge.  He wrote these essays some 400 years ago.  Their timeless nature amazes me.  For many situations in today’s world, there is a quote from these works that is applicable: Continue Reading »

return to favorite books…

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

It annoys me that this book is on my favorite book list. The title itself is manipulative. Continue Reading »

Jitterbug Perfume, Tom Robbins

 This may be one of my Favorite Books of all time.  Tom Robbins combines profound and playful in perfect proportion.  Also, he teaches you how to live forever.  Two of the remedies are:  lots of sex and lots of baths.  Two things I love!  Continue Reading »

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being

This is an outstanding book and a horrific movie, unless you like depressing European movies with little dialogue that slowly plod along.  If so, make sure you also see 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days.  Continue Reading »

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Magical Thinking:  Augusten Burrroughs

The first Augusten Burroughs book that I read was Running With Scissors.  This was more of a novel and I enjoyed it.  However, after this book, all of his other books have been filled with short stories about his life.  I have enjoyed all of them but my favorite is Magical Thinking. Continue Reading »

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The Century

When the change of the century occurred, many books came out chronicling the 20^th century.  Continue Reading »

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The Fountainhead

You will not often find me endorsing books of an overly serious nature but this book, and Atlas Shrugged, for some reason, defy my usually aversion to topics of seriousness and self-absorption. Continue Reading »