I want to write in my blog but really don't know what to write about, so I thought I'd just list some of my favorite books in no particular order for this one.

• Pride and Prejudice (currently rereading this one)
• Lord of the Rings Trilogy--I've read this repeatedly.  I was given the set as a Christmas present when I was fifteen and fell in love with them.  I sometimes read the series through and as soon as I finished them began again.  I couldn't wait till my kids were old enough for me to read them aloud to them
• C.S. Lewis--anything by him is good, but I have to read most of his books when I'm rested because I really have to think about what he has to say.  Even his children's books are pretty profound.
• The Blue Castle-written by the author of Anne of Green Gables--just a romance novel but wonderfully done
• Anne of Green Gables--I loved reading this.  Didn't discover it until I was reading books aloud to my then elementary age girls, but really loved it.
• The Potter's Kitchen by Rachel Isadora about how it's the family (not the place) that makes a home
• Only the Best by Meguido Zola--great picture book about a father's search for a gift for his first child
• Black, Red, and White trilogy by Ted Dekker--awesome imagery
• John Holt books, almost any of them
• Walden by Henry David Thoreau--actually I'm only just reading this but I like what I've read so far
• O.Henry short stories

I also like books I would call fluff--thrillers, clean romance novels, Star Trek books, hey I like candy too, not just the good stuff.

One thing I've learned, though, from reading really good authors is that it sometimes spoils me for poor writing.  I don't mind that.  I just finished reading "The Blue Castle" again and am rereading Pride and Prejudice.  At the same time I've got this little short romance book that was given to me as my "bathroom book" that I'm trying to get through.  The difficulty is after reading GOOD authors' writings this one is almost naseating.  But it's not fair, I guess to have, I guy on kazoo following a performance of Mozart, is it?

This is by no means a comprehensive list.  I love to read, I don't have as much time at this stage in my life as I have in the past, but I manage to do some.  There will be books that will come to mind that I will be suprised I didn't add to the list.

Maybe in subsequent blogs I'll do favorite lists for my kids.  Until then.

doulos