curled up (with a good book)
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I would be sharing more about the poets + poetry books that I love and turn to again and again. I am going to turn this into a new series where I share about the books we are all currently reading over here (the "summer of books" is on our in-progress summer manifesto), the books I turn to when I need to listen to the words of someone else, and of course poetry recommendations.
On my nightstand (or rather on my kindle app):
I am devouring The Presidents Club: Inside the World's Most Exclusive Fraternity by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy like a John Grisham thriller. It is so so good. It is about exactly what the title suggests: The club that current and past presidents make up as they are the only ones who know what the others know and have experienced. The idea that they let go of party lines to get advice from another who has been in their shoes inspires me deeply. BUT then there is Nixon. Well and the feud between Eisenhower and Truman. And then...oh my goodness it's good. I might start devouring presidential memoirs next.
I'm also reading Anna Quindlen's new book Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake: A Memoir. It is beautifull written and funny and full of wisdom. I wish you could come over and we could talk about it over tea + cupcakes.
As I pack up books of poetry for the Your Story Retreat in my vintage suitcases, the three collections that are a must include: To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue, Poetry Speaks Who I Am edited by Elise Paschen and Dominique Raccah, and What Have You Lost? edited by Naomi Shihab Nye.
Recent favorite from Jon:
11/23/63 by Stephen King: A little bit of history, a little bit of time travel, a lot of Stephen King. Jon loved it!
Ellie's current favorites:
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This book is delightful! The story is deeply inspiring, the illustrations are adorable, and the language captivates Ellie's attention. Jon and Ellie read it before bed every night.
And the one she can't get enough of that we read on repeat while in the bathroom throughout the day: Potty by Leslie Patricelli. (It is really good and has gotten her very interested in her potty and how it "works.")
And our houseguest and favorite chickadee Kelly Barton's recommendations:
Current read = The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and so far she really recommends it.
A favorite she turns to again and again: Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate and Fabulously Eccentric Women by Simon Doonan. Kelly says, "It's a book about women who've forged their path on their own terms." Nice.
What's on your nightstand right now?
You can see more of my favorites over in my Amazon shop that includes a "Poetry: Start Here" section.
curled up with a good book in something good
Reader Comments (11)
I'm a big reader! Lots of books sitting next to my bed ready to be devoured. Some recent books I've read and loved:
Imagine: How Creativity Works
Everything Is Illuminated
The Art of Fielding
All great reads!
As I read this I am curled up with a blanket, my current book laying on my chest:) I recently read the Hunger Games ( a bit different for me but I loved it), the Book Lover by Maryann McFadden ( I quickly ordered two more of her books after finishing it) and at this moment a library find- Falling Home by Karen White.
Phew. Hope this isn't a literary test because that was a terrible running sentence!
I love, love, love to read. I have several that are in progress and in waiting:
Game of Thrones
Grace for the Good Girl
The Golden Lily (a young-adult paranormal book)
The Gift of Imperfection
The Confident Heart
Inner Excavation
The Artist's Way
Walking in This World
Those are the ones I can think of.
oh i looooveeddd plant a kiss... if you ever need a good kids book let me know. i read sooo many of them.
one of my fav. this is year is" tolstoy and the purple chair" by nina sankovitch. i am also reading on and off "Just One Thing: Developing A Buddha Brain One Simple Practice at a Time" by rick hanson. has very good pratices and reminders.
I always have a stack of books on the nightstand and am usually reading at least two of them at once. Right now I have Happiness Project (have read it before and liked it), The Gift of Imperfection (same thing - read it a couple of years ago and re-read it periodically),Fools Gold, and The Best of It by Kay Ryan (poetry). Plus Inner Excavation.
Warning about "GAme of Thrones" - it'll take over your life!!! I'm on book six, and haven't spoken to anyone for ages. Seriously, they are absolutely brilliant. But right now I'm taking a break and reading "The Presidents' Club" - thanks, Liz, for the recommendation. I got it on my Kindle (Oh the instant gratification!) and once I'd started the introduction I knew I'd not be able to read anything else until I finish the book.
I think there is a huge sense of reassurance and safety in a pile of books waiting to be read.
I've been lending out a paperback copy of Jael McHenry's the Kitchen Daughter. It is a sweet departure from ordinary.
Oh, I am so grateful you will be making this a regular series! A good book is like a dear friend you can turn to for wise counsel, inspiration and courage ... every year I re-read Natalie Goldberg's "Long Quiet Highway" about her writing life and meeting her zen teacher. Anne Lamott is another favorite.
I am currently reading Molly Peacock's "The Paper Garden" which is a biography of an 18th century woman, Mary Delany who creates, at the age of 72, a craft she called "paper mosaicks" but we would called mixed media collage. She created 985 botanically correct paper-cut flowers which are now in the collection of the British Museum. Mary's story reads like a 19th century novel but she is a much stronger character than usually found in that fiction. Her works is stunning - looks like pressed flowers and Peacock weaves beautiful insights into Mary's story and art. I loved this passage: "Craft is engaging. It results in a product. The mind works in a state of meditation in craft, almost the way we half-meditate in heavy physical exercise. There is a marvelously obsessive nature to craft that allows a person to dive down through the ocean of everyday life to a sea floor of meditative making. It is an antidote to what ails you."
Great to catch up here and discover new titles to seek out. I have made a list. Lots of my faves there already, especially John O'Donohue.
Inner excavation
Eat,pray,love
Happiness project
i just finished book two of game of thrones...LOVED it.
am also reading the night circus...this is a MUST read.
it is so dreamlike and lyrical and evocative.
also just finished the shades of grey series (not totally worth the hype...)
{oh...and read the happiness project a while ago...loved it.}
ps
are you on goodreads? that is a great book resource!