Book Tag

Candace Salima tagged me with a new book quiz thingie, and I'm ALL about books, so here I go!

1. My Reading - My favorite genres are fantasy, science-fiction, and mystery/suspense, though I've been known to read an occasional biography and romance, and it doesn't matter to me if it's written for adults or for kids. I love it all.

2. Total Number of Books Owned ∙ I counted 1,195, but I'm NOT counting all the kids books I have (since they're for the kids and I dont' read them - that would add another 200, at least), nor am I counting all of the textbooks my husband fills his den with (same excuse as above). I've also got a few out on loan and you never know what books will turn up when you go looking.

3. Last Book Bought ∙ I spent two hundred dollars on books this last trip, (Yeah, I know, don't say it, I'm addicted) so it's hard to pick just one. The only fiction book I was the new Shannon Hale one, Book of a Thousand Days, and one of the non-fiction books was The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, by Gary Chapman. I haven't had the chance to finish either yet, though I have started The Five Love Languages, and find it a wonderful read.

4. Last Book Read ∙ Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. I'm in the middle of New Moon now.

5. Five Meaningful Books ∙ Okay, here is where this little quiz gets a bit tricky. I'd love to have a list of spiritual books like Candace, but, sadly to say, I'm not nearly as well read as she is, and have only recently started to expand beyond my standard mystery and fantasy. I'll try to explain why they were meaningful to me.

1. The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creatvitity, by Julia Cameron. This book taught me how to let go of the garbage and fears that were holding me down and express myself with writing again. It was one of those books that changed my life.


2. The Book of Mormon - This book of scripture opened my heart to the power of God and his infinite love and atonement for us.


3. There is a book whose title I cannot remember that was published in the early eighties, I believe (and if anybody knows what it is, PLEASE tell me in the comments!). It was written by a twelve-year-old boy about his adventures in school. There was one follow-up book that I know of. When I read that book at thirteen was the first time I realized I could actually be a writer. If he could do it, why couldn't I?


4. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'engle (who passed away last week) was one of the first fantasy books I read. I opened whole new worlds for me and directed my passion for reading and writing in this direction.


5. Are You My Mother? by Dr. Seuss was the book that made me want to read. I had four short years with my Daddy before he passed away, and every evening when he came home from work he would sit me on his lap and read to me until bedtime. He swore he'd have me reading before I started kindergarten and if he'd lived longer, he would have. I was so close. So this book, more than any other has influenced my love of reading because of the sweet memories it brings back of my father and his passion for the written word.

So, that's my list. Thanks for tagging me, Candace. It's been an interesting journey answering these questions. I am going to tag my writers group. Shanna at Shanna's Life, Stories, and General Ramblings, Wendy at Interregnum, Paulette at 700 Blank Pages, and Michelle at My Life in a Laptop.

Quote of the Day: "The writer who is a real writer is a rebel who never stops." - William Saroyan