I'm recycling this blog from Spark People because I'm always looking for new books to read/listen to. Right now I'm in the middle of "The Chain" by Adrian McKinty (true story the author was an uber driver prior to being offered a 7 figure movie deal for the book. It's a thriller and it's that good.) And just finished "The Wife Upstairs" by Rachel Hawkins (mmm...don't think it was as good as the hype)
Enjoy some food for thought and be sure to leave me some recommendations in the comments!
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So there is only so much one can wax on about diet and food. Plus who wants to be set up for that dreaded Cephalic Phase Response by indulging in too much diet talk and "food porn." We could talk about exercise and why I always want to spell it "excercise" which makes me crazy, but I won't.
So I'm gonna share some of my favorite audio books that I listen to as I be-bop around the house doing projects, or outside gardening, while walking or hiking or driving to and fro doing errands. These are my "zombie tasks" and I can engage my frontal lobe with literature or just pulp fiction as my lizard brain attends to the bric a brac of life.
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But first.... let me tell you about "Libby" (used to be called "Overdrive")
This is an app that allows you to borrow e-books and audio books for FREEEEEE!!!
Who does not like FREEEEE!
All you need is a library card. Download the app and then go talk to your librarian if you have trouble logging in. (you need to know your library card number and pin)
After Libby, I use Audible to get my audio book fix. I discovered Audible DECADES ago before smart phones and apps. I own 489 titles most bought at around $10 per title so you do the math.
The newest author I just discovered that I love so much I know I'm going to work my way through all her titles is Geraldine Brooks.
Just google her.
I recently finished "The Year of Wonders" that has the dubious subtitle of "A Novel of the Plague."
I almost skipped it because given the pandemic and my desire to avoid depressing things I thought I just could not handle it. But I started it and the "voice" that it is written in is so real, lovely, long suffering and so strong I could not "put it down" once I started. It is read by the author and I particularly LOVE books read by the author because I can feel so much more about what they are sharing from the tone of their voice and the rhythm and cadence of the words.
I just moved on to "The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks and it is reeling me in. So, so good. I can't wait to listen all her other offerings.
Here is a list a few of my absolute all time favorites: ones that I re-listen to every year or two or three just because the language, the story, the ideas, the characters just reel me in and don't let go for even a minute. If I can't find anything new to draw me in, I just re-visit old friends.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamont
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Duma
Number the Stars by Louis Lowry
The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter
The Perilous Gard by Elizabeth Pope
Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross
Anything by Og Mandino (just google him)
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Eat, Pray Love Made Me Do It by Elizabeth Gilbert
Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton
The Eye of the Dragon by Stephen King
The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
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I've read/listened to plenty of books that were not worth reading even once but I can list plenty of books that are worth listening to at least once (or maybe twice or more.)
Here are a few off the top of my head:
Anthing by Philippa Gregory (no that's not the name of a book, just literally anything by her is worth at least one listen maybe two or three or more)
Anything by Diana Gabaldon (if you just watched the series "Outlander" and did not read the books, you are missing out on a LOT!) She is wordy. Each of the first three books in the Outlander series is between 32 and 43 hours long to listen to, but I just LOVE the way she writes)
The Shining and Carrie by S. King (the books are very, very different from the movies) Stephen King is a mixed bag for me. Most of this books disappoint me for some reason that I can't quite pinpoint. But I do usually love his use of language and can not fault him on his work ethic. He has such a prolific writing career! And his creative Memoir "On Writing" is WONDERFUL!! I have listened to that at least three times and it is read by the author so extra points.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
The entire "So You Want to be a Wizard" series by Diane Duane
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaman
Twilight Series by Stephanie Meyer (yeah, I got sucked in too. Forget about Team Jacob or Team Edward. I was Team Bella. That girl was such a dishrag, all I could do was root for her to save herself.)
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
A Canticle for Leibowitz
On Writing by Stephen King
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
Breakfast with Budda by Roland Merullo
A Good Marriage by Stephen King
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Funny stuff off the top of my head:
Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
Anything by Jim Gafigen
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Spiritual Titles. I dabble in reading a LOT of spiritual things from a LOT of spiritual traditions but I've listened to these more than once and they all enlighten, intrigue or otherwise make me think.
Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsh
The Healing Power of Reiki
Just about any book or lecture by Alan Watts (google him)
Just about any book or lecture by Ram Dass
Just about any book by Rob Bell, but especially
"Everything is Spiritual" and "What is the Bible" and "Love Wins"
Rational Mysticism by John Horgan
Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler (this is a weird book that is and is not "spiritual" but since it dives into mysticism I'll include it here. It is VERY intriguing if you have ever pursued "non ordinary states of consciousness" through what ever methods speak to you.)
This list would not be complete without Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda.
True story: this was the only book Steve Jobs read every year. There is something about the idea of pursuing "the cosmic beloved" that keeps me coming back to this book too. Plus it is read by Ben Kingsley and he has SUCH a lovely voice.
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Scientific things:
Any book by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
My Stroke of Insight by Jill Bolte Taylor
Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
The Demon Under the Microscope by Thomas Hager
The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager
The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
After by Bruce Greyson (this could also be spiritual, but he approaches the after life as scientifically as one can)
13 Things that Don't Make Sense by James Adams
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Got to run now. Figuratively, not literally.
What are you reading now?
Let me know what I must add to my "must read" list....
