June 3, 2005 7:11 PM
Let's play Book Tag
I've been tagged - for the first time - by Rebecca!
Rebecca, I hope this isn't one of those Sorry-I-Asked, More-than-Anyone-Ever-Wanted-to-Know-About-Barbara, kind of things :)
Total books owned, ever:
I've always loved to read. Tripp has always loved to read. Six of our eight reading children love live to read. Most of us would rather spend money on books than anything else.
Now, add to that the fact that I was once a pagan, philosophy student, Montessori teacher, radical Leftist, recovering drug addict, movie enthusiast, self-improving parent, New Age practicioner, born-again Christian, born-again conservative, homeschooling mother, writing apprentice, and currently reading popular fiction to keep a fix on the culture -- and that I never do anything without reading all about it -
Plus loads of classics and lots of art books -
Not to mention books for every age bracket.
Although I threw all my New Age books in the trash can, the others I've reluctantly weeded through for Goodwill each time we moved. About five years ago, I began selling my used books - the ones I could part with - on amazon to continue financing our habit.
Still, we currently have at least 2000 books at home - and no longer dare to bring library books home as they are impossible to find if someone who just doesn't get it puts them away with our own. Over a lifetime I'd say I might have gone through 9-10,000 books.
Which isn't to say I've read them all :)
Last book(s) I bought
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan
Faith Beyond Reason by A. W. Tozer
The Sibling Slam Book: What It's Really Like to Have a Brother or Sister with Special Needs (for Maddy)
Last book I read:
Finishing up Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss - a delightful romp, recommended for adults and teens,
but I've been interrupted by reading some books about drug addiction: A Million Little Pieces by James Frey and Requiem For a Dream - by Hubert Selby, Jr. (I hesitated before putting these down because they are not for the faint of heart, but are related to a book I'm working on to help Christians have more compassion for nonbelievers.)
Five books that mean a lot to me:
The Bible - I know it's a cliche, but still the truth - the grandest story of redemption ever
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo - the grandest fictional story of redemptiion and the second book I'd take with me on a desert island
The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous - because it taught me seven years before I became a Christian some important lessons: to be scrupulously honest about my life, and to be quick to admit my mistakes - in short, to be humble and teachable.
The Absorbent Mind by Maria Montessori - because it set me on a path to learning some incredible things about children
On Writing Well by William Zinsser - because it set me on a path to consistently aiming higher with my writing
Like I said, more than you probably wanted to know! But I sure had a good time thinking it through!
Tag 5 people:
Lexie, Amy, Mel, Jasmine, Spunky, Julana, Sal
Okay -- I know it's supposed to be only five, but just in case someone doesn't have the time or inclination, you don't have to feel guilty!
Comments
Mine are up. I hope you appreciate the humor in them! ;)
Blessings,
Posted by: Sal | June 3, 2005 10:55 PM
I told myself I would never do one of the tag things. I have enough trouble doing blog time. However, because it's from you, Barbara, I'll try to get to it this weekend.
Speaking of you & this weekend, tomorrow dh & I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary by going to a Christian Writier's Conference, per your advice. (He's also a wannabe writer.)
So, I might actually have time to do it this weekend because we're staying at my brother's house & don't have the usual house things to tend to.
Thanks for thinking of me.
Enjoyed reading your list and Sal's.
Posted by: Lexie | June 3, 2005 11:50 PM
Sal - so funny. :-)
Mine are up. I saw Mel's, too.
Julana
Posted by: Julana | June 4, 2005 1:28 PM
OK, I'm up!
Posted by: Amy's Humble Musings | June 4, 2005 1:53 PM
I'm going to get to mine soon. Barbara you would not believe how my life has changed recently. I gotta e-mail you soon!
BTW are you still working on your book?
Spunky
Posted by: Spunky | June 8, 2005 8:33 PM
