Do you remember propping yourself up in bed, under the covers, with a flashlight and a good novel?
This summer, I rediscovered my local public library because they introduced electronic book loans. And, most exciting of all, I could download e-books onto my iPhone. I didn’t need a flashlight to read at night anymore!
I’ve read more in the last 3 months than I have in ages. I usually favour cookbooks (yes, food is a recurring obsession with me…). Last year, it was yoga books for shala. This year, I’ve been reading and listening to all kinds of fiction and non-fiction. A lot of the books are current. Not everything that I might want is available in e-format though. So I’ve browsed through the virtual shelves and read whatever seemed to appeal to me. Here’s my annotated list so far.
Books I’ve finished:
Twilight – Vampire chick lit. I’d heard so many people tell me that they enjoyed the series. Then the movies started to come out. I was curious and thought I’d investigate what the talk was all about. It was a fun summer read.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future – One of my fav actors, Michael J. Fox gives his thoughts to new graduates or those about to embark on their working life. The last few chapters, where he describes how he handles his Parkinson’s Disease, are really grounded in yoga.
The Alchemist – I loved reading all the Harry Potter series so this was a lucky find. It’s about Nicholas Flamel (think Philosopher’s Stone) and his adventures. Michael Scott weaves mythic creatures and folklore together with magic and adventure.
The Magician – Second book in the series. I hope that the rest of the series becomes available via the library e-book system soon. I love this stuff (magic, mythology, adventure).
The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1 – Fun, easy read. But doesn’t this stuff scare kids? I know that it would have given me nightmares when I was little!
Everyday Italian (cookbook) – Giada DeLaurentis is a genius at simple, fresh Italian food. Her recipes are as wonderful to read as they are to watch on TV. Made my mouth water.
Great Food, All Day Long (cookbook) – Maya Angelou cooks up home-style meals but then gently reminds me that I don’t have to eat it all at one sitting.
Audiobooks that I’ve heard:
Guided Meditations for Love and Wisdom – I would love to attend a retreat with Sharon Salzberg. This is pretty close to the real thing.
Meditation for Beginners – Jack Kornfield is another person whom I’d love to spend time with. I read his book “The Wise Heart” and knew that I wanted to learn more from him.
Throw Out 50 Things – Believe it or not, it’s yoga disguised as popular culture! Specifically the niyama called aparigraha, which refers to non-possessiveness. The audiobook speaks about clearing physical and mental clutter. I even checked out the website for a downloadable workbook. I hadn’t expected that Gail Blanke would mention getting rid of old ideas and mindsets as part of things that we need to throw out. Wow.
Still reading these books:
The Wind in the Willows – My uncle gave me a copy as a kid and it still captures my imagination. I wish animals could talk and wear little suits like the creatures in this book!
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – A real thinking book. Tough to get through parts since it starts to delve into some deep philosophical ideas.
New Moon – More vampire smut and teen angst. Good escapism.
Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants – Chick lit. Good summer time (or anytime) read.
The Hunger Games – The latest in Sci Fi/Fantasy. Was recommended to me by my brother-in-law. I’m doing the audiobook version because that was the format available for loan. I think that I would have liked reading it better based on what I’ve heard so far.
So I’m hooked. I’ll be checking out more books from my wish list. I love that I can read off my iPhone. I can pick it up anywhere, at any time. No worrying about losing my place, late fees (the book is returned automatically on the due date), bending the cover (I’m very particular about the handling of my books) or storing them (less stuff is better…see “Throw Out 50 Things”).
I can lose myself in the story and forget time. In grade school, I was known for how I could devour a book in one sitting. I was so happy to rediscover this. Being in the moment can happen with anything, even while reading.
