Thursday, November 13, 2008

Fiction Readers Anonymous

Guess what I've been doing? Reading. Reading what, you ask? Books. Real, live books. I haven't chilled out with a good work of fiction in at least a year, but last weekend, I decided to make a nest on my bed and dig in. ~Oh the forgotten bliss~ It was the last 2 books in the Annie's People series by Beverly Lewis and they were really good. Yes, I said "they", hence the reason I never read fiction: As soon as I get into a story, you can hang it up on me being worth a flip until I'm done...and Lord help us all if it's a series. I'm talking full-boar binge.

It's incredible the lengths that I will go to in order to not put the book down. I eat with it, bathe with it, and of course, it's the first thing I wake up to and the last thing I fall asleep with at night. I can even flip pages with my toes when absolutely forced to use my otherwise occupied hands. The worst part is that you can usually find me closetly heartbroken when I've read the last word. It's that bad, people.

Obsessive, you say? Yep. Analyze it, and you will probably come up with the solid truth that I am an all-or-nothing kind of girl, but you'd better stop up your ears if you make that statement too loudly because I can assure you, you'll get a booming agreement from my family. I try to be mindful of my "issues", which is why I have to go an entire year between my reading stints (this doesn't apply to non-fiction, by the way).

However, we are coming up on the holidays, when I will have some blessed down time (read: NO school! Holla!) and I would like something to read. It's all good...no need to call in an intervention or anything, I can totally handle it this time around, I promise. SO. What's a must-read in your opinion? OR, if you share my fiction issues and have to s-l-o-w-l-y back away from the books, tell me. Perhaps we can come up with a 12 step program together or something.

Hi, my name is,



30 comments:

Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae said...

Yep, I'm with you. Have to be careful what i start.

Cindy-Still His Girl said...

If you're a fiction lover you've probably read all of these, but just in case...

Classics
Gone With the Wind
To Kill a Mockingbird
Pride and Prejudice
Ethan Frome

Current
Secret Life of Bees
Kite Runner
Time Traveler's Wife
Light on Snow
My Sister's Keeper

Childrens Classics
From the Mixed Up Files
Witch of Blackbird Pond
Messenger
Westing Game

Childrens Current
Ida B
City of Ember
Each Little Bird That Sings

Christian
Mark of the Lion Series
Mitford Series
Zion Covenant Series
Zion Chronicles
The Russians Series

Now tell me- what should I read? :)

Mocha with Linda said...

Oh, Gayle, what timing! Come see me! :-)

The Farmer's Wife said...

Big sigh~ once again I'm not part of the "in" crowd. Fiction is just not my thing. The last few books I bought were:

1st Born Advantage, by Leman

Tired of Trying to Measure Up, by VanVonderen

KISS Guide to Photography

Happy Reading...

Kent said...

Wow I had no idea you were a huge reader!!! At least you limit your time with it. I am always reading 3 books at a time--different genres. I will not go anywhere without a book in the car!! I am fearful of getting stuck somewhere without one.
Right now I am reading
Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy--it is a memoir.
Another great memoir is Sixty-five Roses by Heather Summerhayes Cariou. Her sister had CF and her parents started Canadian CF Foundation. It is awesome.
Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer is about the mormon faith--it is good--true crime in it also.
I hate to tell you that true crime/detective novels are my favorites. Let's not even go there.
Fiction:
The Mitford series by Jan Karon is very light and fun.
Anything by Charles Martin is good--southern Christian writer
I also just fininshed The Space Between Us by Thrity Umrigar. For some reason I am facinated by India.
Sorry I went on and on....I LOVE BOOKS!!!!! If you saw my house you'd know that--everything suffers from my addiction.
Have fun reading!!

Anonymous said...

I don't even know where to begin!! I was blessed to find a way to justify my addiction. I review books for www.factsonfiction.org Check it out. They review children's and youth lit so parents know what their kids are reading. They PAY me to read for them. The only problem is I still have my other fiction book that I'm reading at the same time. SIGH. But maybe over time I can wean myself down to just the ones I'm paid for. I'm currently reading The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker. WARNING: Don't start one until you can read all three. My longtime favs are anything by Brock and Bodie Thoene. I also loved The Inheritance Trilogy, though I haven't read Brisinger yet because I knew I'd get too wrapped up in it. I'm waiting for summer break.
A great series my kids and I found for boys last summer was the Alex Rider series. Can't remember the author, but is was Anthony-- something starting with a H maybe Horowitz?
I really love Christian fiction, especially historical or suspense. I've probably already read about half of what the library has in this section.

Anonymous said...

I totally get it. It's a sickness.

OK... I am now completely expecting you to come to the party. it already sounds like there's gonna be a pretty hefty turnout.
And if you come i will bring you a present.

: )

Meliss said...

The Woman in White by Wilkey Collins (and I'm pretty sure that I'm butchering the spelling of his name)

Bethany said...

I devour books. Seriously.

As in, my first 10 hour overnight shift this week I read four of them.

I love books. They are food for my soul.

If you've not read anything of Francine Rivers, you simply have to! Atonement Child, Redeeming Love and And the Shofar Blew are my favorites but everything she writes is excellent.

Fairwarning though - be prepared with Kleenex. I haven't gotten through a single one of her books without at least a couple sob-fests.

Liz said...

Hey, I'm new at your blog. Hope it's okay if I chime in.

I have two book recommendations for you - "In Search of Eden" by Linda Nichols (made me cry) and "Providence" by Chris Coppernoll (very thought provoking, touching and a real page-turner). Neither one is part of a series, so you could read one and be finished.

Bethany said...

Oh, and BTW, I enjoy my addiction. No backing away slowly for me! =)

Tammy said...

Hi, I'm Tammy and I'm not a reader.

*slinking away quietly*

Ashley said...

Pick up Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series and you won't be able to put them down. There are 5 books in that series and two more series that follow it. I would stay up so late reading them.

Very, very good.

AnnieBlogs said...

Cindy put any list I would try to compose TO SHAME. Gracious.

But I would say anything by Sandra Byrd or Kristin Billerbeck. Both HILARIOUSLY great authors.

See you Saturday! YAY!!

call*me*kate said...

Since I started homeschooling (10 years ago) I have been fascinated with history and non-fiction. However, since I currently have 3 heavy books going (mostly about financial history) I decided to take a break and read some Bobbsey Twins. Far-fetched but fun. And quick reading.

ConservaChick said...

I am SO much like you when it comes to reading.

Now Gayle, the other books mentioned are fine, but if want some serious quilty please (without too much guilt) you have GOT to read the Twilight series.

These are not Christian books, but are written by a Mormon, so it doesn't have all the crap that you usually have to gloss over in secular books.

The 1st book is like 400 pages, but I read the thing in 2 days, staying up until 3am finishing it. I woke up early the next morning and drove to the bookstore to buy the second book. It's THAT good.

Honestly, I would have never thought this series would appeal to me, but someone bought it for me and I had put it aside. In a moment of desparation (nothing else to read)I picked it up. Once I opened it, I couldn't put it down.

So, go get it, and tell me what you think when you are done! ~K

Michelle said...

I love reading!And I always hate for a good book to end.

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin is one of my new favorites. I was so sad when this book ended!

Murder on the Ol' Bunions by S. Dionne Moore is a good book too. It's kinda different but I liked it.

Have you read Karen Kingsbury's latest series?

I read Annie's people and LOVED it! It is also one of my favorites!

Donna @ Way More Homemade said...

I'm just not much of a reader. I have to force myself INTO a book rather than out of. But I picked up Jane Austen's Emma at B&N the other day. Thought I ought to read some classics if Sarah is going to be into them before too long.

Jenni at talking hairdryer said...

Oh, yes, it happens to me too. My binges used to be limited to New Year's Day. But then it started leaking in to the rest of January. Now when January ends, I MAKE myself wait until summer.

I am trying to tell myself that I could read year around, any time I want, if I would just limit myself to 30 min or so at a time.

So far it hasn't worked.

Dena said...

You've already been given many wonderful suggestions, so I won't add anything else in, but I do want to let you know that you are not alone in your all or nothingness when it comes to books. I have been known to stay up all night just to finish what I'm reading. :)

DeeDee said...

so...... I am not normally a fiction reader. But have just started one - sent to me to review. I plan to have a give-away soon but thought I should read it first. Now, I too am having a hard time putting it down. LOL

Anonymous said...

I'm with you. I'm horrible about books merging with real life. Fortunately for me, I've gotten sick today which happily coincides with the fact that I picked up books 2 and 3 in the Twilight series.
You heard me. I'm pathetic and juvenile and I readily admit this.
However, I expect to knock out book 2 (563 pages) in the next 24 hours. Good times, being sick and all.

Halfmoon Girl said...

I read the dictionary for fun. Just joking. I am all about fiction as my brain no longer retains many non fiction facts.

I think Cindy suggested just about everything. Did anyone mention the Anne series. I just read them all again- they are so great. I reread books I like all the time. The Mitford series is another favourite of mine. Just to mix it up, I also like a great murder mystery, though I haven't found an author that I truly love in that genre. Mary Higgins Clark is pretty good.

Halfmoon Girl said...

Oh, BTW, I laughed at your comment over at my blog. I was wondering if anyone would have their sound turned up and do that exact thing. I'm so bad. Hahahahahahahaha.

Distybug said...

Wow, where to start?

Anything by Robert Whitlow - he's a Christian southern attorney - love ALL his books

Anything by Angela Elwell Hunt - Christian fiction

Anything by Kristen Heitzmann - also Christian fiction

Gotta ditto the Francine Rivers call - "The Last Sin Eater" is my fav

Anything by Beverly Lewis - I'm facinated by the Amish

Lowlands of Scotland series by Liz Curtis Higgs

Jenny said...

I'm very much like you in regard to my fiction reading. I haven't read a real book in quite a while, so I'm ready for a fiction reading extravaganza soon. I love Karen Kingsbury books. Her Redemption series is wonderful. I also really like Ever After and Even Now, but I can't remember which book comes first. Anyhow, whatever you decide to read, enjoy!

KarenW said...

Oh, can I join your 12 step program? I haven't picked up a fictional novel in months. I blame it on the fact that I'm too busy but I know that once I begin, there will be no stopping me. I miss reading . . . I have 6 days left of my sub job. Then I just might give into the temptation.

HobbitsHollow said...

Hi, it's me from homeschoolblogger, HobbitsHollow, aka bobbi. I've gotten my own lil blogspot now.
As for books, girl, I am an AVID reader! I love lots of books. Currently I am reading Truth Decay by Steve Hale, it's a Christian book about America. Joel Rosenburg is another author I really enjoy reading. Good to see you again!

Brin said...

I love Beverly Lewis! Another favorite of mine is Lori Wick. Have you read any of her fiction? She's Christian and her books are wonderful. Like you, once I start one, I can't wait to get back to it if I have to stop reading for some crazy reason. You know, to feed my kids, let the dog out, say hi to my husband. Sheesh!

amylake said...

You gotta read the new fantasy children's trilogy by N.D. Wilson (son of Douglas and Nancy Wilson, whose blogs and books I read, too). The first is "100 Cupboards" and the second is "Dandelion Fire". The third comes out in a few days and I can't wait to get it. I read each of them in just 2 days--couldn't put them down. My fourth grader is reading his books now and enjoying them, too. :o)