I love to read, but with three kids shrieking at my ankles, I don’t make the time for it I once did. I do miss diving into a rich, deep novel and getting lost in the tales the characters weave for me, and now that I am done my real estate course and intend to kick back and catch up on all the bon-bon eating I’ve fallen behind in, I hope to pair that with some good books.
If I had to choose the three books that have imprinted me most in my life thus far, they would have to be:
Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth.
I read this in January and can still recall excerpts that have stuck with me and that I think back to often. It’s a manual for mindfulness in all areas of one’s life, not just in respect to food or God. I highly recommend it.
Connected Parenting by Jennifer Kolari.
As a stay-at-home mother, it has been important for me to find my way amidst the barrage of parenting ideas and philosophies out there, and when I read this book, my heart cried an emphatic “Yes!” at the end of each page. For anyone who has challenging children, this book goes straight to the heart of the behavior and isn’t merely a manual for fixing the symptoms of a kid who throws too many tantrums. I use the methods every day and I think I should re-read it soon since Karenna is driving me to the BRINK.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
I read this when I was 16 and it blew my mind wide open.
What are the top three books you’ve read in your life that have stuck with you and impacted you most? Do you still make time to read or has it fallen by the wayside since you’ve had kids?
To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
The Hunters of Cherokee Country (Where the Red Fern Grows) Wilson Rawls
Island of the Blue Dolphins – Scott O’Dell
(All books I read growing up)
Recents favourites..
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
The Forgotten Garden – Kate Morton
All fiction, cause that’s my thing.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand
I always make time to read, and my husband bought me a Kindle and I absolutely love reading off of it. I’m hoping baby #2 doesn’t change that!
Oh, there are so, So, SO many books!! I too liked “The Handmaid’s Tale” – I plan to read it again. (Margaret Atwood went to my highschool, so just about all of her books were on our required reading list… I felt annoyed about it then. I embrace her now.)
I loved James Frey’s “A Million Little Pieces” despite all the Oprah brou-ha-ha… it was an amazing read, and I loved the lack of punctuation – excellent.
I think one I really savoured was “Bastard Out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison. When I was done with it, I threw it across the room and sobbed for about an hour. It was just one of those stories. Powerful. Wonderful.
I loved the first two you mentioned, Amreen. I am guess, then, that I will also love Rebecca. I have heard great things about it.
books that have really impacted me – i’m a fiction fan – are A fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, Possession by A.s. Byatt, and REbecca by daphne du maurier – there are lots more!
fool on the hill by matt ruff
a winter’s tale by mark helprin
beyond the paw paw trees by palmer brown
thursday next series by jasper fforde
the first two are “grown up” books but you have to suspend reality but only a touch. the third one is a children’s book and is perfectly written…i can’t tell you how much i loved that book growing up and still do! the last author i love and i got the chance to meet him at a harbourfront author meet and greet and i was so giddy. awesome female lead (i wanna be her!)
haven’t read handmaid’s tale….i’ll put that on my book list.