Lists

I'm sitting in my reading and writing chair, so I have decided that I should read, or write. As the book that I am currently reading, 100 Years of Solitude, is currently across the room from me, I've decided to write. Today I'm going to make a list. Sometimes I think that I should make lists of things other than groceries and "to do's" so that I do not forget them. I'm making a list today of books that I liked/loved. The items on this list appear in no particular order : )

The Misbegotten Son by Jack Olsen- a true crime book, it was intriguing, read it in high school

False Memory by Dean Koontz (ok, I have read a lot of Koontz' work, I also liked The Door to December and Intensity) It was kinda long, but I couldn't put it down!

The Pleasure of My Own Company by Steve Martin- a good summer read, and the namesake for my blog.

The Lies That Bind by Edward DeAngelo- a real crazy story about a man who, after divorcing his wife, finally decides to get a paternity test for his 13 year old son. Turns out, he is not the biological father. He grapples with what it means to be a father, and what his relationship with Sam will be.

The Warmest December by Bernice McFadden - man, if you want to cry, read this one!

Soulfire by Lorri Hewett one of my favorite books from when I was a teenager; a good coming of age tale with a Black protagonist and his friends.

There are No Children Here by Alex Kotlowitz- a book about to young men growing up in Chicago projects written by a journalist

Falling Leaves by Adeline Yen Mah- a story about an unwanted Chinese daughter

The Whiteboy Shuffle by Paul Beatty- a coming of age story about a Black teenager growing up in Santa Monica in search of his identity, this book was comedy.

Somewhere in the Darkness by Walter Dean Myers- who doesn't like WDM?

Ellen Foster by Kaye Gibbons- a fictional story about a sassy little girl who becomes orphaned and makes her way in the world

Killing Johnny Fry by Walter Mosley- a sexistential novel, man this book made me blush. But it did raise some interesting questions. If you're feelin adventerous, pick it up.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger- yes, this is my Blogger screen name, this book has some great lines in it. Holden is hilarious, and I found a great quote that explains why I have chosen the career path that I have.

Arranged Marriage by Chitra Divakaruni- my high school english teacher had it as a choice for a unit that we did and I really liked these short stories, I began to think about a life totally different from anything I'd ever experience.

The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron- Julian and his brother Huey are hilarious. Two Black boys who tell about their adventures in their neighborhood. Their imaginations run wild, and this is one of the first chapter books I ever read that had Black characters.

The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle- Philosophy 101, I loved this book, in just thinking about how to define good and bad and choices. Of all Philosophy readings, I think I enjoy reading about ethics the most.

I read mostly fiction, I see reading as an escape. Reading for me is just like watching movies, except I get a lot more creative control. There are several books that I've started or stopped reading that I intend to finish at some point including:

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie (good food for thought)

The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes (good for person-building)

The Importance of What We Care About by Harry Frankfurt (interesting so far, essays on value, responsibility, and the like).

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen (I've started this book twice and never really make it all that far)

Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Nietzsche (I had to put this down, I needed to mind-map things out before I proceeded, too dense to read all at one time)

and books that I want to read in the future-

The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde

Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama

The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama (I bought this in hardcopy after seeing him on Oprah...so I need to read it as not to waste my hard earned money!)

Learning Reconsidered I and II- professional development reading for myself.

Leading with Soul- by Lee Bolman

Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone

Books I might re-read include

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois

Have any recommendations or feedback, gimme a shout. Otherwise check out some of these books and tell me what you think.

PS- the LAkers lost tonite :(