It’s true. I have a problem. I’m totally and completely obsessed with reading.
I’ve tried to not be so consumed with the crisp pages and the smell of freshly-printed ink in a New Release. I’ve tried to stop my aimless wandering of Barnes and Noble. I’ve tried to explore other hobbies like cooking, knitting, God-forbid the time I tried roller blading, and photography.
But it’s no use. I need to accept that this is just part of who I am while also accepting the fact that this addiction of mine is costing me sleep. Though I have children to blame for that, I will reveal my dirty little secret…
I’m not tired because of my children. They are actually pretty good little sleepers. They go to bed by 8:30 each night and unless they are sick, I don’t hear from them again until 8 a.m. the next morning. Whew. I worked hard for that.
I’m tired because at midnight, you can usually find me burning the midnight oil as I’m snuggled in bed reading my latest find.
Books consume me. I become a part of the plot, find myself relating to the characters. If it’s a REALLY good one, my mind will wander to the characters throughout my day. Yes, I’m scared for myself, too.
I am certain my friends and family are a little sick of hearing me say “You know, I once read this book…” That phrase has been met with more than one eyeroll.
I admit it – I’m a total nerd. And I’m good with that.
Since I’m kinda known to be this big book nerd, I often have people ask me for book recommendations. I’ve had a decent amount of requests to share some good summer reads and rather than emailing the 20 people or so who have asked me of this as of late, I’m posting it here. Today. The day you have been waiting for – the Possibly Annual Summer Reading List of Mommy on Fire.
By the way, if you are a book lover and you are not on Good Reads, stop RIGHT NOW and do it. I update my page fairly often and you will get a TON of reading ideas from what your pals are diving into as well. I would love to be your Good Reads friend – send me an email (ncsnapp@gmail.com) and I’ll add you. THEN we can share ALL of the time!!!!! (Snort laugh while pushing up my taped glasses).
Without further ado, here’s a list I would tell you to devour…(Bolded are among my top ten favorites of all-time)
I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
Beach Music by Pat Conroy
The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merriman
The Secret Life of Cee Cee Wilkes by Diane Chamberlin
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos
One True Thing by Anna Quindlen
Blessings by Anna Quindlen
Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons by Meg Meeker
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughter by Meg Meeker (by the way, moms should read this, too)
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
The Last Time They Met by Anita Shreve
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Used World by Haven Kimmel
A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Same Kind of Different as Me by Denver Moore and Ron Hall
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
The Pact by Jodi Picoult
The Girls of Ames by Jeffrey Zaslow
The Last Lecture by Jeffrey Zaslow
One Million Arrows by Julie Ferwerda
Books I have not read but have dreams of reading this summer:
The Shack by William P Young
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen
Imperfect Birds by Anne Lamott
A Soft Place to Land by Susan Rebecca White
Heart of the Matter by Emily Griffin
Bringing Up Girls by James Dobson
Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson
Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson
I’m currently reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It’s my book club pick. I’m already loving it, so I would tell you to get this one, too. GREAT summer read!
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to share any good books you have read lately and I will add them to this list. I am FOREVER looking for a good read. (snort laugh while pushing up my taped glasses…)
Happy Caffeinated Randomness Day! Head on over to Andrea’s awesome blog to read more CR!
Oh Natalie. You speak my language. Books! I seriously love them. It is my most favorite of hobbies. Give me a good book and a comfy chair and I am set for the day. I am currently reading A Million Miles by Donald Miller. Amazing. Next up is Searching For God Knows What by Donald Miller.
I just finished Chasing Francis by Ian Cron and I think you would really like it. I am off to add some of your list to my goodreads. Oh I friend requested you there :)
.-= Christy´s last blog ..What I would Like You to Know About Canadians :: Andrea Mitchell =-.
Fantabulous, Christy! Thank you so much – I am SO going to check these titles out. Thrilled to be your Good Reads fan – I know I will get some good reading ideas from you!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Me too. I am currently carrying around two or three…but wasted yesterday on the computer. Maybe I will bookmark your list to take with me when I go to China…
Here is the question…books being the total sensory experience(except for taste. If you do that, don’t tell me.), what do you think of the kindle and bookreader?
.-= Maggie S.´s last blog ..Thursday Thank-Off =-.
No to kindle! ;)
Personally, I think I read electronic stuff differently than I do books. I can’t put my finger on it, but there’s just something so different about handling a book. Or maybe it’s because I CAN put my finger on it. Ha!
.-= GlowinGirl´s last blog ..It’s a Love Story: Baby, Just Say "Yes" =-.
I live for handling books, smelling them, experiencing them, the whole works. That having been said, I also adore gadgets. My new Nook is the best of both worlds and I love it, but it will never replace my books.
.-= Lizzie´s last blog ..My Daybook goes nicely with Thankful Thursdays =-.
First of all, thank you for reading and commenting, Lizzie! I look forward to reading your blog later today – love the name of it!
I also have a Nook and LOVE IT. I can’t believe I caved and bought one because I was against it for a while but I can’t say how much I am loving it. I love that I can buy a book at midnight from my bed, it’s so easy to carry around, the books are MUCH cheaper, and storage space in my house is better, too!
There are still some books I buy but for the most part, I read everything on my Nook. I read too much to pay so much for books and then again, the space issue…:)
Maggie, thank you so much for reading and commenting. I’ll be visiting your blog later today.
I LOVE my Nook. See comments above as I am starting to sound like a broken record. But yes, I love it and didn’t think I would…
OH and not to mention is travels SO well – no carrying around a bunch of books when you go on trips and you can buy them along the way should you desire to do so!!!
I’m tired too. ;)
I’ve read several on your list and loved them! My stack is so high that I don’t even know what’s in it. I just finished up some children’s books to preview before my son reads them and now I’m working on Grandma’s Letters from Africa.
A couple of years ago I went on a Newberry Medal reading kick. Now, I’ve got a list of classics a mile long that I want to get to in between all these others on my shelf.
So many books, so little time!
.-= GlowinGirl´s last blog ..It’s a Love Story: Baby, Just Say "Yes" =-.
My kind of gal! BOOKS, how I love thee.
I am an insatiable reader but I have only read 2 on your list, The Shack and the Thorn Birds. Typically, I am more of a non-fiction reader. Right now on my new Nook I have the new Elizabeth Peters, I adore her Amelia Peabody series and I am also reading through all of Daniel Boorstin’s books.
Stopped by from SITS, nice to find a kindred spirit.
Very nice blog! Impressive. Dropped in via SITS. I liked your list, and I am bit jealous. Finding books while living in Honduras is proving to be a challenge. My list is quite small compared to yours. Happy Friday.
.-= laurie´s last blog ..Happy Hut =-.
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Laurie! I’m looking forward to visiting your blog later today.
I’m sure it is a challenge to get books in Honduras. I would be happy to send you a few should you like!
Always love to hear recommendations on what to read. I admit that blog reading has replaced a lot of book reading for me, but I am a book lover, too!
Yep, I am so with you on this. I have read two books in the last week, and am almost finished with my third. Just finished “The Help”…it is AWESOME! LOVED IT!
I got a book from the library called “Book Crush”, filled with reading ideas for kids. I made a whole list for all three of my kids for the summer reading program, along with some young adult stuff for me.
I did have an account on Good Reads…need to go back and get into it again. Thanks for some great ideas!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Work sleep eat play. =-.
I am a reader too – and yes, that’s usually why I sleep in most mornings… because I was up til 1am with a book I just couldn’t put down! haha Thanks for the list of awesome reading material… I’ll have to work my way through it this summer too!! :)
.-= Lauren´s last blog ..CR: June Official Number and a WINNER!! =-.
My mom has to tell me NOT to buy books with whatever money she blesses me with. She makes the mistake though in telling me to buy something for myself…ummm…that is something for myself. LOL
I have two bags full under my desk, about 12 books on my desk and many more on my shelves, and a wish list a mile long.
Now I have to slow down long enough to read!!
.-= Kela´s last blog ..Caffeinated Randomness: Whew! What a WEEK! =-.
I think about characters of books too it it makes you feel any better. Maybe it just means we’re both crazy.
Stopping by from CR. I just finished So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore and it was great. The Shack was a really good read too.
We have such similar taste in books! I think you will like The Shack – I read it when it first came out and was all controversial. I was like “Dudes, it’s a novel!” Seriously, I said it just like that. :P
Hey Natalie! Im also reading the girl with the dragon tattoo. Just getting good now! Enjoy…
Hi, another book-addict here! I love reading! Always have. I really appreciate your list as I too am always looking for good recommendations!
I just finished reading The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. I really liked it and would recommend it. And I just started the new Jodi Piccoult book, House Rules. I usually like her books so I’m excited about starting this one!
oh saw lots of stuff i like to read! lol
how could we not be friends on goodreads??? lol i’m listed as Amydeane
.-= amydeanne´s last blog ..randomness at it’s finest… =-.
Hey! I have a Nook too!! Love it! I am a book fanatic as well and am so glad my husband bought me the Nook. Cool blog and hope to get to know you better! From one Jesus lover to another! Blessings!
.-= Linda´s last blog ..Peace and Pizzas!! =-.
oh.
me.
too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel in love with you on the very first LINE of this blog entry. *sigh* I feel like the girl from Confessions Of A Shopoholic when she is in the 12 step group meeting…but is there anything like the smell of a brand new book…and the sound of the crinkle to the spine as you turn the pages…OR the fact that you have promised yourself “last chapter” for the past two hours and yet the cliff hangers at the end of ever chapter pulls you in for just. one. more. chapter. ???? Oh, the joys!!
…wow. I feel a bit sheepish for just verbally vomitting on you, but I think you will forgive the trespass. :)
Glad to meet you! :)
Hi Natalie,
I love your book list. Thanks for posting it. And yes it does show how obsessed you are with reading. I would love to have the time to read this much, but I love and need my sleep. I may get one or two books read a month, even though I love to read. I feel too guilty reading when there are so many other things to do. I have the Shack if you want to borrow it. I doubt I will get to it anytime soon.
Fay
Wow… that is some list! I can’t wait to hear about all the ‘good’ ones! And it it TOTALLY ok to be a nerd… I am also a proud nerd! :)
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..caffeinated randomness… button vote =-.