10 Things About Books

I'm overwhelmed with emotion regarding the New Orleans Saints winning the SuperBowl! So much so I can not write about it yet (so much more than a football win). Until my thoughts are formulated into words, I thought it would be a great idea to do some questionnaire type posts. My dear blogspiration *kay posted the following on her new Ice Cream and Peonies blog so I followed suit. I love books so this was a fun way to celebrate them! YAY! Enjoy ;)

• Favorite books when you were a child and why? I've always loved to read since as far back as I can remember. I do not remember a kiddie book that I loved but I do remember around third grade going BANANAS over everything Judy Blume I touched. I do recall reading FRECKLE JUICE first but it was ARE YOU THERE GOD ITS ME MARGARET was THE book that made me a "reader". This book made me feel like I wasn't so alone in the world if that makes sense. Even at that young age, I realized that I had more in common with people I've never met than some people I saw everyday. I felt like I knew Margaret and I wanted to experience feelings of connecting with characters over and over again.
• First "grown up" book you remember reading? Maya Angelou's I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. I was still in third grade but to be honest I only read it then because this girl told me it had sex in it. I read the whole thing and was a bit overwhelmed. I revisited when I was older and understood it so much better.
• Favorite movie that came from a book?
  Hmmmm I have so many but I'm going to go with COLOR PURPLE because its one of the few ones were I enjoyed the movie more than the book. I think they did an awesome job of determining what to include and what to eliminate. And it was aesthetically gorgeous.

More...

• Movie that you loved so much that you WISHED there was a book out so that you could find out more about the movie?
• Worst book you've ever read? Hands down, MRS. PAINE'S GARAGE. Ok, I joined a book club randomly on Craigslist. In our first meeting one of the girl's had gotten several of these books donated to us. I soon saw why. IT SUCKS! It was literally like Mrs. Paine's attempt to say she had information so someone gave the ok for this book to be written only to find it was all crap! Horrid horrid book.
• Book that everyone raves about that you either a)haven't read and feel slightly dumb for not having read or b)have tried to read and hated and so feel slightly dumb that everyone is getting something you don't?I'm going to go with B-I feel slightly off because EVERYONE raves about Toni Morrison books and I have trudged through several and just don't get the acclaim. BELOVED was torture to me but everyone raves about it. I. Just.Don't. Get.It.
• If you were forced to choose only 3 books that you could read for the rest of your life, which ones would they be? Hmmmm, YOUR FAITH IS YOUR FORTUNE is super super great and inspiring. It is a "new age" spiritual book but it is so on point. It takes Bible verses and stories and breaks them down into practical applications that apply to everyone's individual life. SOUL CATCHER is a journal book I love and finally THE ALCHEMIST (see next question for reason).
• Name one book that you would recommend everyone you know read.
  If I had money to spare I'd buy cases of THE ALCHEMIST and hand them out to anyone who has never read it. It is a a book I think ANYONE can relate to if they are open to it. The overall point of the book is that everyone has their own special and unique destiny. That destiny requires some effort on each of our parts though and that's why I'd share the book with the world - in hopes that everyone reaches their specific destiny.
• What is your guilty pleasure reading? Anything by E. Lynn Harris. I have no idea why. Some strange fascination with the downlow brothers I guess ...
• What book (excluding the Bible or other major major document of your religion/faith) has changed your outlook on life the most?
  Hands down TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD! Where do I begin. This is my all time favorite book. I've read it over 100 times and every time I learn something else about myself or about mankind or about the characters or the town or the courtroom - simply put I learn something new each time. As simply as I can state, is the one that said people are all people no matter their color. You have to take folk as they come and I learned this lesson by reading this book. I LOVE THIS BOOK!