Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason
74 journalers for this copy...
And then, of course, I had to share my Book Lust with others...so I sent it off to four book lovers at On the Porch Swing Bookbox.
I hope they enjoy Book Lust as much as I do. :->
Mailed this off as a traveling book! Enjoy!
This is a fascinating book, and my list of books I want to read has gotten a lot longer, thanks to the great suggestions of the author.
I'm returning this and the little notebook to Debbie.
"So many books, so little time-so which of the countless titles should a hungry reader pick out and devour? Pearl, a longtime reader, book reviewer and public librarian, presents a hundred or so of her favorites in this novel guide to finding the right book for the right mood. Presented in eclectic categories of people, places and themes (e.g. "Prose by Poets," "Dinosaur Hunting," "In Big Sky Country" and "Academia: The Joke"), each of her suggestions is accompanied by a few of her thoughts on it, a succinct plot summary and often information about the volume's prizes and print status. Her notes are sprightly and concise: in the section on "Families in Trouble," Pearl mentions Pat Conroy's The Prince of Tides ("I always thought that it...defined the dysfunctional novel") and Sylvia Foley's Life in Ocean Air ("surely one of the most depressing books I have ever read in a lifetime of reading grim and depressing books"). There's more than just novels, of course: she recommends, for instance, good "Techno-thrillers" ("nonfiction about science and technology") such as The Thread Across the Ocean: The Heroic Story of the Transatlantic Cable and One Good Turn: A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw. Interestingly, Pearl urges readers to abandon books they dislike after 50 pages, though she does point out that frame of mind often determines one's opinion of a book. "When I begin reading a new book, I am embarking on a new, uncharted journey," Pearl declares in her brief introduction; with this guidebook in hand, readers can benefit from her experience as they travel their own ways."
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
I loved reading through the ideas for other books to read that were posted in the little journal that accompanied Book Lust. I also sent the list of suggestions to the author, Nancy Pearl.
Now I must share Book Lust with others! I'm going to send it out into the wide world next. I am offering it at BookCrossing, by invitation only to start, as a bookring!
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BOOK LUST BOOKRING
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The bookring is starting as an Invitation Only Bookring. If you have received an invitation and you would like to join this bookring, please send a PM (private message) to debnance and I will add you to the list. After the book has started its journey (Jan. 2, 2004), new members may be able to be added to the end of the list on the final loop home. Please be aware that this is an international bookring and it is very helpful if you are willing to ship overseas. If you have a hard time shipping overseas, you can let me know and I will try to place you accordingly on the list. The list of members will be listed below:
ORDER FOR BOOK LUST (A)
debnance...Alvin, Texas
geniedances...Houston, Texas
DreissM...Houston, Texas
kikimasu...Tallahassee, Florida
EC-Books...Crescent City, Florida
debrayn...St. Marys, Georgia
PatteHen...Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
skcreader...Roanoke, Virginia
tamugrad02...Virginia Beach, Virginia
Seferim...Columbia, Maryland
kristamd...Gaithersburg, Maryland
sahmofour...Berlin, Maryland
ladyslott...Oceanside, New York
Hanrahan-Siudy...Schenectady, New York
needeler...Leroy, New York
mojosmom...Chicago, Illinois
mssaver...Chicago, Illinois
cyber-librarian...Antioch, Illinois
DSM...Bad Axe, Michigan
faeriemyst...Marietta, Ohio
Luintaurien...York, Nebraska
nyisutter...St. Charles, Missouri
Betsy-STL...St. Louis, Missouri
mysteryfan03...Moberly, Missouri
glade1...McLeansville, North Carolina
Sidney1220...McLean, Virginia
nokturnalmuse...Atlanta, Georgia
suefitz...Saratoga, California
Secretariat...Carlsbad, California
bobbarama...Carlsbad, California
elizardbreath...Baker City, Oregon
Llednyl...Chesterland, Ohio
indygo88...Lafayette, Indiana
purplemoonmyst...Seco, Kentucky
esperanza03...Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Ceili...Baldwinsville, New York
debnance...Alvin, Texas
ORDER FOR BOOK LUST (B)
debnance...Alvin, Texas
vraciousrdr...Vista, California
Scout-Finch...Sherman Oaks, California
quinnsmom...Simi Valley, California
JDT...Pleasanton, California
AuntK...Albany, California
kbgoffe...Beaverton, Oregon
melissaparcel...Kelso, Washington
alsomama...Seattle, Washington
rhythmbiscuit...Colorado Springs, Colorado
Libby2...Omaha, Nebraska
JennyO...Temple, Texas
debnance...Alvin, Texas, USA
DiamondLight...Dublin, Texas
sistert...Columbia, Maryland
amoebastar...Ferndale, Michigan
RaineeRose...Rochester, New York
ecoboy...Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
eicuthbertson...Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
genevalove...Shanghai, China (FPO...US postal rate)
nikel27...Ginsheim, Germany
butterfly-noir...Lisboa, Portugal
mirp...Dublin, Ireland
psychjo...Portsmouth, England
Mehal...London, England (never journaled)
redhouse...Suffolk, England
lmjsmum...Shropshire, England
Potok-fan...Turku, Finland
ftarazu...Ovar, Portugal
samulli...Weimar, Thüringen, Germany
chich...Perpignan, France
Fabiola79...Heerlen, Netherlands
lillymagoo...Howick, Auckland, New Zealand
veritas9...Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
DrCris...Templestowe, Victoria, Australia
jubby... Balmain, New South Wales, Australia
LizzieM...Sydney, Australia
jessibud...Ontario, Canada
ajsmom...Quesnel, British Columbia, Canada
debnance...Alvin, Texas, USA
Color code:
Blue=Has read the book and passed it on
Red=In transit to/has not journaled yet
Green=Has book now
As a member, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book, please make a journal entry at BookCrossing stating that you’ve received it. Please read it as soon as you can (don't rush; just be reasonable about the length of time). After you read the book, please journal again at BookCrossing with your comments. Please add any ideas you have for other good reads to the small journal accompanying the book.
When it you've finished reading the book, please PM the next person on the list to request their address. If you haven't had a reply from them after a week and two PM's, please move on to the next person on the list. I plan a final loop back for anyone who misses out due to holidays, etc, but I'd like to keep the book travelling reasonably quickly. Mailing the book by media mail is the least expensive way (or surface mail if it's sent overseas).
If any questions come up, please send a PM to me at debnance or an e-mail to [email protected].
NOTE: RESPONSE TO THIS RING HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS!
To speed up movement of this fun book, I've decided to follow ecoboy's example and send a second copy into the world. There are now two copies of this book travelling simultaneously, one among people on the "A" list and one among people on the "B" list. Both copies will have the same BCID number which means that all the journal entries from both lists will appear in the same sequence. Please note somewhere in your journal entry whether this is the "A" book or the "B" book. One book is traveling east from Texas and one is traveling west.
If there is no one on the list after you, please return the book to debnance. I will send the book out again if I get more participants.
***Please bear in mind that there's a L-O-N-G list of eager readers patiently waiting to read the book after you. With that in mind, I would ask that you endeavor to get it back on the road again within a couple of weeks of receiving it. If your turn is rapidly approaching and you find that you're up to your armpits in rings and rays, do drop me a line and we'll work something out.
Many thanks for your co-operation, and may everyone enjoy Book Lust!
I'm hoping to get a head start on the bookring by sending it off with either Genie or Marie at tomorrow night's MeetUp....
Sending to the next person on the list - kikimasu. Enjoy!!
Thanks for including me!
E
Finally! The poor little book has been wandering the mail routes from Texas to California. Is now safely in my hands to be read and released - hoping to get this read and mailed out before the end of the month so that it can continue on it's journey.
Put this into the mail to debryan - next in the ring. I really enjoyed this book. Looking at the background of the author as librarian, book reviewer, etc., she has a good jump off list. This book makes me want to start my own book journal. Thanks to Deb for starting the ring. EC
Sending on to Scout-Finch.
CAUGHT IN ST. MARYS GA USA
Under Africa: Today and Yesterday..no mention of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller?
(Maybe it came out in '03..)
Armchair Travel: NO Bill Bryson?????
China Voices: No The Barbarians are Coming by David Wong Louie?
and under Western Fiction: NO Kent Haruf? No Plainsong??
I fully realize this is one woman's list, but the above were some biggies I would think (based on my perception of her taste) she would like and mention..!
I just loved having the Book Lust Journal to put in my (2)2 cents worth..(I couldn't limit it to 2 cents)
Enjoy!! Off to the next BCer..
Thanks to all before me - both books!
Moving to the top of my overwhelming TBR stack!
Obviously, a book like this can't cover everyone's faves - and it may tend to get dated quickly - omitting new best reads.
That said, it was a great concept, I loved adding suggestions, and found my tastes closer to quinnsmom's than the author's!
Sending (Book B) on to AuntK!
Thank you Debnance for starting this ring. The book was very fun to read, and like the other people have mentioned, I loved the accompanying journal. I liked Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50: Give a book 50 pages to prove itself. If you do not want to go on, don't! There are plenty of other books to read! :)
I will mail this to kristamd tomorrow.
Ok, here are a few questions asked:
My favorite author: (it's so hard to pick one!) -- I think Geraldine Brooks has got to be the one. She's written excellent books that have fallen into some of my interest categories. Two of her best, "Nine Parts of Desire" (about islamic women) and "A year of Plague", keep me riveted. I heartily endorse all of her books and look forward to whatever she writes.
My favorite male author would have to be Jon Krakuer. I have watched him evolve from writing for Outside magazine in to a seasoned author. I think his latest book "Under the Banner of Heaven" revealed his maturing style.
I have been enjoying both Book Lust and it's companion. A great way to spend a couple of hours this weekend!
Well, this book is off to Kbgoffe and oregon... I think she'll see why I had to get it GONE!! ::grin:: ok, ok, I became a bit obsessed and when you mix that with my "collection"... well, you'll see for yourself when you get book B! Thanks for sharing this book!
I loved the little book journal that came with the book. It's basically the same idea as Nancy Pearls, but I value the opinions of other book group people maore than any one else.
Thanks for sharing this book Deb, I appreciate the chance to read it, even if it wasn't a favorite.
Sent to the next person on the list.
Enjoy!
It is so wonderful to know that this book is not lost. I plan to try to have it off again in a day or two. Thanks debnance!
CAUGHT IN LEROY NY USA
PMing espressoabe to get the book out as soon as possible.
This books is off to alsomama this week (probably Thursday)
Thanks Debbie!
Book Lust has reminded me of something I had forgotten: when I was ten or so, I couldn't get enough of Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry. I would literally turn the last page, flip the book over, and immediately begin reading it again. I've never seen the film. And although there are several books I enjoy rereading from time to time, never since Brighty have I been so captivated by a book that every time I read it, it's like the first time. Pearl has a "Dui" category called "Books better remembered than reread," and I think Brighty belongs there for me. I would hate for it to lose its magic.
I contacted Libby2, and soon book and journal will be headed for Omaha!
Released 19 yrs ago (1/18/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I will mail this book to Libby2 tomorrow.
I found the little journal that comes with this book immensely interesting and copied down many of the suggested books. I enjoyed adding many book favorites of my own to the lists.
THANKS, debnance for making this delightful book and journal available to us! I almost wish you could send the journal around again so we can see all the entries at the end of the bookring.
To be mailed next to JennyO from Texas.
debnance, this was such a good idea, I will probably at least get my own journal and send it around my face-to-face book group!
I did add several suggestions to the accompanying journal. And I stole debnance's idea by buying my own journal for my book club (I'll also be buying my own copy of this book). We've selected a couple of duds over the past few years, and I'm hoping a copy of this book and a related journal will help those who don't always have a good choice in mind.
Okay, now to answer the questions in the journal:
1) Who's your favorite author?
Well, I have several. And they'll probably change if you ask me tomorrow. But for today, for right now, it's these:
-- John Irving
-- Christopher Moore
-- Elizabeth McCracken
-- Michael Chabon
-- Tony Horwitz
-- Terry Pratchett
-- D.L. Sayers
-- P.G. Wodehouse
-- Evelyn Waugh
-- Richard Russo
(I find it odd that I tend to prefer male authors (especially British ones, it seems) to female authors. I don't know why that is, but it seems to have been that way for a long time now.)
2) What's your favorite book?
Oh, another hard one. And again, I refuse to limit myself.
-- The Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis
-- A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
-- Small Gods by Terry Pratchett
-- English Passengers by Matthew Kneale
-- A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson
-- Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz
-- Straight Man by Richard Russo
-- I Cannot Tell a Lie, Exactly by Mary Ladd Gavell
-- Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand
3) What's your favorite theme?
I don't have one. I'm omnivorous (if you can apply that to books). I don't often read what's classified as romance or SF, but I have loved examples of both. Right now, I'm a little burned out on mysteries, but I'm sure I'll get back to them again soon. I pretty much like anything as long as it's well written. Consider me a bibliophilic adventurer!!
This book is off to make a pit stop at debnance's before going on the road again.
Now I'm putting both Book Lusts, Books A and B, and the journals that accompany each, back on the road. Thanks to the lovely person who added the cool stamps to Book B somewhere in its travels and thanks also to the lovely person who added the cool CD with essays from a favorite book to the original Book B; I'm continually amazed and refreshed by the cleverness and generosity of Bookcrossers in the world.
In any case, Book A is now with me. Just after Debnance sent it on its way, I discovered that Nancy Pearl will be doing a reading (she has a second book out!) at a local bookstore. I am going to ask her to autograph the book. Somehow she strikes me as the sort of person who will appreciate both Bookcrossing and our journaling fun.
More later!
To the Book Lust book ring -- Nancy Pearl
The event at Women and Children First was great fun. Pearl get so excited about books (just like us). Her new book has the same sort of interesting groupings as the first, and consists of books she forgot (!) to include in the first, books published since then, and books suggested to her by others which she then read and loved. She said that, when she included her email address in Book Lust, she anticipated getting "5 or 6" emails. I think we could have told her how wrong that estimate was. She got tons. Nevertheless, she includes it in her second book as well. Booklovers just gotta share.
I'm still dipping into this one (it's that kind of book), but will try to get it moving soon.
Now for Debnance's questions, hard as they are to answer (and please remember that the answers are very fluid, and that these lists are by no means complete!):
Favorite Author(s)
Dorothy L. Sayers
Robertson Davies
Homer
E.F. Benson
Isabel Allende
M. R. James
Oscar Wilde
Colm Toíbín
Favorite Books
Gaudy Night, by Dorothy L. Sayers
If On Some Winter's Night a Traveller, by Italo Calvino
The Story of the Night, by Colm Toíbín
The Greek Passion, by Nikos Kazantzakis
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
Theme
I don't have one. It's easier to say what I don't like ("romance", science fiction, westerns). I tend to collect in the areas of books on books, and Japanese art and culture.
Oh well.
I'm contacting amoebastar now.
OK, here are my answers to debnance's questions.
1) My favorite author varies from day to day. Right now it's Barbara Kingsolver.
2) It's hard to pick one favorite book, too, but I really like *Like Water for Chocolate.*
3) Favorite theme? Anything someone has written well about.
I plan to send this off to cyber-librarian tomorrow.
c. 2003 -- 256 pages -- Trade Paperback -- Best books -- Books and reading -- Recommended reading for every mood, moment, and reason
Back Cover: Organized into more than 175 creative, useful, and often witty lists, this book satisfies any reader's desire to find the right book for the right time. Lists include:
* Les Crimes Noir - suggestions for non-mysteries, tragic tales of greed, obsession, and compulsion, filled with doomed heroes, grifters, desperate men, and femmes fatales
* Intriguing Novels - spy novels up to World War II
* Fathers and Daughters - books that explore that frequently fraught relationship
* Elvis on My Mind - books devoted to the King
* Bird Brains - books about birds and the people who watch them
* Sex and the Single Reader - tomes that comfort and titillate
-- and many, many, more ...
Released 18 yrs ago (8/22/2005 UTC) at BookRing in Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
On the way to amoebastar.
* added 7 titles from the Cat Crazy (my weakness) chapter and 2 titles from the journal (thanks Libby2)
* added 8 titles from the King Arthur chapter
* added 53 titles from the 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade chapter
Released 18 yrs ago (8/24/2005 UTC) at book ring in a RABCK, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I plan to mail this tomorrow to DSM in MI ... as part of the bookring.
I've PMed the next bookcrosser and await their address!
On it's way to the next person on the list for this bookring!
(Edited to add that this book is from the "B" list).
That being said, for the most part, I enjoyed reading Pearl's list, and I enjoyed the accompanying journal even more. I added approximately 40 books to my wish list based on Pearl's and other bookcrossers' recommendations.
Debnance posed some good questions for us to answer. Following is my reponse to two of them:
1. Who's your favorite author? I'm not sure I have a favorite, but there are many writers I relate to and enjoy for various reasons: John Irving, John Updike, Simon Winchester, Marian Keyes, Jennifer Weiner, Barbara Vine, Margaret Atwood, Isabel Allende, Anita Shreve, Charles Dickens, Laura Esquivel, W. Somerset Maugham, Lisa Jewell, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Michael Cunningham, Edith Wharton, Frank Peretti, Graham Greene, Thomas Hardy, Zora Neale Hurston, William Faulkner, Louisa May Alcott, Emily Bronte ... so many more. I was an English major, and my reading habits -- like those of probably everyone here -- are diverse.
2. What's your favorite book? You might as well ask, "Who's your favorite child!" This question is impossible for me to answer since I find enjoyment in so many of the things I read. There are a few books I go back to time and again -- like Alcott's "Little Women" and Allende's "The House of the Spirits" -- but I really don't have a favorite. Good writing is my favorite thing!
I have added a few books to the journal and plan on adding a few more before I send this on to ecoboy. Thanks, debnance, for starting this ring!
(Book B)
Thanks for sharing the book (and the journal) with everyone, debnance!
[Book and journal A]
After one week and the required two attempts, I was unable to get any response from ecoboy. I then moved on to eicuthbertson, who sent me her address yesterday. I'll get the book and journal sent out to her later today.
Released 18 yrs ago (10/7/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Sending on to eicuthbertson. Enjoy!
I'm glad I read "Book Lust", although I might not have if I'd just seen it in a shop. Her interests seem to be wide-ranging & I love lists anyway. I have read lots of the books Pearl mentions, like the "The Book Borrower", for instance, (great story) but only a few of her 'too good to miss' authors---I'd agree with Robert Heinlein & Connie Willis, but I can leave George MacDonald Fraser alone.
Didn't like the '50 page rule'. I'm a good girl; I almost always plough on through...sometimes the ending is such a relief!
I piled up so many books that she didn't mention, that I soon gave up the idea of naming them all! Where are the 'women warriors' in 'Action Heroines'? Most of those fantasy novels are written by women, I think, in contrast to her list of male authors here. Try Elizabeth Moon's books! Maybe I will have to write my own book, or a least a fantasy,Canadian & historical mystery list.
I'd like to hear more from Pearl about why she liked a certain book, or even if she did (she doesn't always say). Sometimes she does sound a bit preachy---about Charles Lindbergh, for instance (he was hardly alone in his World War II views). Does she really read only historical mysteries set in ancient Greece & Rome? Where did she get a graduate degree in historical fiction (sounds like fun) & why does she hope her granddaughter "grows up loving to read, but not too much"? How can one love to read too much?? Really!
My favourite author: Don't think I can name only one.
My favourite book: Oh, dear! Can't do that either, although I consider that reading "Women and Economics" (1898) by Charlotte Perkins (Stetson) Gilman when I was about thirteen probably 'changed' my life for the best.
My favourite theme: Well, I can name my favourite genre---that would be historical mystery & the more women in them the better. Here I could name a few favourite authors, for sure. First, if I have to name one, is Barbara Hambly, then Gillian Linscott & Miriam Grace Monfredo,& Lindsay Davis, also Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz, Barbara Michaels), & Laurel R. King for fun.
1) favorite author: Rohinton Mistry, George Eliot, Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood
2) favorite book: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry, Middlemarch by George Eliot, Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver and (although it's hard to pick just one) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood.
3) favorite theme: couldn't say. Mostly I just love variety.
I'll PM the next person on the B list and get these books off to Australia as soon as possible.
LATER: Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a response from the next two people on the list, and since I'm moving back to the U.S. from Shanghai the day after tomorrow, I couldn't wait long for an answer. This book is on the way to Germany as of this morning.
update:
thanks for sharing this book with me.
1) favorite author:
LaVyrle Spencer, Tami Hoag, Linda Howard, Jane Austen,
James A Michener
2) favorite book:
Open Season, Alaska, Sleeping in the Woods, Emma,
Lucky's Lady, Morning Song, The Lady and the Gambler
3) favorite theme:
Romance, Rom.Suspense, ChickLit and Woman Fiction
as Marieke,The Netherlands wanted to be skipped the book goes on to butterfly-noir,Portugal
Released 18 yrs ago (1/25/2006 UTC) at -- By Hand Or Post, Ray/Ring, RABCK in York, Nebraska USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES: