A Book Meme

Nabbed from Connielane

1)Total number of books I've owned?

Hmmm ... I have no idea. Hundreds. We have lots of bookcases in our house - and they all have books in them.

2) The last book I bought?

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
[read my review]

3) The last book I read?

The Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
[review to come]

4) Five books that mean a lot to me: (in no particular order)

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
How can you not love this book? "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

1984 by George Orwell
I read this for the first time in tenth grade ... and was completely fascinated by it. Orwell's story of Big Brother, the constant writing and rewriting history, doublethink, newspeak - every time I read it I'm impressed by the originality (when it was written anyway) of this book. If you didn't have this as required reading in high school -- it's definitely worth it.

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon
I've read this entire series at least 5 times - and each time I find something new in them. Gabaldon is an amazingly talented writer who tenaciously researches history in an effort to keep her stories firmly rooted in actual historical events. Never before have I read a fictional book and learned so much real history. I recommend her books to anyone looking for a new author to get interested in. You won't be disappointed.

Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot
I read this book in college. Elisabeth and Jim's five year courtship is a story of love, courage, patience ... oh my the patience! I still have this book and it's full of underlined bits, highlighted sections - I found so much in this book that spoke to me. I'm married now and still this book means a lot to me.

Lucky by Alice Sebold
After hearing about this book from practically every woman I know - I picked it up while at Barnes and Noble a few years ago. I read half of it while I was still in the bookstore. It's the class triumph over tragedy story -- but it's so well written it allows you to somewhat feel what she went through after her rape. Another book I recommend to everyone.