Thursday, September 07, 2006

Books

I love to read. Nursing is therefore perfect for me. I read a lot now. While I was pregnant...I don't know, it was weird, reading was bottom of the list for me. Practically the only thing I read while pregnant was a new chapter of What to Expect When You're Expecting each month. And the Sears' breastfeeding book [which, Chas, I have to take back my dis of that book. Yes, it has a line drawing of a woman bfing an infant and a toddler at the same time (guh-ross!!!!!), but I credit that book with helping me get Baby E latched on correctly before she was even a day old. By myself.].

In August I read the following:
London is the Best City in America – Laura Dave B-
The Taking – Dean Koontz B-
Julie & Julia – Julie Powell B
Three Wishes – Liane Moriarty B+
Baby Proof – Emily Giffin B-

Yes, I keep a list of books I read. And grade them. So I'm a nerd. Like I care.

I am sad to report I have not found an "A" quality book in some time. Right now I am reading Crazy Ladies by Michael Lee West, and I think it might get a B+ or an A-. It's quite good. I'm also reading A Midwife's Tale by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich; it will probably get the same grade.

Anyone have a book they can give an unqualified "A" to? I'd love to read something really satisfying.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love reading while nursing, too! Unfortunately I've been reading mostly magazines and I feel proud of myself for that with an infant and a toddler.

I know of some A books, but I can't think of them off the top of my head...I'll let you know!

liz said...

I'm a reader, but since pregnancy, I've not been able to get my head together long enough to concentrate on a book. I just cleaned my shelves out, and I'm not sure what your "type" of book is, but a great novel that I've recommended to many folks over the years "The Giant's House" by Elizabeth McCracken.
I read a lot of memoir, currently contemplating starting Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking" but I'm not sure I could handle it, emotionally.
Another great memoir was "Truth & Beauty" written by Ann Patchett about her friendship with Lucy Grealy (author of "Autobiography of a Face").

Anonymous said...

I just read Lucia Lucia and loved it. It was easy and entertaining and had a good message.

Unknown said...

I am such a book nerd. I've probably read thousands in my life, can you believe that?

Some of my all time favorites:

Red Tent- an A+ with no question about it!
Wally Lamb books (it's been several years but they were wonderful).
Harry Potters
Chronicles of Narnia
Memoirs of a Geisha

So good!! Have you read any of those?

Anonymous said...

If you are into midwifery tales, check out Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent. That one is A+ stuff. It is the memoir of a home birth midwife. I read it in two days because I could not put it down.

Or how about a Hemingway novel? His books always tickle my fancy. I'd have loved to been an expat in Paris drinking myself silly in a cafe with Hemingway! His memoir A Moveable Feast is wonderful.

You could always revisit an old favorite. Maybe Pride and Prejudice?
I could easily spend the afternoon pining away for Mr. Darcy all over again!

I just finished Clive Barkers first two books of the Arbarat series. They are fantasy (not horror) and such a fun light read. I think they are actually in the children's section. The dialogue only rates a B, but the story and fantastic characters makes up for it. A very satisfying read.

Good Luck!

Rebecca @ smoochy4life.blogspot.com

Leslie said...

I agree with girl from florida - and I'll add some of my own that are all A+ stories in my opinion:

Red Tent
The Twentieth Wife, by Indu Sundaresan
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Alexander McCall Smith (read the whole series)
Love Comes Softly, Janette Oke (another great series of stories)
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks
The Wedding, Nicholas Sparks
The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini

Flip Dixon said...

I haven't read it yet, but there's a new book out called THE THIRTEENTH TALE which is supposedly the best novel in years. Barnes and Noble is publicizing it like crazy.

katezmom said...

I just finished, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan." It was recommend to me by Grandma Jane and I give it and unqualified A+. All about "mother love"... it's very different from what you think.