...I'm once again reading a book I wouldn't ever have heard of otherwise. This isn't a bad thing, but when I see on friends' blogs what they're reading, I realize I am in a far away genre I suspect many women my age and stage of life don't tackle.
Currently, I am reading Devils Will Reign - How Nevada Began. I'm including the link in case you want to join my funky reading club and see the book on Amazon.
After our trip down through Utah from Idaho this past summer, my dad and I were talking about the history of the Western states and I don't even remember what I brought up, but he said, as he has at least twenty-two thousand times before - "I've got a book for ya." So I'm reading it. It actually is fascinating, and may keep me on the history wagon (so to speak) for a while. A few years back I read another offering of his about the pioneer settling of Northern Washington written by a woman. Years before that, when I had a crush on Kevin and knew he loved the movie "Tombstone", I read Doc Holliday's Woman and followed that up with I Married Wyatt Earp when a friend gave it to me.
It's fun to think about the influence Dad has had on my reading. Just looking at the shelves around me right now, I spy Treasure Island, which he read out loud to my brother and I when we were probably too young. I should read it again. My whole Dave Barry collection can be credited to Dad. He sent me a clipping of one of his columns two decades ago - and I am a devoted fan to this day. Other selections influenced either directly or indirectly by my father:
Anything by Steinbeck. My favorite is Cannery Row, purchased while in Monterey after strolling in the area.
Lots of short story volumes. I wish I had the guts to try my hand at writing short stories.
Some antique Buddy books. I'm trying to convince my son to investigate these. He's currently addicted to Double Fudge by Judy Blume. Unique.
Jack London's Call of the Wild
My birthday present a few years ago, right after he finished reading it: Anna Karenina, which I didn't like, but I'm glad I read it.
I refuse to read Stephen King. My little goody-goody imagination just can't handle it, but my dad can't get that through his head. He keeps recommending. Blech.
Also, I have tried to read Moby Dick a number of times. Can NOT get past the first page. I don't care what I'm missing - if I can't even get to page two - forget it.
Well, I could go on and on, but a little Nevada history is waiting for me upstairs.
3 comments:
That's cool! I'm reading (very slowly because I'm SUPPOSED to be reading school stuff) a book about the Great Galveston hurricane that killed 5000 people in 1900. It's good but jumps around to all sorts of back stories about some of the characters. I just want it to stay with the details of the storm!
That's awesome that your dad recommends books to you, what a cool thing to be able to share with him. While you're on a Nevada history kick, I read a great book a few years ago about a woman whose husband fell ill, so she and her kids homesteaded a piece of land up near Reno on their own. It was really great, but the title isn't coming to me right now, I'll let you know if I remember it...
That is so funny! My mom was just here last week and she was recommending all sorts of books, she even bought one for me which is on her top 10 list, Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. She is helping me to make sure I have read all the classics too! I want to find a good biography on Thomas Edison, read a short essay from his son, and I want more...I will pray for more guts, because you would be GREAT at it!!
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