I was asked to publish the list of books I plan to read this summer by our partner Ecolibris - because of course, those guys are ALL about books. Now that I've gotten all of these books for the summer, I guess I should have Ecolibris plant trees to balance them?
You know, I have to admit that I was a little hesitant to publish this list. What one chooses to read reveals a lot about one's interests and tastes. Ever wander into the self-help section in the bookstore and hope your barista doesn't walk by? Depending on what you're looking for, you may have to switch coffee shops. So what does my list say about me? Hope the verdict's not too bad... Here goes:
It's Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be: The World's Best Selling Book
I believe the target audience for this book is graphic designers and marketers. However it works as a sort of self-help book for creative types of all sorts, serving as cheerleader with the intention of convincing readers that they can accomplish the impossible. It's a brief read and I've actually completed it already but plan to carry it around in my summer tote, referring back to its more epiphanic sections all season.
Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories by Moffett and Mcelheny
The short story format is perfect for librophiles when on summer days everyone's pressuring you to put down the book and pick up a Frisbee. You can get your literary fix in 50 pages or less while still enjoying long sunny days. I've been a long-time fan of this genre ever since it was introduced to me by one of its top purveyors, my college professor, who's also a brilliant prize-winning short story writer, Josip Novakovich. And although Novakovich's work is still one of my favorites, I often find myself longing for the classics like Updike & Capote. Which is exactly why the "Points of View" anthology, loaned to me by a friend, is right up my literary alley. I have a lot of anthologies but this is the best collection I've seen thus far. And it includes one of my all time faves: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
The Bedside Baccalaureate
It's full title, "The Bedside Baccalaureate: A Handy Daily Cerebral Primer to Fill in the Gaps, Refresh Your Knowledge & Impress Yourself & Other Intellectuals," sounds a bit pretentious but you'll be thankful you bought it when at your 4th of July BBQ someone asks "Hey, who wrote the 1st draft of the Declaration of Independence again?" Okay, maybe that won't happen but you'll feel great when by the end of the summer you've filled in all of those pesky knowledge gaps. And like the short-story anthology, the information in this book is given in brief, summer-sized bites on topics ranging from Environmental Science to Art History to Philosophy.
1984 by George Orwell
This is a must-read that I've passed over for far too long. Described as one of the best works of modern fiction of all time, I've decided to finally give it a go this summer.
Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smarta** or Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
Again, a book with a very long title but as intended, it certainly caught my attention. I'm not usually a fan of "chick-lit" but how can one pass up a read with a title like this? I may have to make a fake "War and Peace" bookcover to read it however. After all, this is Seattle.
Read on! And don't forget to balance your books!
You know, I have to admit that I was a little hesitant to publish this list. What one chooses to read reveals a lot about one's interests and tastes. Ever wander into the self-help section in the bookstore and hope your barista doesn't walk by? Depending on what you're looking for, you may have to switch coffee shops. So what does my list say about me? Hope the verdict's not too bad... Here goes:
It's Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want to Be: The World's Best Selling Book
I believe the target audience for this book is graphic designers and marketers. However it works as a sort of self-help book for creative types of all sorts, serving as cheerleader with the intention of convincing readers that they can accomplish the impossible. It's a brief read and I've actually completed it already but plan to carry it around in my summer tote, referring back to its more epiphanic sections all season.
Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories by Moffett and Mcelheny
The short story format is perfect for librophiles when on summer days everyone's pressuring you to put down the book and pick up a Frisbee. You can get your literary fix in 50 pages or less while still enjoying long sunny days. I've been a long-time fan of this genre ever since it was introduced to me by one of its top purveyors, my college professor, who's also a brilliant prize-winning short story writer, Josip Novakovich. And although Novakovich's work is still one of my favorites, I often find myself longing for the classics like Updike & Capote. Which is exactly why the "Points of View" anthology, loaned to me by a friend, is right up my literary alley. I have a lot of anthologies but this is the best collection I've seen thus far. And it includes one of my all time faves: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
The Bedside Baccalaureate
It's full title, "The Bedside Baccalaureate: A Handy Daily Cerebral Primer to Fill in the Gaps, Refresh Your Knowledge & Impress Yourself & Other Intellectuals," sounds a bit pretentious but you'll be thankful you bought it when at your 4th of July BBQ someone asks "Hey, who wrote the 1st draft of the Declaration of Independence again?" Okay, maybe that won't happen but you'll feel great when by the end of the summer you've filled in all of those pesky knowledge gaps. And like the short-story anthology, the information in this book is given in brief, summer-sized bites on topics ranging from Environmental Science to Art History to Philosophy.
1984 by George Orwell
This is a must-read that I've passed over for far too long. Described as one of the best works of modern fiction of all time, I've decided to finally give it a go this summer.
Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smarta** or Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office
Again, a book with a very long title but as intended, it certainly caught my attention. I'm not usually a fan of "chick-lit" but how can one pass up a read with a title like this? I may have to make a fake "War and Peace" bookcover to read it however. After all, this is Seattle.
Read on! And don't forget to balance your books!
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