So, I leave for a few days for a writer’s retreat and - BAMMM - I get "tagged" (whatever that is) by Wendy and the Smart Bitches.  Gee, ladies, thanks.  And, ummm, who started this thing?  I just want to know who should get the box of, err, chocolates.

Here we go….

Total Number of Books I Own:  About 1,000 more than I’d own if my hubby had his way.  Since I refuse to count - I’m way too old for that - I’d estimate that the number is somewhere in the 2,500 range.  Yeah, it hurts to write that down.  They’re spread out over 3 floors.  We have every subject and every genre, or damn close to it.  If you want to borrow something, let me know.

Last Book I Bought:  I am incapable of buying one at a time.  I believe books should be purchase in bunches, much like bananas.  A B&N order arrived in my absence on Saturday.  The group was:  Cooking Up A Storm by Emma Holly; Velvet Glove by Emma Holly; Take My Breath Away by Tina Donahue; and Dating Is Murder by Harley Jane Kozak. 

Last Book I Read:  The Ice Harvest by Scott Phillips.  I already read Cottonwood by Phillips and have Walkaway waiting in the wings.  I’m sure there is an order I was supposed to read these 3 books in, but they were great out of order too.  If you want to step outside romance and try something different, I highly recommend trying Cottonwood.

Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me:

1.  Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon.  I’ve read all of his books.  He’s received critical acclaim for this and certainly for others (see:  Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay).  This is the one that has always resonated with me for its honest and somewhat fearless storytelling.

2.  The Bride by Julie Garwood.  The absolute first romance I ever read.  Reading this book and a few others started me down the road I’ve taken - first as a reader and now as a writer.  I thank Garwood for this book but I owe her so much more.

3.  Common Ground by J. Anthony Lukas.  This book had a profound influence on how I view people and global ideas such as character, integrity and justice.  It’s probably been more than fifteen years since I read this book and still continue to be moved by this true story of interlocking lives.

4.  Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.  Really, I think this author is brilliant.  That’s not a word I throw around lightly but it fits here.

5.  Darkness Visible: A Memoir Of Madness by William Styron.  A very brave and moving and, yeah, painful, memoir.  I’ve read it twice and both times thought: please, let this never be my life.

Tag Five People To Do This:  Okay, blame Wendy and the Smart Bitches and the person who started this - I’m still trying to figure out who that was.  I apologize in advance and if you’ve already been tagged.

Beverly

Gina

Caro

Sasha

Sybil

That was exhausting.  Thanks again, ladies.

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