Book? What's a book?

Once upon a time I was a fair english major. I even have a degree somewhere. I'm almost shamed to write this because it has been so long since I've been able to READ an entire book and I love books, LOVE them. Way back I thought I even might become a Professor of such things. I was meandering over at J's place and was tagged to do this book meme. It's gonna be a little different though. Not too current and pretty old skool.

One book that changed your life:

I guess it really wasn't a book per se, but rather a few female authors. I had an amazing high school lit teacher named Ms. Thorson. It was in her class that I first read "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor and "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers. Both of these authors were so different from the usual big dick Hemingways of the typical HS syllabus. These two lovelies and their eccentric characters and sad tales made me want to be like them, to write stories. They are the reason why I wanted to major in english instead of economics, education, crap. Writing is life.

Anybody care to identify this kick ass sentence?(one of my faves and not from the above girls) NO GOOGLE-ING!

The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.


One book you read more than once:

Jane Eyre Call me a gothic whore, but I fell in love with the Bronte Sisters in college. Rochester, even with one good eye is a prince. True love conquers all, even if it takes years and years. Or one entire good lifetime. See, I still have hope.

One book you want on a desert island:

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. Back in the day I was so in love with the idea of arriving in Paris with only $5 that I gobbled up every morsel of Henry I could find. Food, sex, writing and art. Just the basics.


One book that made you cry:

Part of me wants to nod to Carson McCullers and "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", but I think my heart will always belong to Holden Caufield. Sweet dear Holden. It strikes so many chords with me. I read this to my belly bump when I was preggo. I was suprised at how the themes still resonated with me even at 37. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it is the novel "Catcher in the Rye" by J. D. Salinger.


One book that made you laugh:

"Clara - The Story of the Pug that Ruled My Life" by Margo Kaufman. If you're a dog lover you may laugh, if you're a pug lover you will know exactly what she's writing about. R.I.P Margo.


One book you wish would have been written:

Serious Advice on Single Mothering - No Bullshit Hootchie Mamma Wannabe's Allowed(Anyone Can Squeeze Out a Kid and "Call" themselves a Mother)

One book you wish had never been written:

The Old Man and the Sea by HardOn Hemingway


One book you are currently (re)reading (again & again):

Sam & Gus by P.D. Eastman, Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess, and mnay more that are currently in the rotation. Currently reading "The Paris Review Book of Heartbreak, Madness, Sex, Love Betrayal, Outsiders, Intoxication, War, Whimsy, Horrors, God, Death, Dinner, Baseball, Travels, The Art of Writing AND Everything Else in the World Since 1953". Nuggets of Goodness, I tell you. See if you can find the short story "The Fine Art of Sighing" by Bernard Cooper. Big sigh.

One book you have been meaning to read:

Way back, J was reading "The Time Traveller's Wife" and I thought it sounded interesting so I picked it up a few months ago. Also, "The Secret Lives of Bees". I've also been meaning to read "A Cook's Tour". I like-a Anthony Bourdain, lots.


Three people you will tag:

Um k, J. This has taken me almost two hours to do and I don't have any links in yet! Ugh. Screw it. So if you're really interested in my books you'll just have to Amazon it yourself.

I know I'd love to tag M, D, A, A, R, L, P, C, R, C, CG, LE, J, J, C and of course the wonderful MG. I just can't decide so I leave it up to you. Is there anybody out there?