All of my most favoritest blogs are on the sidebar of my blog. I read fiction when I get on a reading kick. Knitting/craft books and cookbooks are about the only non-fiction.

Thank you for not selling out to do reviews. Though I think you’d at least be honest about the products and your opinions.

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Aunt Decepticon Reply:
August 13th, 2009 at 10:14 am

I would totally be honest, Tina. You know I would. It’s just not my bag.

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Aunt Becky! Even though you despise fiction, I STRONGLY recommend you run out and pick up a copy of “Water For Elephants.” I just read it this week, and it is an AMAZING story. About an elderly gentleman in a nursing home recalling the days he travelled with a circus during the Great Depression. Fascinating. I couldn’t put it down. I’ll definitely go check out Stef’s blog! Love ya!

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Aunt Becky! Even though you despise fiction, I STRONGLY recommend you run out and pick up a copy of “Water For Elephants.” I just read it this week, and it is an AMAZING story. About an elderly gentleman in a nursing home recalling the days he travelled with a circus during the Great Depression. Fascinating. I couldn’t put it down. I’ll definitely go check out Stef’s blog! Love ya!

(Sorry if this is a repeat)

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I blame my lack of reading enthusiasm to 12 years of Catholic school, being forced to read a slew of fiction garbage! I like Dateline, 48 hours, 20/20…Real stories about real people.

I, too, graviate toward the blogging community for that reason. Thanks for the suggestion on Stef’s book. Will definetly check it out!

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I’ll go check out the book!

I had to read “Tale of Two Cities” in SPANISH and translate back to English by hand because the teacher couldn’t find anything better for me to do and I was more advanced than the rest of the class. I think she hated me, don’t you?

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I agree with your view on A Tale of Two Cities and all the other forced reading through HS and college English. I honestly think if they had let me read and write on subjects I chose I would have done better (maybe).

There’s my next project…getting books about DNA into an english lit curriculum.

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I agree Stef is AWESOME… I read the first book and passed it along to all my gal pals and we all LOVED it I just ordered the second one and since I love you and u are awesome I will get the third.

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Thanks for the book review! I was looking for something else to read. Now I just hope I can get it on my Kindle…

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It’s fiction, but I’d recommend this to anyone.

“Lisey’s Story” by Stephen King. It’s worth the long, over-done, and hard-to-follow introduction. Trust me.

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All three books on on my Amazon Wishlist now!

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Just ordered all 3 books from Amazon, she seems like my kind of woman! Haha. As are you. If I enjoy your blog and hers I’m sure I’ll enjoy the books.

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And P.S. I can’t type today.

lkgjaklgjaklgkd;fgkdl;kgadfjgkldfjg

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I love me a good fiction book, so I probably can’t be much help. However, if you like memoirs, I highly recommend Augusten Burroughs’ books, or The Tender Bar. Also, to read about a funny and insightful life experiment, try The Year of Living Biblically.

P.S. I will also be reading Stef’s books. We’re headed to the beach in a week and I was wondering what I was going to read, thanks!

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Ahhh books. I love fiction novels, especially fantasy. I get enough of real life from blogs and the news and my own life. I adore reading and grasp at every chance I can to read.

One of my favorite series is called Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. A little bit time traveling, but has history and non-fiction bits in it too. Wonderfully written as well!

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Ok, first, everyone know A Tale of Two Cities sucks. A lot. Worse than any book. Teachers should be beat for making children read that.

Second, you have got to get over the whole no fiction thing and read My Sister’s Keeper, 19 Minutes, and The Pact. All 3 of these books are writen by Jodi Picoult and you will absolutely give up sleep on their behalf.

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Ugh, I am so not able to recommend anything because you just have no idea what people like. I am pretty freakin low-brow. The last books that I read were a weepy chick book that my mother bought me for Mother’s Day and Diablo Cody’s book about being a Minnnesota stripper.

I think the single most entertaining book I ever read was No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain, but everyone I talk to seems to hate him, so. . .
I got nothin.

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I adore fiction. I am addicted to books like some people are addicted to cigarettes or cocaine & I have an enormous personal library to feed my addiction. But since you don’t feel the same way, I won’t waste your time recommending fiction books you should read. However, if you are truly looking for an excellent non-fiction read you absolutely MUST pick up Three Cups of Tea. I don’t usually enjoy non-fiction, what with my passion for fantasy & all , but I could not put down this book. And when I was finished, I wanted to go out & buy a copy for everyone I know so that they could enjoy it as well.

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I think it’s so funny how you go “I hate fiction” and then everyone else goes “yeah, ok, but this fiction…”. Cracks me UP.

You should be reading my blog, of course.

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Aunt Becky…where have you been all my life?? I recently found you and look forward each day to reading your wit and wisdom. Tho I have no children, am 10 years older than you and a card carrying lesbian….you speak to me! Not in a creepy way… you make me laugh.

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Aunt Becky, you are the Godmother I never had. I love you and your fabulosity and your smarts and your writing ability. I want to BE you. And now, I must go give this post some linky loooooove.

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I am surrounded by fiction on a semi-daily basis. That crazy old job business. Actually, most of what surrounds me is non-fiction, which I love, love, love (but I also love fiction)(and Thousand Island dressing)(which, AUNT BECKY!! HOW COULD YOU NOT LOVE THAT STUFF?!?)(six bottles in my pantry right now)(not kidding!). Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes, I am all for fiction and non-fiction, and last night, I checked a copy of her book out at the store and brought it home to read. Definitely looking forward to it, and not just because the fiction book I’m also reading at this time is a little slow to kick in!

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You should be reading books by A. J. Jacobs – non-fiction and funny. I am currently reading “Plain Song” and think you should be reading it, too. Alas, it is fiction. And you should always read Nora Roberts for escapist, romance fun.

Have been waiting for the books from the library for a very long time. Read on Babble that she’s writing a fourth?

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Okay, so you have issues with fiction. If I were basing my life’s genre of reading off of what I read in high school I would be permanently off fiction too. Grapes of Wrath, anyone? I wanted to smack those people. I know it’s the Depression and all, but cheer the hell up! And university Honors English reading was even worse, everything dark and depressing because apparently real literature can’t have a happy ending. Or any glimmer of happiness of any kind.

If you do by any chance want to give fiction another go, i recommend for you a book by Mark Haddon called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. It is written from the point of view of an autistic boy who finds his neighbor’s dog dead in the yard, and who then sets out to solve the mystery. It is really well done, poignant and sad at times, but also funny and intriguing.

Oh, and thanks for being the first commenter on my very young blog who is NOT my hunky fiance. Yay! I am sure there must be some sort of prestige involved with having Aunt Becky actually stop in to read your blog…I feel so proud. *sniffle*

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wow. i read mostly fiction or books on the theatre. and blogs, of course.

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I was going to recommend Augusten Burroughs and somebody beat me to it. I laughed out loud and cried so much during the first two books of his that I read.

And also to the poster above, I looooove Anthony Bourdain. Yes, I know he is a pompous ass, but that is what makes him so much fun!! I love him when he guest judges Top Chef.

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Get Running With Scissors by Augusten Burrougs (lots of Augusten fans here). You’d love it. It’s funny, and fucked up all at the same time! Excellent on audio, because he reads it himself.

Gonna go check out Stef’s books!

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I don’t hate fiction. In fact, if I’m reading anything in book form, it’s almost ALWAYS fiction. Because why the hell would I want to stay up all night reading about real life? I have a real life. Some of it’s great, some of it sucks moldy old goat balls. It’s the latter that I try to escape when I pick up a book.

If it’s 3 am and I’m still up with a book in my clutches, it’s because it’s about vampires or dragons or priestesses or some shit.

But I’m with you on the Dickens-hate. Right there with ya, sister. HATE.

I’ll never understand the Dickens thing. Yes, he wrote a metric crap-ton of really long books. But, and this is a but as big as my own, HE GOT PAID BY THE FREAKING WORD. That said, I don’t mind his stories. I just hate the way he writes them. I’ll happily watch a Dickens-based movie, as long as it has lots of pretty dresses, grimy children and Patrick Stewart.

Unfortunately, given that you don’t like fiction, I can’t think of single book recommendation. Because I like vampires, dragons and priestesses.

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I read both romance novels and Stephanie’s blog. Very good stuff!

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I loved the book and I love Stefanie. A little more after I read her comment saying that you’re like her godmother. Which is totally code for “old”.

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Fortunately I was already deeply in love with fiction when high school required reading came around. If I hadn’t been, those books would have beat it out of me. And maybe they did anyway since I gravitate toward mysteries and sci-fi, not exactly *literature* if you know what I mean. And if anyone asked me to write an essay describing the protagonist antagonist relationship, using archetypes, about my favorite Stephanie Plum books I would probably instantly refuse to ever read them again.

I love Stephanie’s blog. Baby on Bored Stephanie, not Stephanie Plum. I’ve got a request in at the library that they get it and there are still funds left in the book buying budget so I have hopes of getting it soon.

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You have no idea how timely your post is – I was considering posting some serial fiction I’ve been writing on my blog. Hmmm.

I love Stefanie’s books. I’ve read them all and think it’s so cooooool that you’re friends with her!

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15minutelunch (blog) –someone emailed me his 70s JCPenney catalog post and I was hooked

…do you drink Vitaminwater? There are some entertaining blurbs on the bottles…

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Reading is overrated and should be avoided as much as possible.

Except of course, when in the company of some really good, name brand toilet paper with lots of aloe and e. My mother gets the sandpaper stuff from the dolllar store and so I have started to bring my own every time I go home for even a day.

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I am a fiction whore…the more, the better.

I can highly recommend Christopher Moore – especially Lamb, The Stupidest Angel, and A Dirty Job…oh yeah, and Bloodsucking Fiends.

Water for Elephants was good, but a bit too much like work to read, and I have been avoiding Jodi Picoult because life is tragic enough without reading about fictional tragedies.

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As someone who never takes reading material into the bathroom (because, HELLO?! Why would I with 3 children to accompany me?!) and recently had the opportunity to take care of my business ALONE, I can wholeheartedly recommend the box the toothpaste comes in. Riviting.

In all seriousness, I am not a regular reader of hers, but I did just finish reading the latest from D.ooce and found it quite enjoyable – mostly because having kids has made me bat-shit-crazy (literally), but not quite crazy enough to go to the mental ward (like she did.) By the end I was thrilled to know I am not alone.

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Since my business closed, I’m getting back into reading. I placed some books on hold, Stephanie’s being one of them. After reading your review, I know I will love it.

I only like to read real stuff about real people.

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Dickens makes me want to poke my eyes out. So do any of the Bronte sisters. Fling yourselves off the moors and be done with it, would ya? I love to read, but can’t say that I have one particular favorite genre. Right now, I’m alternating between historical fiction and irreverent satires involving demons, vampires, whales, and Jesus’ best friend. That being said, I do enjoy Stef’s blog, so I’ll have to check out the new book! Oh, and generic toilet paper was invented by Satan, just in case you were wondering.

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You should read Sexy Beast VI.

It looks high quality.

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Whaaaa?? Sippy cups aren’t for wine???

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You should most definitely read It Sucked and then I Cried (Heather Armstrong… dooce.com) because it’s REAL and making me laugh by myself in the airport right now… in a very awkward way.

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Listen, Becky:
I washed pots and pans at the Last Supper and I don’t recall seeing you in the class picture!
I like fiction – I like a good story – it doesn’t have to be true. If I’m reading biographies, they have to be about trashy people and trashy events. The book Mia Farrow wrote about her time with Woody Allen was a favorite.

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You probably won’t want to read what I just finished reading. The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. It was all about how he met and then “set aside” his wives. “Set aside” as in chopping off some heads all while he gorged himself on food and got hugely fat. Fascinating! LOL! Now I am going to read her book Henry VIII The King and His Court.
I know….your totally jealous…..

……wondering…..what is the point of Thousand Island Dressing?????

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Found your blog through Stefanie Wilder-Taylor’s blog. You’re awesome and I’m bookmarking your blog so I can read it frequently. I now want to meet Stefanie and YOU because the two of you are so totally funny and I really need funny in my life. Thanks!

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Actually, it’s OK. I am perfectly aware it’s me. It’s aaaaaalways me. *sigh*

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I read all the time. If I cannot find a book to read, I will read the back of cereal boxes (might I recommend Honey Combs).

I too am a fan of Baby on Bored, but I have not as of yet read any of her books. They are on my to read list.

Now as for reading recommendations, I would suggest the previously suggested Bouroughs book or anything by David Sedaris. Actually Sedaris is better when he is reading it out loud, so get the books in tape or CD or iTunes or whatever. Anyway, they are both non-fiction.

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Hee hee! But I LOVE fiction! Lovelovelove. And vodka too, naturally.

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Dude, A Tale of Two Cities was my first and only Cliff Notes too! I’ll have to check out those books (also the comments on Brooke SHeilds book about PPD…”It was too depressing to read!” BWAHAHAHAHA

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yeah, i’ve got like 1/3 of the book left to go and if the damn magoo would get off my back, then i could get to reading… alas i am left with late nights and keeping my eyes open with tooth picks to get a few pages in.

nonetheless, FANFUCKINTASTIC!!!!

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I’m adding Stef’s book to my book club list but not until it comes out on paperback (rules #1 for book club is it has to come in paperback, rule #2 is that it has to be less than 300 pages otherwise no one reads it). We pick a different genre (or sometimes sub-genre!) that we haven’t done in the last year (yeah, I’ve been in a book club longer than a year!! It’s a first, I usually can’t get past the second book) so we read a variety of things so as not to get bored.

So my last pick was non-fiction and I picked The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell. It’s a cute book about How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference (duh) and it’s full of success stories about how fads and such come to be. I also read Mr. Gladwell’s book, “Blink” about thin-slicing a situation and I’m hoping to pick up “Outliers” soon.

I like fiction a lot (my current book that I read and my 2 year old drifts off to nap is The Bourne Ultimatum – sooooooooo not like the movie btw, I need to go back and read the first 2) but my favorite book is non-fiction and called “Much Depends on Dinner: The Extraordinary History and Mythology, Allure and Obsessions, Perils and Taboos of an Ordinary Meal” (does that title not say it all!!). It took me a long time to read this book – over a year – although it’s very interesting, there’s just a lot of information to process so I took breaks and read something lighter when I couldn’t take anymore. So anyway, I dazzled my aunts and uncles and made my cousins either roll their eyes or give far off blank stares with my extreme knowledge of corn and butter (those were the most interesting and corn can come up in conversation really easily especially last year when alt fuels were hot topics) and have since passed that book around the family.

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oh, and I don’t like Thousand Island Dressing either but I do like it homemade and Island-less (ketchup, mayo and vinegar or Worcestershire)

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I just came back from Stephanie’s blog. You are right, its awesome!

I really only like reading fiction. I read too much science at work and need a distraction at home. My favorite author is Terry Pratchett. But if you don’t like fiction, you won’t really like Terry.

Blogs. Well, they are a whole other cup of reading. One I absolutely love.

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment on my blog. I’m not sure how you even knew I existed, but it means a lot to me that people are thinking about me at this sad time.

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And just when I thought we could be friends you go and rip on my man Dickens, I mean I have written a book on Dickens, so we have a relationship (and stop because the book was my dissertation and has not been published so do not ask where you can buy it because I know that now you realize the error of your ways in reguards to Dickens). But I will read this book you speak of, probably because I already bought it, but also cause you said so!

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Ooh, books! I heart books. I wants them all. Our library has two of the three you mentioned, so I already put them on hold. I would just go out and buy them, but I am currently on book-buying restriction

I really enjoyed 3 Cups of Tea, but I think I might have liked it more than other people would, since I’m a teacher and it’s about building schools in Afghanistan. Easy read, and inspiring without being preachy.

I WOULD recommend Stephen King, because his writing (subject notwithstanding) actually reminds me a lot of yours. It sounds like the way I talk, and it’s refreshing and fun and a nice place to spend time (if that makes any sense, referring to someone’s writing as a place, but whatever, it makes sense to me). It’s not really that it’s scary that does it for me, but the voice. Accordingly, I have to say that Bag of Bones (which is not about a literal bag of bones, stop freaking out) is WAY better than Lisey’s Story, as it doesn’t have the long boring intro Great, real people characters, and a toddler that actually talks like a toddler. Made me laugh my ass off. I have no idea where he learned to do that.

If you want non-fiction, he also wrote a fantastic memoir/other called On Writing. Since you write and like non-fic, it sounds perfect. Go read it right now

Oh and thanks for the comment on my blog, too! I almost choked seeing it, like holy hell, that’s not even my mom!

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Currently reading some tweeny thing about Vamps…I’ll read anything, sad I know:( Wanna suggest anything to me other than Stephs books which I have bookmarked on my Amazon list to buy once I have sold my kids to slave labor or won a lotto??

See I never had to read any of the wierdo books in English in high school and I’m the same age you are..we did LOTS of Shakesphere, sucks to do too much of him..it really does. and I so don’t miss any of that at all!!

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Oh and I figured I am supposed to comment on the whole Tale of Two Cities thing, like it’s in my teacher contract. But I don’t really know how – I only read the book as an adult (read: like four months ago, when this kid I was teaching CHOSE it as his reading selection, forcing me to do homework right along with him – the jerk). It *was* pretty long, but I actually enjoyed it. I would have wanted to kill myself if I read it in high school (or even college – have you ever read Dickens’ non-fiction?! Good Christ, excruciating!), but as an adult I found myself having this entertaining (and obviously quite retarded) thought:
“Wow, the French Revolution was… really effing violent!”
Freaked me out. Didn’t expect that from Dickens. Now, Henry James? Stay AWAY from THAT shit. *shudder*

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As long as you read, I can still like you. Everyone is allowed one major fault and not liking fiction must be your. But don’t worry, I’ll still let you come play…LOL.

I’ll have to check her books out. They sound fabulous.

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You’re not alone in your dislike of fiction, though I like it But for some reason, I can’t see you in the same category as civil war history reading old men. I guess I have to revise my gross generalization of non-fiction readers!

I also hated reading fiction in high school. Maybe it had something to do with my parent’s divorce and all the books we were forced to read were about adultery. In fact, I remember walking out of the class a few times. The Scarlett Letter, Ethan Frome, The Crucible… I’m sure there were others, those were just from one class.

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You should be reading Bitch Magazine. It is AWESOME.

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So if I told you that I used to run drugs while topless and working for the CIA, you wouldn’t be interested? You are a tough crowd

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I also dislike fiction ESPECIALLY A Tale of Two Cities (longest book ever, even if it technically isn’t). Stephanie’s ‘Sippy Cups…’ book is the only one of her’s I’ve read so far and I read it while pregnant. It made me sigh with relief knowing that she had the same perspective about parenting that I do. I didn’t even know she was a blogger until very recently. Leaving her comments on her blog makes me feel like I’m stalking her but I don’t care!

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My best non-fiction recommendation is Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. It definitely refocuses the world for you.

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Haha… Just got an email from my library telling me Sippy Cups are not for Chardonnay came in for me. Guess I requested it and forgot. I think I read naptime is the new happy hour a while back, but I am so tired I can’t remember.

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My favorite types of books are biographies and memoirs. BUT I will read anything. I actually loved A Tale of Two Cities (and 1984 and Brave New World and Animal Farm and all the other “required reading” in high school). Except I really fucking hated “The Red Pony” by Steinbeck.

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I am a sucker for books, probably especially fiction, since I read largely to get away from the real world. But I have read Hemingway and Faulkner as an adult and found that I really enjoyed it–positively shocking, since in the 10th grade, one quarter of the year was devoted to Hemingway, then one to Faulkner, leaving me feeling like I would never understand anything I read again. I’m still resentful of the damned Nick Adams Stories, though I’ve liked other Hemingway since. So I can understand your feelings for A Tale of Two Cities, though (gasp!) I’ve never actually read it myself.

Truthfully, the book I’ve recently discovered and am widely recommending is a children’s book called “An Awesome Book.” The kids and I both like it, and I don’t know if that means that it’s an unusually good book with wide appeal or that I need to spend more time with big people. Other than that, what can I say? I’ve been reading fantasy novels, Harry Potter, and the “Redwall” series (shut up, it’s kind of for grown-ups!). And since we’re leaving on vacation today, I look forward to starting some mystery full of international intrigue. I don’t care which one, since given my attention span and kids, they all end up seeming the same to me.

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When I am not reading military history for graduate work (shut UP ) there is nothing like hunkering down with a good decorating magazine….

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Thanks for the guilt trip Auntie B! What does this say about me? Three kids and 11 years of “mommydom”, and the LAST thing I want to read is a book about being a mommy!!!!

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Love fiction, still hate A Tale of Two Cities. I think high schools just assign it because Dickens wrote it and everyone knows that English teachers are serious “throw your bra up on stage” groupies of Dickens.

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Hopefully this works cuz when I try to comment from the Crackberry it never wants to freaking work. You should read Jen Lancaster’s books. She is hilarious and sarcastic and reminds me of you. Look her up on amazon. Pretty in plaid is the name of her latest but I haven’t read it yet. It’s sitting on my counter taunting me too but my damn law books need reading first.

Your blog makes me laugh and I enjoy it. Just found it a week or so ago so I have a lot of catching up to do!

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Oh, holy jeebus, Dickens is the worst author ever!!!! Gah! I remember reading him while I rode on the exercise bike in the basement, and it was the only book that actually made it seem LONGER. We had to read 40+pp a night for high school english, and damn, it made me want to tape my eyes shut. Just the thought of that damn cake, all gross and, seriously, who wastes CAKE like that!?!?!

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You are so sweet and I get such a big kick out of reading your entries.

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My first (infertility) blog I wrote a post about how all parenting books suck EXCEPT for this one I just read, called “Sippy Cups.”
And Stefanie must have some google connections because the very next day there was a comment from her, and I nearly shit myself.

I look forward to reading this book as well – I loved her first two. Just lemme finish the Twilight series first. I am obsessed right now.

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Not only do I LOVE you, but I LOVE Stefanie! I’m reading one right after the other and think I will do that until bedtime. Loving it!

And also seeing far too much of myself in it…

Thank you for sharing!

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