Reading Rainbow (ba dum bum)

Mavis & Dove like to read. We like to read good books. Mavis will even read mediocre books. Dove claims to have A.D.D. and only makes it through a book if it is real good. And it has to have substance. She has started hundreds and only finishes roughly one-third to half of them. Here are our recommendations:

Dove's top 5 reads ever

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffeneger

Ohhh, it's sooo good. Best love story ever. It's about a man who has this genetic disorder where he is sometimes displaced in time. He is in love with a woman who lives life linearly like the rest of us. She be bops through life, while he bounces in at out of it at different ages. I am sometimes a hard sell when it comes to romance, but this gets my full endorsement.

The Little Prince - Antoine de St. Exupery

This is the most condensed form of genius wisdom ever written. It reveals human foibles through the eyes of a young prince who is wandering around the Galaxy and gets stuck on Earth. It's full of simple profundity. For instance - The Little Prince meets someone on one little planet, a drunk man who is crying. "Why do you drink?" "Because I'm sad." "Why are you sad?" "Because I drink."

'Nuf said.



The Hundred Secret Senses - Amy Tan

Typical Amy Tan in that it is about strained mother-daughter relationships that are interlaced with Chinese-American culture. A teenage girls meets her Chinese half sister and is mortified by her bizarre behavior (she sees dead people). It's well written and full of beauty, intrigue and mysticism. Ew, I think I'm going to read this again.










The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

I am currently reading this for the 4th time. It's a great story and full of so much wisdom. It is the book I recommend/give more than any other and always the feedback is that it transformed the person's life. It is the story of Spanish shepherd who is on a quest to find a treasure at the pyramids. On his way he discovers the idea of a Personal Legend and how to accomplish his soul's desires, as well as learning how to understand the soul of the world as it communicates with him about how to achieve his Personal Legend.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith

A classic. This book is not for the faint of heart. It's sad. It's full of tragedy, but so elegantly portrays the human condition. I read this in high school and reread it again a couple years ago as a sociology student. I gained so much more from it the 2nd time around from having some serious life experience under my belt. I'm no cheerleader. My hurkies plain suck, but man I wanted to do so many rah-rah-ree's for Francie, the girl through whom the story is told. Oh, and I love her so much that I used to want to name a daughter after her.

Mavis's top 5

I lied, I did 6. I couldn't narrow it down once I started thinking about it and frankly, this is only the top 5 that I can recall. I am a reader. I used to turn off my light for my parents sake and then when I would hear them down the hall, the light would switch back on and I would keep reading. And, yes, I do read mediocre ones. I have been so desperate for reading material lately that I have read 5 James Patterson's just in the last couple of weeks. Not that he is mediocre, but I don't think his books are really ones that move you, just scare the heck out of you.



I am moved by most of Leon Uris' novels. Most, not all. Trinity had me so emotional. Exodus is also fantastic. Somehow he makes characters so complex and so simple, you find yourself so exhausted emotionally, but it is worth it.

This book has always just stuck in my head. I was taken in by it. It has been way too long since I have read it. I am going to start it again right away.

These are the books, among others, that I would sneak read when I was 7-ish and up. I loved them. I still have them for my kids.

I'm talking the whole series. I wanted to live there. I still want to visit Prince Edward Island. It is on my list. I think delightful is the perfect word for this gal.

This is a must read. It is one of those books that you should read multiple times throughout your life because you will get just what you need from it each time. It kind of speaks to your soul.

The best historical fiction. This is the first of one trilogy about the Welch princes. I have read almost all of her books. The characters are all historically "accurate" except for one main character and you wait until the end to find out who (it isn't always obvious) but it doesn't change the story line, just adds to it. As far as I can tell, she sticks to the facts of history, just adds a tiny bit of flavor. Look into it.

What are your favorites? We are always in need of new reading material, so please give suggestions, favorites - the lot. Leave us comments galore, or better yet, play along on your own blog, listing your favorites. Just leave us a comment with your blog address so we can come and see.

One stipulation - we've read the Twilight series, so no need to suggest that. And we're well read enough not to need Jane Austen recommendations, either (we already know she's the bee's knees).