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Freddy’s 10 Books to Read to Date Me (Friends can date too!)

Although I am married and not looking to start a harem of book loving spouses, I loved Pete’s book list and wanted to create my own! There are a few books on my list that my husband did read per my recommendation, though I hope he eventually reads all of them. It was hard to pick only 10 books, so I picked a couple books to represent a genre of books. Honorable mentions go to “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen, “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George, “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Ann Brashares, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by Willliam Shakespeare , and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker. Sorry if this is cheating, but I’m probably the most indecisive person you’ll ever meet, well I mean maybe. ;)

In no particular order…

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson - I can’t remember the first graphic novel I picked up and read, but they’ve always been important to me. It was tricky picking just one for my list, but Nimona will always stand out. When you find a form of media with a “message” there is a fine line the creator treads to not make you, the consumer, feel like they’re shoving their opinions down your throat. Noelle does an amazing, hilarious job with this book! Good and evil are not always black and white, and friendship comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and sharks!

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton - I was “forced” to read this book in school, and I am all the more happy for it! I credit this book with awakening my love of poetry. Though I’d read and enjoyed poems before, Ponyboy’s feelings about poetry and the world made me feel connected to it all, instead of just a reader.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - This was my Grandma’s favorite book. She read it every year. I wish I could say that is why I read it, but unfortunately I watched a film adaptation first. However, sometimes movies are a great way to make books feel more approachable. Jane is intimidating, but once you get to know her (like some other people I know) you see her for the fiery treasure she is.

Fairy Tales by Whomever - I wanted to have fairy tales included on my list, but couldn’t pick just one collection or author. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted the world around me to be magical. I can remember sitting perfectly still outside hoping to see a fairy, or creeping quietly to my room anticipating that I’d catch my stuffed animals walking around and having fun. I love how all over the world different cultures have their own stories that have been passed down. We create our own magic in the tales we spin.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie - I read this book one year in celebration of Banned Books Week, and I’m so glad I did. Sherman Alexie gives you a glimpse into a life I knew hardly anything about. You can hear his voice throughout the book and all of his emotions. I felt like my world was so small after reading his book that I needed to read bigger and learn more about all of my fellow human beings.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith - This book will be on all of my book lists! Similar to what Pete said about Wives and Daughters, this was the book that made classics approachable for me. I wanted to be friends with Francie Nolan and her family. I want to write a book someday that made readers feel as this book made me feel.

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton-Porter - I could really pick any of Gene’s books for this list, but this was my introduction into her writing. Thanks to our Mum, my siblings and I were brought up in a nature loving environment. She always had rocks, leaves, bugs, and more around the house and shared a love of all these natural wonders. You can feel Gene’s love for the outside world in her books and her passion for preserving it for years to come. Also there’s a really sweet love story and that’s always a bonus!

Poems by Maya Angelou - I’d always hoped I could one day meet this lovely poet, or at least attend one of her readings. When I read her poetry I hear her voice in my head spinning a passionate and beautiful world of emotion and desire.  “Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.” You’re hooked now, aren’t you?

Matilda by Roald Dahl - This is one of those rare books where I love the movie almost as much as I love the book. Roald Dahl was the master of children’s books, perfect in his silliness and magic in the everyday world. Matilda helped me feel less alone. That it was wonderful to be different and I shouldn’t try to hide what makes me different.

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10 Books to Read if You Want to Date Pete

I have had a few conversations lately surrounding dating, books, and intelligence as an intimidating roadblock. Before I get started on this fun little feature, let’s shed some clarity first. One, I am fine with my status as a single lady. It isn’t a burden, nor is this post a cry for help (matchmakers *wink*). Secondly, I do not believe our passions should so cloister us from any type of relationship that we can’t socialize with someone if they don’t have or share our passions or have any future chance of sharing them. I have friends and family I have meaningful conversations with and take joy in our relationship…and they are not readers. It can be done!

While I’m naming this feature “books to read to date me”, to me this list serves more as a window into who I am and how books have (and do) impact me as a person. Perhaps none of these appeal to you, but maybe you want to know or connect more with me? These titles, while huge favorites, each carry a story of their own and a story that can spark meaningful relationships. By no means do I expect someone to change who they are and suddenly read books that are not their cup of tea or try reading at all. I have learned, the hard way, you should never read a book to impress someone. Chances are they won’t be paying attention anyways (hello bookstore boy I read ‘On the Road’ for and wanted nothing to do with the Beat Generation, save beating my brains out, after I finished).

In no particular order…

Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell – When I was a teenager in the homeschool world, it was a difficult world to gain footing in. It felt a little like the people obsessed with being Purebloods in Harry Potter. I had not been homeschooled my whole life and had left public education; we were in between. Classics were not my forte. They intimidated me, bored me, and even made me feel stupid. Then at a gathering with more down to earth homeschoolers, a girl a few years older than me mentioned reading Elizabeth Gaskell and how much she liked her writing (better than Austen). I think it was the way she talked about books that made it seem possible for me to try reading this classic author, even if she was a contemporary of Dickens. The next trip to Barnes and Noble I was shocked to discover the monstrous size of this book. Queue intimidation all over again. However, I managed to muster my determination and read the book. It was a magical moment to read a classic and not feel bored or overwhelmed by lack of understanding for language and time.

 Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig – A few years ago TWLOHA’s Suicide Prevention Week Theme was based around this book. I was familiar with Matt’s work, but had never read any of it. It was the first time I have ever read a book and felt understood surrounding my own mental health. This is a book I want more of my friends and family to read. I wish more people with loved ones coping with mental health would read this. In my opinion it is a source of hope to see, on the page, so clearly the things I live with and I believe more people need to understand in order to be sources of hope, understanding, and strength for each other. Matt’s honesty, while heavy at times, is very refreshing and clarity amid the chaos that can be my thought process.

 Saga by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples – My siblings have been graphic novel readers for many years. In all those years I know they tried on numerous occasions to convince me to read them too. In my fear of not reading a “real book” and reading something “childish” I deprived myself of many years’ worth of fun and engaging reading in the world of comics. Saga was the first graphic novel I read, and it ignited my imagination and joy for the medium. I love fantasy and sci-fi. I love art. I love reading. I love Saga. Saga is all of those plus it’s cheeky and filled with humor. I haven’t finished the series yet because I read them slowly… I don’t want the series to be over too soon! Don’t let outside influences fool you…reading comics is reading.

 I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith – I was tricked into reading this! When I was a teenager I didn’t read very widely or diversely. I read fantasy and more fantasy. Then the occasional school assigned book that landed me more in the historical fiction genre as a secondary comfort zone. One summertime visit to my Gran’s in Ohio and a stop at our favorite local shop there, had me picking up this book. The green and yellow wallpaper design drew me in, but even more so was the shout out on the cover from J.K. Rowling. (By the way, I rarely read what books are about because I think summaries are written in such a spoiling fashion. I count on good covers, I know terrible, and Freddy to help me find out if I’ll like something.) Well a J.K. Rowling quote on the cover and the word ‘Castle’ in the title definitely sets this story up to be a fantastical one! Not so much, but nonetheless I persisted and fell in love. Dodie Smith writes a strong voice for a coming of age story. I love her word usage and the book is filled with quotable wisdoms. The quirkiness of Cassandra’s family is something to warm your heart to and find kindred spirits on many levels. I once had a friend compare me to Cassandra after I gifted him with the book and I thought I would squeal of said honor.

 C.S. Lewis Biography – This biography stands out for me for a number of reasons. I don’t typical like or read Christian Fiction of Non-Fiction. When I was a Sophomore my Mum’s curriculum for literature was a biography and a book by the author. This specific biography really impacted the way I perceived my own faith at the time. Reading about Lewis’ turning points and his fascination with heaven were very grounding for my teenage years. The fear of the unknown has always been a trigger for me, but to read how at peace he was with heaven will be something I never forget. Also as someone raised in a faith based home, I believe it is important to read testimonies/backgrounds that are not similar (and ‘perfect’ at first sight) to your own. Diversity of all types is imperative for growth.

 The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – This is another book that made me feel like I was a grown-up and had arrived because I picked it up when I was younger, and it wasn’t my normal reading. My friend had brought it back from a trip and I was instantly intrigued by the cover. This book is dense. I know that turns some people off, so much so the audiobook is abridged to cut out ‘unnecessary’ elements (which personally annoys the hell out of me). As you can see from my own writing, I love detail. I enjoy immersive stories and elements that you know were researched to the gills all for the delight of a story, a fictional one at that. I cannot say too much without spoiling this story, but I can say it is a more mature ‘National Treasure’ paired with folklore/history of ‘Dracula’.

 A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott – It may surprise many who know me to see this Alcott book on my list instead of ‘Little Women’. Alcott is my favorite author. Almost 60% of one my bookcases in dedicated to books by and about her. While I love ‘Little Women’ and all the memories it holds for me, I know ultimately it was not what Alcott wanted to write. Years ago the copy of ‘A Long Fatal Love Chase’ that Freddy and I came across looked more like a mix between a thriller and sizzling mass market romance. Freddy read it first and we still to this day talk about how we didn’t believe it could possibly be by Alcott.  While the story itself isn’t earth shattering, for me it is the idea behind it. The idea that Louisa still found a way to write what she wanted to write. This book still found a way to survive in the shadow of ‘Little Women’ all these years later. It is a story I enjoyed and Louisa’s influence continues to be in my life. That I may write, write what I NEED to write, and for it to endure in one form or another.

 Stay with Me by Ay���̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ -

"I was armed with millions of smiles. Apologetic smiles, pity-me smiles, I-look-unto-God smiles---name all the fake smiles needed to get through an afternoon with a group of people who claim to want the best for you while poking at your open sore with a stick---and I had them ready."

From it’s ‘simple’ orange cover to quotes like the above, this story’s subtlety and ability to shock grasped at my heart and held on. The story could have go on and on and I would not have shied away from reading it. While heavy with thought (and subject matter) and intention, Ayọ̀bámi writes so masterfully. I’m writing this right now and thinking I need to read it again. I am so struck by her writing. I also am indebted to her because after finishing I wanted more and it sent me on a path to find more Nigerian writers, whom I love too.

 Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh – When my grandmother was dying, we read this book out loud together. We would discuss and talk about her life after each chapter. We would talk about the shape of the shell we were living in right at that moment. I did not love everything about this book because many instances Anne spoke from a level of privilege I have never experienced and that can leave a taste not so pleasant. However, for the memories it has for me and its ability to have so much to ponder, I find this book a very valuable one. The way she writes about nature feels like my childhood and how my Mum taught us to look at the world around us.

 Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke – I probably talk about this book too much. For such a little book it certainly houses much wisdom. I recently read the letters on my Instagram and was struck anew by things I hadn’t been the first time. I know because this is the first book I have ever allowed myself to write in (aside from my Bible). There were parts that brought me to tears anew that I hadn’t underlined previously. I imagine Rilke calmly sitting in a corner as he observes the world and embraces his failures and struggles as growth. This book of letters holds something different for each reader and therein lies its value.

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Fridays with the Booksellers: Navigating Change, Negative People (and a world if we are being honest), and a Reading Mojo that would rather be napping

In a rare moment of ‘hey you should write’ and ‘hey wouldn’t it be cool to have a column of sorts’, I’m sitting down tonight, before bed, to write a little something for a Friday post for the shop. It is the age of TLTR (too long to read), of the programmed mindset to not click out of one location (don’t leave FACEBOOK ever), and an increasing mass exodus from the aforementioned. It is difficult to find an added self-motivation to write. We might be writing for no one and that might sound easy because it removes pressure to be great (though we should strive for this regardless), but it has this side effect of prompting a why bother response.

I had this brewing idea to get back into writing and writing for the shop, about books, the shop, and even life. It kept sitting in the back corner, rather patiently, and then an email came through on my account. I haven’t even read it yet, but the subject line was enough to prod some words out of me this evening.

“Self-expression, not self-promotion” *

Call my mind a little blown away by this idea because increasingly I’ve become disenchanted with this saturated mindset of social media to be an influencer. It is pressure; it is filled with holes that anxiety, depression, and a load of other things are waiting to fill. I can’t keep up and even when I try I ultimately feel as though I’m failing, but by whose standards I don’t know. It may be akin to the great and powerful Oz, behind a curtain dictating to us the rules and regulations for influencing in an influence hazed world. Yet behind that curtain is someone like you and me.

I didn’t mean for this to turn preachy or self-reflecting. I wanted to start a self-motivating writing project for the shop’s page. Low-pressure, fun inducing, thought provoking, and read worthy. We haven’t been minding our page at full tilt lately and we took a break from the After Hours Book Club for August. Our September is looking CRAZY and our birthday is in October. I think you can say we are feeling the pressure a bit these days to perform.

Freddy and I both have jobs outside of the shop. Some of you know this and have known, but many may not realize it. I recently accepted a job locally that fits in well with the hours I work at the shop. It is still a new challenge to accommodate the change and find a routine that benefits everyone. It is change and change can be a kind of four-letter word. We take each day and we strive to grow as business partners and as adults in this crazy world. Essentially this is what we have been doing since day one of opening our shop at 19 and 21.

Perhaps it is because we are young, because we are women, because we live in a small-town, or this is the Midwest so live with it, but Negative Nellys have been aplenty at Pages Aplenty lately. I’m not telling you this so you can assure of us the opposite or rush out to buy more books because you might read in this a ‘we are not thriving’ vibe (because that’s not the case). However, I believe it is important to manage your naysayers with a “chew like you have a secret” swift style and to be honest with fellow conspirators. In honesty maybe others can be educated or take the highroad and in this case the highroad is stop saying negative things.

Someone in passing remarked to me today that they can’t believe the shop has made it this long in a town like Mentone. Every week we have people who walk into the shop and tell us bookstores are dying. In a pat you on the head style comment, eBooks are taking over the market and isn’t it sad for you. I just can’t believe you can make it still.

Chew like you have a secret is essentially this motto that makes you smile when you remember the movie it came from and then it reminds you that a small percentage (oh howdy do we hope it is small) will always think bookstores are dying. It is easier to keep chewing and not waste your breath explaining to someone who believes such nonsense. Books have been around for longer than any other media type (I think it is okay to write such a blanket statement, but if not I’m sure someone will comment and correct me).

The other day I got chills thinking about the printing press. I am getting them now. Here stood this machine that was going to guarantee, not right away but eventually, that millions of people would be given access to words. I wonder if Gutenberg had an epiphany and his mind went forward in time to show him THIS IS THE IMPACT YOU WILL HAVE, THIS IS WHY YOU MUST CREATE THIS THING. Chills.

When I look at a page, when I swipe on a screen, when I listen to someone, and when the story is being told in pictures as well as words, I never want to think or fear that books are dying… because they are not. They are adapting. They are thriving. They are being used as tools in resistance, to strengthen resolves, to unite, and yes in bad places by bad people for not such good things. But books are not lying down, booksellers are not weeping in the streets with sandwich boards…unless you think that would help *wink*.

Books are published every day. A writer is sitting at their desk each and every hour. Booksellers are not waning; they are dreaming up ways in which they will not break into song and dance because that is how excited they are to share their love with you.

It is almost 10 years for our “little shop” and the comments haven’t stopped. Some weeks they are worse than others and some weeks we have none. We both realize and accept this is all part of the job and that if we are meant to be here 5, 10, 15 years from now… books will always be dying, according to someone. We will just keep chewing our secrets and sharing with the other secret keepers.

I was going to delve into my reading mojo being on hiatus and how you are not alone, but it is getting late. I also like where I ended the above. As an episode of the Book Riot podcast recently suggested… just go with it. Maybe you need that break to enjoy other things and your love of reading hasn’t gone away. It wants to give you space for a Netflix binge or to enlighten your mind with some thought provoking podcasts. Reading mojo will return, that’s a promise.

Happy Friday, Pete

* Thanks Shuffle for that boost in my writing.