Tuesday 2 April 2013

Wanna join my book club? I have wine.

Deb at Home Life Simplified told me I have to share with the world my list of favourite books for Listmania this week. And I have to do what Deb says. She's the boss of all things listy.

When I was a kid, all those many, many, many years ago, I loved reading. Apparently, I was so into books I began to read before kindergarten. It's true. I was so driven to know what the real words were that when a story was read to me a few times, and I had committed it to memory. I knew that each little squiggle group was a word separated by a gap. These words related to the picture. Yes, I was a smart-ass.

I had so many favourite books as a kid. I would read all the time. Flat Stanley used to freak me out, but I'd read it and reread it all the time. Monty Mouse was a 'photo' picture story book I would always borrow from the school library. I was in denial for a very long time that little Monty Mouse was not a 'live' mouse at the time of his photo shoot.

As I got older, Enid Blyton books became a favourite. They were so girly. I would read them while lying on my bed in my Collingwood football jumper with roller skates on. The Naughtiest Girl in the School was a big favourite. She wasn't even naughty. She was olden days British private school girl naughty. I was a nerd and a goody twoshoes at school and lived my delicate rebellion through the character in this book. Shall we be rather naughty? Headmistress may spank us. Oh, let's!

I would read anything Roald Dahl. Kiss Kiss was my favourite as it had stories of grossness. I was that kind of kid. A closet rebellious girly girl who could kick a footy as far as the boys and had a taste for the macabre, horrific and gross. 

I would read anything Judy Blume and from the Sweet Valley High series. As I got older, all things Steven King. The Wave was a scary, realistic story of a class experiment in mob mentality/hysteria. It was also one of the elusive few designated books for school that I enjoyed reading. Others were Playing Beattie Bow and The Harp in the South, both by Ruth Park.
My tastes in literature morphed over the years from horror and girly romance to sadder stories, autobiographies of people experiencing hardships and to self-help books. I've thrown in Brighton Beach Memoirs as well, as I think it is one of the funniest plays I've read. 
Two books I highly recommend for anyone with a baby, having a baby or even thinking about having a baby: Safe Baby Pregnancy Tips and Safe Baby Handling Tips, by David and Kelly Sopp. Sound, practical advice.
I'm also a big Twilight fan. Yes. That's right. I love Twilight. I am also Team Edward all the way. And yes, I'm in my 40s. I also liked the Fifty Shades of Grey books. So what.
In between nappies, big kid dramas, pet dramas and Wondertwin dramas, I'm slowly reading Feral Bells by an awesome blogger, journalist and mum, Peta-Jo. It's Aussie, it's relatable, it's bloody funny.
And I can't wait for Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures to arrive in the mail ANY DAY! 
Yep, very highbrow reading. I don't have the time or patience to devour a Bronte or a Dickens or even a J.K. Rowlings. But the dog-ear bends and scuffed spines of the books I have listed show just how much I love these books. Happy reading!

13 comments:

  1. Great list! I wonder if our twenty first century girls will like Enid Blyton as we did. I hope so!

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    1. I used to read The Faraway Tree & The Enchanted Wood to Campbell & Ella when they were younger. They used to giggle at the name 'Fanny' and would roll their eyes when Jo would come home with grass scuffs on his trousers & get scolded. Hehe...Fanny...

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    2. They have changed the names in the newer published books - the one I bought to read to my son has Joe, Beth and Frannie.

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  2. What a trip down reading memory lane! From Flat Stanley, through Enid Blyton, Living with IT, Lovely Bones, Twilight I'm with you all the way...think I could have done with those baby books though!

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    1. Those baby books are a scream! I would have given the bucking bull a go had I not read this book.

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  3. I loved Are you there God it's Me Margaret, and the Naughtiest girl in school series - so much fun! I wanted to read the lovely bones but haven't got it yet. I also enjoyed Twilight. I didn't get into them when they first came out but that was good as I could read all 4 right after each other.

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    1. Just between you, me & the world, I love the Twilight books. I'm amazed how many people say how bad they are. I don't think they are meant to be a piece of literary greatness, but that's what appeals & got Stephanie the big bucks.
      The Lovely Bones book is brilliant. The movie was great but the book really puts you there. Enjoy!

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  4. I loved all Judy Blume books and read all the sweet valley books too. Saw today that the crappyictures book was out, love that site

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    1. Can tell we're all around the same vintage!

      I'm looking forward to getting the Crappy Pics book. Come on postie!

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  5. Yep - all the Enid Blyton ones, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Mallory Towers, St Clares etc, Richard Adams (Watership Down) Gone With the Wind - yes the book is better and even longer than the movie, John Grisham.... anything with a plot better than a Barbara Cartland trash novel is readable... :-)

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    1. You've got a great list! Might give Gone With the Wind a go...

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  6. My own childhood reading echoed yours almost exactly! How cool...I had completely forgotten about Judy Blume. 'Forever' blew my eleven year old mind. Wow.

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    1. You know, I've never read Forever! I'm going to hunt down a copy!

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