One Book Meme

I like surveys - I usually post them on Myspace, but I hope to be away this weekend and I wanted to have something in the queue - must post....

So a blog I read stole it from a blog they read; round and round we go ... I don't need an invitation.

One book you're currently reading-- Orson Scott Card's Keeper of Dreams (it's short stories and OSC is my current favorite fiction writer.

One book that changed your life-- Where the Red Fern Grows - age 7 or 8. I realized that books could literally effect me on an emotional level and I really started reading good books after that (and a lot of crap too) but this was my "gateway" book.

One book you’d want on a deserted island-- Just give me my quad (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price). I'm pretty confident if that's the only book I had, I would read it and get more out of it than any other. Not saying that to be all prim and proper, impress you with my religiosity, just thinking that would be the only book in the universe that would fulfill my reading needs forever.

One book you’ve read more than once-- Before kids, I NEVER read the same book twice, with the exception of Where the Red Fern Grow. Since they've arrived, I love sharing my old favorites with them - especially Green Eggs and Ham.

One book you’ve never been able to finish-- Jules Vern - Around the World in 80 Days. blert - I have issues, lately, with classics.

One book that made you laugh-- Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet's Good Omens.

One book that made you cry-- I cry so easily. Why just last night I finished Randy Pausch's The Last Lecture (about a young computer science professor with a wife and 3 kids, with 3-6 months left to live, giving his Last Lecture on the important lessons of life). I need the catharsis of a tear jerker.

One book you keep rereading-- Not a rereader, except the kids books. There are too many yet to read. We've been rereading a lot of I Love You, Stinky Face, by Lisa McCourt.

One book you’ve been meaning to read-- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clark. But it's really big.

One book you believe everyone should read-- The abridged Les Miserables, I just adore Jean Val Jean and the way Victor Hugo tortures and tries him.

Grab the nearest book. Open it to page 56. Find the fifth sentence--

"There would soon be abundant justification for such appreciation." Faith of the Fallen, Terry Goodkind (I haven't read this one yet).

Yesterday I realized it was already February and I hadn't finished one grown-up book all year yet. So I have resolved to read at least one full on real book a week. Monday I will tell you what book I read and how it was.

The Last Lecture was a really good book. Seriously, imagine you have 3 little kids (his kids are almost exactly my kids age) and you find out you have 3-6 months to live, but you are given the opportunity to present one last lecture to your colleagues, friends, and family. What do you say? What are the most important lessons you can give to the world and your children, knowing you won't be there. Pausch's book is overflowing gold, refined by the realization of how fragile and temporary and beautiful life is.

Randy Pausch ripped my heart open a dozen times, the first being during the introduction - I couldn't even dive into the book after that. I skipped ahead to a chapter about how he met his wife. Then, I wanted to know everything, to soak in his wisdom, so I went back to chapter 1 and slowly made my way through.

SO, do you have any Brilliant book suggestions for me? I love the kind that break your heart without TRYING to make you cry. I'll put up a "to read" and "read" list on the side panel. Any help would be much appreciated.