Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl
There are three things that bring to mind happy memories – food, music, and books. Today, we’re focusing on books, with a slight diversion into food.
Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. These are the first books I remember truly loving as a kid (outside of Dr. Seuss). I recently read Prairie Fires that goes into the history of the Ingalls family and the truth behind the books, which was eye-opening. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoyed Little House and the rest.
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. My friend and I were buddy listening (we buddy read audiobooks) to this and absolutely fell in love with the whole world. I had a wild idea after finding the author’s email address on his website. I emailed him and told him the whole story and asked if he did signed bookplates. He said yes and sent not just one for me but two for me and my friend as well.
Betty Crocker’s Cooky Book. This is the food diversion I was speaking about. Growing up, my mom baked like a fiend every Christmas and her #1 source of recipes was this cookbook. My favorite always being the chocolate crinkles. It was out of print for many years, and I finally sourced her a new copy off eBay about 10 years ago – only for it to go back into print a few months later.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall. This is less happy memories and more happy book hangover. It’s one of the first times I remember wishing I could erase my memory so I could reread something again for the first time.
Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series by Tad Williams. This series always makes me think of my late husband because he introduced me to epic fantasy via Terry Brooks. He found this series and fell in love with it and made me read it as well. It will always remind me of him, and I think that’s a good thing.
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich. Say what you will about the Plum series, but these books never fail to make me laugh. I had suggested this series to a friend of mine and told her that I could relate to Steph much too well. She reads the book and says, “So, when were you last handcuffed, naked, in your shower?” Which was not what I had meant – I had meant I related to the way Stephanie manages to fail upwards – but I think about this conversation whenever a new Plum book releases.
Those old Harlequin novels with the white covers. Not one specific book, but any of them. My mom forever had one tucked inside her suitcase sized purse, ready to hand anytime she had a few minutes of downtime.
‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. I bought this book at a gift store in Salem, MA, while visiting my dad one summer. While my relationship with my dad wasn’t ever an easy one, he, my sister, and I had a good time that trip. And I found a love of horror novels out of it, so an extra bonus.
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I’d read this not long after it came out, after my boss gave it to me. Several years later, my older daughter had to read it for school. We bonded over the craziness contained within and how angry some of it made us both.
Ayoade on Top by Richard Ayoade. This was suggested by my traveling partner on a trip to Cedar City, UT, for their annual Shakespeare Festival. She’s a fan of the author and declared we had to watch View from the Top first since the book is basically talking about the movie. Okay, no problem. We watched the movie and then, the next day, while driving to Bryce Canyon, we listened to the audiobook. I don’t think I laughed as hard all year as I did during that drive. Me being in such a good mood is probably how I also got suckered into watching my first K-drama that trip, but that’s a whole other story.
What books bring back good memories for you?
Since I tend to get attached to fictional characters rather easily, I do tend to seek out series. Getting to see the same people pop up over and over again, and getting to know more about their lives, is what makes me happy. However, not all series can maintain their momentum or keep the readers happy in the end. I’ve been lucky in that the majority of the series I have started have ended well. There are always exceptions of course, but for the most part, I’ve had good luck. Here are a few of my favorites, even if I’m not quite finished with them yet:
There seems to have been a burst of non-authors authoring books over the last several years. Which is a great thing, as far as I’m concerned. The more people who try their hand at writing means there will be more new books for readers to enjoy in the future, right?
With fall on the way, and hopefully cooler temps, I start thinking about comfort foods. Anything that is warm, cozy, and fills you up is fair game in our house. One of my favorite things to make when it’s cold out is soup. Thick, rich, and yummy are the only requirements for me.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a fan of animation in any form. Looney Toons, Hanna-Barbera, Disney, you name it, I watched it. Bugs Bunny and Huckleberry Hound were my favorites. As far as Disney went, Robin Hood was – and still is – my favorite of their animated films.
As much as I love the classics, there are so many older movies that I’ve never seen. Things like Casablanca or Citizen Kane. Which is a tragedy, honestly, because I think that they’re classics for a reason and that I’m missing out on something by not having seen them. The exception being musicals since both of my parents loved them. My dad’s all-time favorite move was The Music Man after all.
When I was a kid, I had this huge book of jokes, limericks, and weird laws. The weird laws were always my favorite part. I mean, it’s illegal to take a bite out of someone else’s hot dog? Well, then, arrest me, officer, because I need a taste of that!
I don’t know about you, but I love coffee. It wasn’t always this way, but the advent of fancy coffee shops in the mall – where I was working in the mid-90’s – enticed me and eventually hooked me.
