I read, to the point of lunacy. It’s not unusual for me to read three or so books in a WEEK. Well, I am a fast reader for one, and I usually read one fiction alongside many non fiction ones, which are much shorter in length and/or suitable for skim reading – that helps too. :)
I am a huge self-help junkie. BUT and that is a very important but, it’s not all Bridget Jones style, no mountains of everything that has been published in this all encompassing category. I do think that no one can pass on a well-written, insightful book though, that helps with personal growth – or at least no one should. Reading all that allows me to think better, write better and live better. This is definitely one of my top guilty pleasures.
I am also a fan of popular fiction, memoirs, legal thrillers, and some chick lit – unashamedly so. Mostly I read books on whatever I am currently obsessed with, it usually always includes books on psychology, teaching, writing & publishing. I wish I could add blogging to this as well, but sadly there aren’t many available there. What do they say when you can’t find the book you are looking for? Write it! I intend to do the same in future.
I turn to books for some inspiration, some entertainment, some humour and occasional mind-blowing insight. It’s ALL about reading pleasure and nothing about being literary.
My Rating
5/5 Is it even possible to give this rating? Actually I have. I never skip over a line in these books, I cry when I finish them. Best of the best.
4/5 Highly recommend, must read. There could be bits in there which were just short of perfect.
3/5 Good enough. Could be that couldn’t get into some of the parts. Would recommend depending on the recommendee ..
2/5 Read it, or skimmed through it. Some parts are good but most are not.
1/5 Stopped reading after first few pages, or paragraphs. Tried skimming through, reading while walking, while on phone, without glasses on, yet couldn’t get past the writing. or worse, the writer. Hated it. Avoid.
0/5 Picked up due to rave reviews. Couldn’t get into it, did not interest me enough. You might like it anyway.
Backlist (May 2010 – present)
Memoirs
Same Kind of different as me. 2.5/5 Ron Hall
A homemade life: stories and recipes from my kitchen table. Molly Wizenberg. 2.5/5
See Naples and Die. Penelope Green. 2/5
House of Cards: love, faith and other social expressions. David Ellis Dickerson. 3.5/5
Tea in the library. Annette Freeman. 3/5
In the land of invisible women ; a female doctor’s journey in Saudi Kingdom. Qanta Ahmed. 2/5
Home Cooking; A writer in the kitchen. Laurie Colwin. 4.5/5
So many books, so little time. A year of passionate reading. Sara Nelson. 4/5
The woman who fell from the sky. Jennifer Steil. 4/5
Bitter is the new black. 1.5/5 Jen Lancaster
Julie and Julia: My Year of Cooking Dangerously. Julie Powell 1/5
This Is Not The Story You Think It Is: A Season of Unlikely Happiness. Laura Munson 4/5
The happiness project. Gretchen Rubin 3.5/5
Down under or In a sunburned Country. Bill Bryson 2/5
Thinking in pictures : and other reports from my life with autism. Temple Grandin 3.5/5
Born on a blue day : a memoir of Asperger’s and an extraordinary mind. Daniel Tammet 1.5/5
Committed : a sceptic makes peace with marriage. Elizabeth Gilbert 1/5
Three cups of tea : one man’s mission to promote peace… one school at a time. Greg Mortenson 2/5
Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough. Lori Gottileb 4.5/5
Eat, pray, love : one woman’s search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia. Elizabeth Gilbert 3.5/5
Writing / Publishing
Blogging heroes. Interviews with 30 of the world best bloggers. Michael A Banks. 4.5/5
No one cares what you had for lunch. 100 ideas for your blog. Margaret Mason. 3.5/5
Editing made easy. Bruce Kaplan. 5/5
Will write for food. Dianne Jacob. 4/5
Reading like a writer. A guide for people who love books and who want to write them. Francine Prone. 2/5
The writer’s digest writing clinic. 3/5
Creative web writing. Jane Dorner. 1/5
You don’t have to be famous: How to write your life story. Steve Zousmer. 5/5
The write-brain workbook. 366 exercises to liberate your writing. Bonnie Neubauer 1/5
Writing the story of your life. Carmel Bird 3/5
The Bookaholics’ Guide to Book Blogs. Rebecca Gillierson. 3/5
Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction. Lee Gutkind 2.5/5
Your Writing Coach: From Concept to Character, From Pitch to Publication. Jurgen Wolff 3.5/5
How to publish your nonfiction book : a complete guide to making the right publisher say yes . Rudy Shur 4/5
On writing : a memoir of the craft. Stephen King 4/5
The first five pages : a writer’s guide to staying out of the rejection pile. Noah Lukeman 2.5/5
Write the perfect book proposal : 10 that sold and why. Jeff Herman 3.5/5
A decent proposal : how to sell your book to an Australian publisher. Rhonda Whitton 3/5
Awakening the writer within. 2/5
The everything guide to writing nonfiction : all you need to know about writing nonfiction books, articles, essays, reviews, and memoirs 3.5/5
Self-help; Inspirational / Relationships / Parenting
The divided heart: art and motherhood. Rachel Power. 2.5/5
Think before its too late. Edward de Bono. 3.5/5
Redesign your life. 12 easy steps to new you. Andrea Molloy. 1/5
If success is a game, these are the rules. Cherie Charter-Scott. 5/5
All I really need to know I learnt in kindergarten. Robert Fulghum. 4.5/5
The 100 simple secrets of happy people. David Niven. 3/5
How did I get here. Barbara de Angelis. 1/5
The emotion code. Bradley Nelson. 2.5/5
Be yourself, everyone else is taken. Transform your life with power of authenticity. Mike Robbins. 2/5
Choose them wisely. Thoughts become things. Mike Dooley. 2/5
The dip. Extraordinary benefits of knowing when to quit. Seth Godin 4/5
The happiness trap. Stop struggling and start living. Russell Harris 2.5/5
Find your focus zone. Lucy Jo Palladino. 2/5
The Life organizer. Jennifer Louden 2/5
Six thinking hats. Edward de Bono. 3.5/5
Buddhism for mothers : a calm approach to caring for yourself and your children. Sarah Napthali 5/5
Living with Feeling: The Art of Emotional Expression. Lucia Capacchione 3/5
The power of your subconscious mind : empower your mind. Joseph Murphy 4/5
Raising boys : why boys are different and how to help them become happy and well-balanced men 3/5
Why women talk and men walk : how to improve your relationship without discussing it 3/5
Boundaries in marriage 2.5/5
Raising an emotionally intelligent child 3/5
The complete idiot’s guide to the law of attraction 2.5/5
Life lessons for mastering the law of attraction : 7 essential ingredients to living a prosperous life 1/5
Wherever you go, there you are : mindfulness meditation in everyday life 0/5
The power of now : a guide to spiritual enlightenment 0/5
The biology of belief : unleashing the power of consciousness, matter & miracles 3/5
Why marriages succeed or fail : and how you can make yours last 4.5/5
Screamfree parenting : raising your kids by keeping your cool 2.5/5
The secret 5/5
Potty training in one week 3/5
Popular Fiction
HowI became a famous novelist. Steve Hely 2.5/5
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet. Jamie Ford 3.5/5
Super sad true love story. Gary Shteygnart 0/5
Bridget Jones : the edge of reason. Helen Fielding 3.5/5
The white woman on the green bicycle . Monique Roffey 0/5
The particular sadness of lemon cake . Aimee Bender 2/5
Starter for ten. David Nicholls 2.5/5
Bridget Jones’s diary. Helen Fielding 4.5/5
Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer. John Grisham 3.5/5
Time of my life. . 3/5
I think I love you. Alison Pearson 2/5
Paths of glory. Jeffery Archer. 2.5/5
The appeal. John Grisham. 1.5/5
The imperfectionists. Tom Rachman 3/5
The next thing on my list : a novel. Jill Simolinski 3/5
The Time Traveler’s Wife. Audrey Niffenegger 1/5
To love, honour and betray (till divorce us do part). Kathy Lette. 3.5/5
The Pakistani bride. Bapsi Sidhwa 2/5
Memoirs of a geisha. Arthur Golden. 5/5
The writing on my forehead. Nafisa Haji. 0/5
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Mary Ann Sheffer. 3/5
One day. David Nicholls. 5/5
The reluctant fundamentalist. Mohsin Hamid. 3.5/5
Little Bee. Chrish Cleave. 3.5/5
In other rooms, other wonders. Daniyal Mohiyuddin. 1/5
House rules. Jodi Picoult 3.5/5
Valley of Dolls. Jacqueline Susann 2.5/5
Cutting for stone : a novel 0/5
Marya Writes 