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Ellie Suggests:
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The Brain That Changes Itself
by Norman Doidge, Penguin, 2007
The subtitle is "Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science," but that is misleading. This book is amazing.
The Journey Home
by Olaf Olafsson, Knopf, 2001
Here's one I really liked: A novel that is wonderfully written.
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John Suggests:
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Fahrenheit 451
by Ray Bradbury, Ballantine, 1953.
This is always located in the Science Fiction section, but it seems so real and pertinent to today's life.
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Annemarie Suggests:
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The Alienist
by Caleb Carr, Random House, 1994.
Quite possibly the best "detective" story I've ever read. Old New York scenario and wonderful characters I was sorry to let go when the story ended. I read the story every few years because I like the characters so much.
Sarum: The Novel of England
by Edward Rutherford, Ivy Books, 1988.
Okay, our tools have gotten better (no more plowing fields with the shoulder blade of an ox-like animal) -- but people, politics, society haven't changed. Very readable.
Blanding's Way
by Eric Hodgins, Simon & Schuster, 1950
Sequel to Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. If you remember the movie -- or not -- (Cary Grant and Myrna Loy) -- try the books. This one continues the story of a 1940's advertising exec's experiences after he's "retired" from the Manhattan advertising business to carve out a niche for his family in a small New England burg. Funny! If you've ever dreamed the dream of reverting to the simple life, you'll enjoy this book. I found a copy via Amazon.
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| Bahb Suggests:
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The Lensman Series
Triplanetary (Book 1)
by E. E. (Doc) Smith, Old Earth Books, 1997, paperback.
A seven book series of science fiction. Good science and fantastic fiction. The story hinges on Gray Lensman, and the realization of his abilities.
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| Brenda Suggests:
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Many Lives, Many Masters
by Brian L. Weiss, M.D., Fireside, 1988, paperback.
I don't know if you have ever given reincarnation any thought. I hadn't until I read this book. Try it. You may be surprised.
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| Elaine Suggests:
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Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
by Matt Ridely, Harpercollins, 2000.
What's ahead as the genome project flourishes. Beyond the imagination of just a generation ago, but suddenly . . . of course! And, why not!
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| Aaron Suggests:
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Time and Again
by Jack Finney, Scribner, 1995, reprint edition.
A thrilling novel that paints a vivid and unforgettable picture of horse-and-buggy, cobblestoned New York. What a wonderful time and place, before anybody ever heard the phrase 'urban decay.'
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs, Vintage Books, 1993, reissue.
Jane Jacobs is the most intelligent person I have ever read. It's astounding. Nearly everything she says about city planning is on target -- and cause for pause to think about how American cities have been misdesigned for much of this century.
The Moral Animal
by Robert Wright, Vintage Books, 1995, reprint.
If you take it for granted that evolution shaped the human race physically, it's easy see that it shaped us phychologically as well. Among its many topics, this book provides a fascinating look at why men and women treat one another the way they do and how the cold, hard process of evolution (in which one's single measure of success is the number of offspring produced that reached maturity to produce on their own) could not have had it any other way.
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| Ed Suggests:
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The Perfection of Wisdom
Edited by R. C. Jamieson, Viking, 2000, American edition
Jamieson has the knack of making Buddhism vibrant and comprehensible.
The oldest Buddhist manuscript images are stunning.
A Study of Nagarjuna's Twenty Verses on the Great Vehicle
(Mahayanavimsika) and his Verses on the Heart of Dependent Origination
(Pratityasamutpadahrdayakarika)
by R. C. Jamieson, Peter Lang Publishing, 2000
Walled up cave temples full of ancient manuscripts come to life!
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| Marg Suggests:
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Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit
by Garry Wills, Doubleday, 2000
No obfuscation here.
Breakfast at the Victory
by James P. Carse, Harper San Francisco (paper, reprint), 1995.
One finds Spirituality and Philosophy and much more in this book whose short chapters are often headed with short Sufi parables. These alone are worth the reading.
The Unknown Matisse
by Hilary Spurling, Knopf, 1998
Somehow, I always thought of Matisse as an old man. This biography tells about the young Matisse. And although it is not art history, according to the author, it talks of the history of the man, and art was his life; the two cannot be separated. The colorful Matisse art work within the book is an added bonus.
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| Kathren Suggests:
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Fire in the Mind: Science, Faith, and the Search for Order
by George Johnson, Vintage Books, 1996 (reprint).
From the book: "Ultimately, all of us are faced with the same dilemma: the pictures we draw, the systems we build, can never fully embrace the richness and unruliness of creation. Yet it is endemic to our species that we keep trying, huddled on our tiny planet, shining our flashlights into the darkness."
I was hooked, and I check my batteries routinely now.
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| Janet Suggests:
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The Wealth of Cities
by John O. Norquist, Perseus Books, 1999.
Fresh, clever and progressive ideas about urban architecture written by the mayor of Milwaukee. (o.k., he's my brother; it's still true.)
The Diary of Mattie Spenser
by Sandra Dallas, St. Martin's Press, 1997.
An intimate and very touching account of the hardships of prairie life with a twist that will wrench your heart.
Ahab's Wife: Or, the Star Gazer
by Sena Jeter Naslund, William Morrow & Company, 1999.
Ahab's Wife is a sea/shore story as salty as Moby Dick. Una, the feminist protagonist, manages to survive mishaps that include the worst imaginable taboos.
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| Mary Jo Suggests:
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Here Is New York
by E. B. White. Midpoint Trade Books, 1999.
Both timeless and of its time. E.B. wrote it in 1949 as a magazine essay.
Reprinted it in 1977. Didn't change a word. Didn't need to. It's back.
Blues
by John Hersey. Random House (Paper), 1988.
The Leopard
by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, Pantheon Books, 1991
Two books I might never have stumbled upon had two reading friends not urged them on me. Very glad they did.
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| Rebecca Suggests:
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To Know as We Are Known
by Parker J. Palmer, Harper San Francisco (paper) 1993.
A theology of teaching -- why I'm still hanging in there.
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O
by Shel Silverstein, Harpercollins Juvenile Books 1981.
A philosophy of relationships -- short and brilliant.
The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien, Houghton Mifflin Co. 1991
People think it's a children's book, but, well just try it.
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| Paul Suggests:
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The Book of Saints
by Nino Ricci, Picadore USA. 1990.
The first novel in a trilogy, it is not just the story of a mother and son, but of many layers of life.
Praying with Dorothy Day
edited by James Allaire and Rosemary Broughton, St. Mary's Press, 1995.
Even today, Dorothy Day's outlook on life is totally relevant.
Literary Journalism
edited by Norman Sims and Mark Kramer, Ballantine, 1995.
Although the emphasis is on journalistic writing, the stories are about each of us.
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| Barbara Suggests:
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Traveling Mercies
by Anne Lamott, Pantheon, 1999.
A look at the spiritual life by one of today's most gifted writers.
The Fur Person
by May Sarton. Norton, 1983.
A lovely story about a cat how emerges as a Fur Person.
Seven Cats and the Art of Living
by Jo Coudert, Warner, 1996.
We can learn so much about ourselves from observing our cats.
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| Bob Suggests:
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The Tunnel
by William H. Gass, Alfred A. Knopf, 1995
Dazzling in its inventiveness, funny too.
The User Illusion
by Tor Norretranders, Viking, 1998.
Consciousness explained so ordinary readers can understand.
The Fantasy Bond
by Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlet, Insight, 1987.
Why do I think I'm bad (no good, ugly, etc.). Difficult reading, but worth the effort because the answer may be there if you're open to it.
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| Killian Suggests: |
Toby Jones and the Stone Wall Tornado
by Owen J. McNamara
A story that I enjoyed reading was written by a very special person.
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| Elaine Suggests:
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Mandy
by Julie Andrews Edwards, Harper & Row 1971, Harper Trophy 1989 (reprint).
My mother gave me this book when I was 10 or so, and I reread it many, many times and still have the book. It's about a lonely child who dreams.
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| Marg Suggests:
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Treasures in the Dust
by Tracey Porter, Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 1997
A book about Oklahoma during the Great Depression. The story is told through the eyes of two young girls, whose friendship transcends the hardships of the times.
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| Bean Suggests:
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The Magic Faraway Tree
by Enid Blyton, Mammoth, 1993 (paperback).
Her books are unreal, I mean they really did take my mind to the places she conjured and I practically became half her characters as I read them.
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| Ed Suggests: |
Bevis, the Story of a Boy
by Richard Jeffries, E.P. Dutton, 1930
A children's story that was popular when children had long attention spans and loved to read. Try it on children now, you might be surprised. Out of fashion? Not deservedly.
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| Bob Suggests:
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The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985.
Sounds like a true story to me. Best Christmas book ever, and I never read it till I was a big boy.
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| Julie Suggests:
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Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
by Lois Ehlert, Harcourt Brace, 1991
A young child loves the sugar maple she helped plant. Beautifully illustrated and big, easy words for beginning readers. Age 4 to 8 (and adults who love trees).
The Bookshop Dog
by Cynthia Rylant. Blue Sky Press, 1996.
When the bookshop owner falls ill and has to go to the hospital, residents of the small town bicker over who will get to take care of the beloved bookshop dog, Martha Jane. The illustrations are primitive, but you can't help falling in love with Martha Jane while children learn about all sorts of small town occupations. Age 3 to 8.
Me on the Map
by Joan Sweeney, illustrated by Annette Cable, Crown Publishing, 1996.
This playful introduction to maps helps children discover their place in the world. Age 4 to 9.
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| Rebecca Suggests:
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By the Shores of Silver Lake
by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Harpercollins Juvenile Books, 1953.
Some of the most gorgeous, simple prose I've ever read. I use the chapter about the wolves on the lake whenever I want to teach students to slow down and savor descriptive language.
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
by Susan Wojciechowski, illustrated by Patrick James Lynch. Candlewick Press, 1995.
This is a fairly long read aloud that is beautifully illustrated; the story of a little boy and his mother, and the grouchy woodcutter who carves them a nativity scene. Be ready to cry.
Old Turtle
by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Cheng-KheeChee, Pfeifer-Hamilton, 1992.
A brilliant piece of theology disguised as a picture book. |
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