Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Required Reading

The other day I realized that even though I'm a complete book-addict I haven't written anything about books in this blog. So today I'm giving you a list of some books. Some of them are my favourites, some just books that have made me laugh, cry or think over the years (I've written these down in a little note book, that's how I remember). I'm also including some academic reading i.e. books that I had to read at Uni, but actually ended up enjoying.

Warning: I am not one of those "smart readers" who only read books that are of the highest quality. I'll read anything, if it means something to me or makes me laugh or entertains me or moves me in any way. Including comics (Don Rosa being my favourite).

Anyways...here are the books, in alphabetical order:

An Alien at St.Wilfred's by Adrian Plass - The best Christian book I have ever read

Anne of Green Gables (series) by L.M. Montgomery - I still remember how I cried when Walter died

Bridget Jones -books by Helen Fielding - Needs no explanation

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella - Fun, Fun, Fun! And romantic too;)

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel - A scientific approach to Jesus

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - Such a bizarre story...

Dancing Skeletons. Life and Death in West Africa by Katherine A. Dettwyler - A good read for anyone interested in children and Africa

Daughter of Fortune (+sequal) by Isabel Allende - Made me want to travel to Chile

Earthsea trilogy by Ursula K. Le Guin - Adventures and magic and tragedy

Emily of New Moon (series) by L.M. Montgomery - Who doesn't love these books?

Harry Potter -books by J.K. Rowling - July is just around the corner!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series) by Douglas Adams - Hilarious all the way!

I was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn - Completely fictional, but fascinating

Ivory Carver trilogy by Sue Harrison - Ancient Alaska..., do I need to say more?

Little Women (+ Sequals) by Louisa M. Alcott - Another girly classic

Lord of the Flies by William Golding - Pretty scary!

The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien - I lived in Middle Earth for weeks

Mister God, This Is Anna by Fynn - My goodness I loved this book! Everyone should read it! Seriously: go do it right now!

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende - Will make you re-think reality

Nisa: the Life and Works of a !Kung Woman by Marjorie Shostak - A fascinating biography!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Makes me think of Colin Firth, sadly...

Purity and Danger by Mary Douglas - A classic study

Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren - Encouragement and wisdom

Reflections on Fieldwork in Morocco by Paul Rabinow - Just simply interesting

Run Baby Run by Nicky Cruz - A must-read for anybody

Seven Brothers by Aleksis Kivi - I don't care what anybody says, I thought it was funny!

The Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella - Makes me laugh out loud

Snapshot (+sequals) by Andrew Taylor - Crimes and photography, very exciting when I was 15!

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson - Book like a painting

The Sociology of Childhood by William A. Corsaro - Children are pretty amazing creatures

Stupid Cupid by Arabella Weir - Recommended if you are in need of a good laugh!

The Tripods trilogy by John Christopher - School reading...such adventures!

Wait till Helen comes by Mary Downing Hahn - Seriously scary! I still get chills just thinking about it!

The War Against the Poor. The Underclass and Antipoverty Policy by Herbert J. Gans - You'll never look at poverty in the same way again

Watership Down by Richard Adams - Love this book, just love it.

What Katy Did (+ Sequals) by Susan Coolidge - Clover was my favourite

Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts - A beautiful story. And I don't say that often.

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson - I read this at least 3 or 4 times when I was about 13

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne - When we were Very Happy:)

Visual Anthropology. Photography as a Research Method by John Collier Jr. and Malcolm Collier - A new way of looking at things!


I could add a lot of books that haven't been translated into English...but I think I'll spare you. Let me know if you decide to read something, I would love to here your thoughts:)

Monday, April 16, 2007

Spring is here!

Yesterday and today I photographed spring. Here's what it looked like:









Ps. The frog coupple scared me to death! I almost stepped on them...

Sunday, April 15, 2007

No hat, but still...

April 11th.

That's the day I became Master of Social Sciences. That's right, my friends, I have graduated! It feels a bit unreal, but I think it will sink in eventually. I am now a free woman! Free to do whatever I want on my free time, that is.

"I guess there's no special hat for a master's degree?", my mother asked. Sadly, no, but I still think it's pretty awesome:)

Sunday, April 01, 2007

April Fools

March is finally over! All around the world people are rejoicing! There shall be cake and strawberry juice for everyone!

If this doesn't sound familiar, you should move to my world: there's a big celebration today;) I've been a bit tired today and have a small headache (probably the result of spending yesterday watching Star Wars movies with friends), but despite that I'm very happy. The awful time we call March is gone. And Easter is just around the corner!

I went for a walk today, it was good. I listened to Creedence Clearwater Revival while walking and the lyrics just seemed to match my April mood (hence the title):

"Now, if I was a bricklayer, I wouldn't build just anything;
And if I was a ball player, I wouldn't play no second string.
And if I were some jew'lry, baby; Lord, I'd have to be a diamond ring.

If I were a secret, Lord, I never would be told.
If I were a jug of wine, Lord, my flavor would be old.
I could be most anything,
But it got to be twenty-four karat solid gold, oh."

(Lyrics to Penthouse Pauper)


Yeah, 'twas a good day:) May you all have a blessed Easter. The Christ has risen!