I love you. Most ardently.

I need your help.

I'm not sure how, but in 19 years of formal education, I have read ZERO of Jane Austen's books. How is this possible?!

My friend Nan wrote of her husband's use of Austen's text (which was a hilarious post, by the way) and I was certainly humbled. How have I not read any Austen?

I love LOVE love the movies. I own Emma, Pride & Prejudice, and Sense & Sensibility. These are common go-to movies for a lazy Sunday. They take me to my happy place and guarantee an afternoon well spent.

This is where the help comes in. I'm not sure where to start. I'm determined to cure my affliction. I will complete at least three Austen novels this summer. Where to start? Is there a good sequence? Or do I just read them all in chronological order?

Please help cure me of this status. I cannot handle being a person who has not read Jane Austen any longer. What should I read....where should I start. Thank you in advance for you help. It is most appreciated.

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Jolly Old England

First time on an airplane, first time in another country, first time to see the Atlantic Ocean

When I was eighteen, just weeks after graduating high school, I had the joy of traveling to Great Britain with classmates, our English teacher and a few chaperones. It was certainly the farthest I'd been from home and still is.

I loved every minute of that trip. While friends took naps on the bus, I sat with my face practically pressed to the window. I didn't want to miss one hillside, one fence, one barn. Thinking about it now, I get giddy just imagining 18-year old me drinking tea at breakfast with my best friend. Peeking out the hotel window at the lights of London. Ordering a drink! in the hotel bar, legally. Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, Canterbury, Bath, Brighton, London. It was AMAZING.

My mom's best friend travels a lot, she's seen so many places and actually took this trip with us as one of the grown ups on the tour. When I got emotional looking out from the top of Dover Castle, she said that I've surely lived in Dover in a past life. She was certain.

One pastime I've happily picked back up since staying home this fall is reading for pleasure. By pure coincidence I picked up a couple of novels by English authors at the library. As I've finished each one, I feel like every thought in my head has a British accent. This reading led to watching several of my favorite Jane Austen movies, which led to watching a British miniseries, which led to watching a movie about The Young Victoria. Netflix now recommends British Period Pieces to me in its creepy "I know what you're watching" way. I've taken most of their picks and loved them all. My brain continues thinking in a British accent and I wish I could find a way to use bollocks in daily conversation. I start calling things bit and saying 'round. I'm a wannabe. Wanna be British.

Today I began reading a biography about Queen Victoria and will then move on to a historical fiction piece about London. I can't get enough.

I hope some day that we can take a family trip to England. I'd love to take J to Stratford-upon-Avon, he loves Shakespeare. And I just know that he'd enjoy Oxford in the same way that I did. I'd love to retrace my teenage tour as an adult, to take it all in again.

Maybe if I start saving now, we can go when B

graduates from high school. I may have to start a shoebox.

For that's how it started for me then. I had a shoebox with a hole in the top. When I got to England I used that money to buy an Oxford sweatshirt, some purple pleather shoes, and a Gap tshirt (what the?!). It was the trip of a lifetime and I hope to share it someday with my family.

Until then, I guess I'll have to settle for movies and books...

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Book Love

In late elementary school, say 5th or 6th grade, I really got into reading. I was always a good reader in school, but didn't LOVE reading per se (or maybe I did and don't remember it). Reading was my favorite subject and I often read at home, so I guess maybe I always have loved to read. The fact that I love to escape reality so much, and have since such a young age, frightens me at times. As if I'd rather avoid reality if at all possible. My husband would tell you that I create my own reality, but that's another post.

I just love going other places whether it be by traveling there, reading a book, or even watching a movie. The first book I remember really liking is James and the Giant Peach. I read it on my own in 5th grade and felt so grown up. It seemed like such a big book.

While I'm on the topic of books I read and loved as a child...how about Judy Blume? Is there any better. Not in my book - no pun intended. Deenie was monumental for me (I was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12). Superfudge was a favorite. I read those Fudge books when I was just learning to read. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. Brilliant. She was brilliant. One of my favorite books of all time at that age was Just As Long As We're Together. Great book. All about girl power! But I digress...

As we got into 6th grade and the girls started moving into groups - cliques, really, (there were only 12 girls in my grade, and only two groups), we started calling ourselves the fabulous five.

Myself, Jenna, Marcie, Dawn, and Shawna. We were BFF, if you know what I mean. I read a series called The Fabulous Five, so had the idea that this was what we should be called. I loved these books, really loved them. Of course, there is a girl named Melanie, so that didn't hurt. But they were great books. Each one was written from a different member of the group's perspective. It was all about school, boys, each girl's own interests. It was this tween girl's idea of the perfect book series. I wasn't so much into mysteries or The Babysitter's Club. No, I loved The Fabulous Five. I would wait until a new one came out and then beg my mother to get it. Some of them are still on my bookshelf today (two that bear my name).

As I have been reading the Harry Potter series so voraciously over the past week or so, I remember that time. When I had to read the next book. When I had to know what would happen. I feel that way now. I haven't felt this tied to a group of characters in such a long time. It is inspiring me to look into what other book series I could read, because it's so much fun to get so into it. I also think I shouldn't, because I get so into it! There are other things that need to be done, such as housework, parenting, and very soon, my paid gig. So as I reach the halfway point in Year 5 of 7, I realize that it's probably best that I am not always so into books, because the other parts of my jam-packed life would suffer.

So I will finish up Harry Potter and then go back to my less involved, less obsessed reading. Then the fall TV shows will start and my reading will slow down completely.

I will miss my imaginary book world friends. It's sort of fun to escape now and then, isn't it?

Summer Reading Part II

I finished Debbie Macomber's book. Shop on Blossom Street. Eh.

It wasn't my favorite book. It was a little - too perfect. Everyone had these huge problems that were nicely tied up and fixed by the end. Which is something I enjoy in chick-lit (a new term for me, taken from my latest issue of US Weekly. Apparently Courtney Love also enjoys chick-lit, as referenced by the picture taken of her at the beach, certainly by someone hiding behind a sand dune with a telephoto lens). I usually enjoy how things are fixed nicely in chick-lit, but this was all too much. The characters had these huge problems that were suddenly fine. This time the tumors are benign, after having had cancerous brain tumors twice before. This time the drug addict makes it into culinary school magically by the end of the book. The bitchy old lady suddenly likes her daughter-in-law and will have sex with her husband again, magically by the end of the book.

I guess I just wasn't in the mood for that much perfection. Sorry for the spoiler. But don't waste your time on this one.

Okay, now I have to decide which book(s) to take on our road trip. We leave Wednesday morning at 7:45 AM. Please chime in. Look at my original list and see what you think would be good road trip reading. It's not too late to go get something else, I'll take other random suggestions. We're headed out for swim diapers and sunflower seeds tonight, so I can pick up other literature if tempted. Nothing too heavy, c'mon now - it's vacation!!!

* BTW - what is it with spacing? I get it all set, with the spaces in correctly and then sometimes when I publish - it's all smooshed together. Like today. So I go fix it, hit publish, and once again it's smooshed together. Really irritating - that's what it is!

I just found The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks (in my book box, from our Scholastic warehouse semi-annual 1/2 price sale - I sock away books for a rainy day...yes, I have a book addiction too, to add to the others) that is definitely going on the trip. I've taken Stacey (Fit for Florida)'s advice on the other two. But please, go ahead and post your own suggestions. Even if you're reading this after I've already gone on my trip - we're driving to Wyoming in a few weeks and I'll be making the same choices about good road trip reads. Yes, I'm posting again today, I think because I fear going five whole days without blogging. My addiction will surely come to light then, when I started twitching...thinking of how clogged my Google Reader will be when we get home. I do indeed believe it's time for an intervention.

Summer Reading List

Okay. I'll admit it. I have an unhealthy relationship with amazon.com. They have this deal. Spend over $25 and get free shipping. I HATE paying for shipping. So have gotten very accustomed to adding a book (or two) to an order for the kids to get free shipping. That has led me to quite a backlog of reading to do. That would account for almost all of the non-fiction that I need to read. Then there are the novels, that have been given to me by friends/family who know I like to read. Then a few random books that I've picked off the shelf that hubs has read and I want to read too. Recently I've put myself on a 'no buy' policy for books. I've got to read the ones I've got. I'm not buying any books until I get myself caught up. There are quite a few, I can see this now as I pile them up to write this post. Unrealistic to think that I'll finish them this summer. I can kid myself though, and plan on reading them all this summer.

Here they are - my summer reading list books - in no particular order:

1. Freakonomics By Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J Dubner

This is one of the books from our shelf that hubs has read and I want to read too. Not sure that I'll get to it, I'm pretty sure that it's at the bottom of my list, but I still plan to read it "some day".

2. Teach With Your Strengths By Liesveld, Miller, & Robison, From Gallup Press

This one comes with an online poll that you take to find out your top five strengths. Hubs took it in leadership academy, which is something all administrator's in the district do. I wanted to see how our top fives compare...and that's a whole other post! Still need to read the book though, to see how my strengths should affect my teaching.

3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Yup, Harry Potter. I'm a little behind. Haven't read any of them. I've started this one several times and can't seem to get into it. But that doesn't stop me from trying.

4. Less of a Stranger By Nora Roberts

Because sometimes all I want is a chic flick on paper. Enough said.

5. The Shop on Blossom Street By Debbie Macomber

More chic flick in a paperback. I'm reading this one right now. It's a good story. Intertwines three women's lives. Girl power and all of that. Good so far.

6. Winds of War By Herman Wouk, Copyright 1971.

I believe my copy is from 1971. It has a red cover. It's my dad's. He gave it to me when I was scrounging their shelves for something to read (about 9 years ago!). I've never read it, but still intend to. I think he still thinks I "borrowed" this book. It's 888 pages and definitely not a chic flick book - two reasons I think I've put off reading it.

7. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

I bought this as one of my add-ons at amazon.com. I bought it for future use as a parent and also thought it might have some good ideas for teaching. The topic interests me, so I bought it. Just have never gotten highly motivated to read it. This could be the summer!

8. A Tale of Two Cities By Charles Dickens

I want to read this AGAIN. I read it my senior year of high school. I remember loving it. I hope I will enjoy it as much the second time around as an adult. We'll see.

9. Beyond the Wall: Personal Experiences with Autism and Asperger Syndrome By Stephen Shore

This is written by the keynote speaker from that Autism Conference I went to in April. I bought this at that conference. Mr. Shore is "on the spectrum" so to speak and the book will be excellent. He was smart and funny, as I'm sure his book will also be. I just need to read it!

10. Gifts: How Children with Down Syndrome Have Enriched Our Lives

Edited by Kathryn Lynard Soper

I won this from Michelle at Big Blueberry Eyes. It's a compilation of stories and I can't wait to read it!

11. Woman to Woman By Joyce Meyer

Bought this one day at WalMart when I was feeling particularly stressed (I have issues with buying books when I'm emotional, trying to find something to fix the fact that I'm feeling emotional. Weird.) I'm about 1/3 into this, it's a good "before bed" read.

12. His Needs, Her Needs

Borrowed this from my sister. She liked it a lot and read it with her husband years ago. Supposedly good marriage advice/tips.

13. the curious incident of the dog in the night-time By Mark Haddon

I borrowed this from a friend two or three years ago. Started it once, but it seemed dark. I think I might be ready to try again. We'll see.

I've always enjoyed reading. When I started grad school, I read for my classes and I read to my baby - that was it. Being in grad school pretty much killed any reading for pleasure that I did. Whenever I tried to enjoy a novel, I felt guilty for the stuff I should be reading. So I didn't really read for leisure at that time in my life. Only recently have I begun to read for pleasure again. And it has been pleasurable.

I must admit. As I compile this list, it seems so very random. RANDOM. Ah well, should make for some good reading. We'll see how many of these books actually get finished in the next two months. I'll let ya know!

Editor's note: I spent way too much time getting pictures for each book. Then when the spacing would not work (after several attempts) I scrapped them. Ugh. Now when I fix the spacing in the editing window, it still gets all screwy when I post again. It just goes back to where it was before I fixed it. Now THAT is FRUSTRATING!