Thursday Thirteen . . .Reading

"We read to know that we are not alone." 

- William Nicholson

Over the years I have so enjoyed books but I realize that buying the books and reading them are vastly different.

On my bookshelves are hundreds of books, most of which I have read, but there are many I have just shelved.

So this new year I am going to pick my first thirteen books off of my shelves:

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin has been on my shelf for a couple years.  I started it but got distracted and now that the movie about Lincoln is out I want to read the book that it is based on.

Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg is going to be a re-read.  My sister gave it to me, years and years ago, while I was still a teenager.  I treasured it.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Conrad Black should be a good read.  I have actually less interest in Roosevelt but am a fan of Mr. Black.  So wish me luck on that one because it is a big one.

Jungleland by Christopher Stewart is a new gift from sister, Sheila.  Looks interesting.  Have not read any reviews on it or read anything by Christopher Stewart so here goes...

The Prospect Before Her by Owen Hufton is a book on the history of women in Western Europe in the early ages.  I appreciate European history so am intrigued by this.

Civilization by Niall Ferguson is already on my table in AZ.  He is a British historian who, I believe, is presently teaching at Harvard.  This is a strong area of interest for me so will be good.

John Adams and Path Between The Seas are two books written by David McCullough.  I have enjoyed his other books so with my interest in early American history and my fondness for the Panama Canal I think they will good reads.

The Red Queen by Phillipa Gregory.  Everything I read is not in the nonfiction department so will give this a try.  Looks intriguing.

What's Bred In The Bone by Robertson Davies is also another re-read.  I do that a couple times a year; re-read a book I have thoroughly enjoyed years before.  My philosophy is that a book that you read and read again is a good book, worth the investment.  This book is no. 2 of Davies' Cornish trilogy and before the year is out I will likely purchase the other two (Rebel Angels and The Lyre of Orpheus) on my Kindle.

Also want to read The Merry Heart by Robertson Davies.  This is a collection of his works and reminiscences  of his work in the last 10-15 years of his life.  Mr. Davies was a Canadian novelist so that is part of the pull to these books.  He writes with a rich imagination that I appreciate.

Twenty Chickens For a Saddle by Robyn Swift has been on my bio shelf for years too but this year I will give it a go.

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham is well written with a little different slant than other books I have written about Tom Jefferson.  Mr. Meacham shows how the two sides of Mr. Jefferson's character/personality both came into play during his political life.  I know a couple men in my life who have this duality.  They are very creative and artistic, yet they both have an inclination for business.  So when I read the reviews on this book I thought it would be a good read for me to understand these men in my own life, better.

There you go:  thirteen books I do not have to go out and buy but will give me so much pleasure in the coming year.

If you have books that you love, send me the titles and I will give them a look-see.

"Do not read, as children do, 

to amuse yourself, or like the ambitious, 

for the purpose of instruction. 

No, read in order to live."

- Gustave Flaubert

And if you would like to read other Thursday Thirteen writers click here.