Follow Me This Friday... Or Else. 8/5

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Hello new followers! Be sure to stop by my about page to learn a little more about me and my blog. I hope you enjoy your stay. Let me get started with the first Friday Question brought to you by Parajunkee's View.


Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

For this question, I have two answers (one for non-fiction, and one for fiction).

Meditations (Penguin Classics)For non-fiction, I would have to say Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. When I was in college, getting my undergrad, I went through a lot of depression and self doubt. Marcus Aurelius, a philosopher king from thousands of years ago, had the words that I needed to read at that time in my life. Stoic philosophy gave me a way of looking at the world that helped pull me out of my depression, and stop caring so much about how I compared to others.


The Secret Garden (Oxford World's Classics)For fiction, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett helped me see that beauty and magic could be found in the everyday and in the natural world. The first issue I ever read was one of those small Barnes and Noble editions that can fit in your pocket. I bought it when I worked a job I hated at a movie theater. I looked forward to taking small breaks or finding small moments where I could take a peek in that book. In a way, I too was escaping into the beauty of the garden to get away from the smell of popcorn and hot dogs.

Q. Which books have effected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

A lot of books have left a huge impression on me. But here are just a few:

Hush: An Irish Princess' Tale 
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
1984 41th (forthy f?rst) edition Text Only

The Rag and Bone Shop (Readers Circle)The White Darkness    The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are



Book Blogger HopThe Magicians: A NovelQ. What is the one ARC you would love to get your hands on right now?

I don't have an ARC per se, but I just got The Magicians by Lev Grossman from my digital library and I'm real excited to read it considering the second book in the series, The Magician King, is coming out this month.


Also, I will be postponing my regularly scheduled Friday book review to Saturday, as I'm currently rethinking my weekly schedule, and because I need extra time. Also, I will be doing a very special giveaway I'll be announcing here on Tuesday. Trust me, you won't regret checking in to see what it is. :)

Comments

  1. StuckInBooksAugust 4, 2011 at 8:56 PM

    Leaving out of the loop here as I don't recognize any of your choices. :/

    Here's mine: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/2011/08/follow-friday-8511.html

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  2. Jenni ElyseAugust 4, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    I love your blog! And, I love your About Me page. You have a great way with words. I have no doubt you'll succeed with your writing endeavors.

    I haven't read Meditations. I wasn't much of a reader until about four years ago so my list of read books is very small. But, I'm slowly making up for this loss. I have read The Secret Garden. One of my favorite things about that book was the message about finding beauty and magic in the world around you. The last chapter was very profound to me.

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  3. ChristinAugust 4, 2011 at 9:16 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog - I'm a new follower here.  I loved The Secret Garden as well.  It is the perfect escape!  I haven't heard of The Magicians, but I will have to look into those books.

    Hope you have a great weekend!

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  4. Jinny (SkyInk.net)August 4, 2011 at 9:25 PM

    New follower :) The Secret Garden is ah-mazing! I actually watched the movie first before I read the book though, way back when it was first released. I didn't read the book until just last year!

    (My #FF post if you are interested: http://skyink.net/?p=2520)

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  5. Lydia HenryAugust 4, 2011 at 9:46 PM

    Ooo Secret Garden. I haven't read the book yet but I love the movie.

    Good choice.

    Happy Friday from Lydia @ Sensual Ride and my FF's at http://sensualride.blogspot.com/2011/08/friday-memes.html

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  6. BeckAugust 4, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    Haven't read the secret garden in years, I'm going to have to pick it up again. :)

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  7. LariAugust 4, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    That's exactly why I love Secret Garden so much. I was a philosophy major for a while, which is probably what drew me to Meditations in the first place, I'm so glad I picked it up off of the library shelf one day!

    And thank you for the compliments. :)

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  8. LariAugust 4, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    Thanks for stopping by and welcome! I hope you have a fabulous weekend as well. :)

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  9. LariAugust 4, 2011 at 10:42 PM

    I watched the movie when I was a kid before I read the book. I remember it scared me for some reason. haha

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  10. LariAugust 4, 2011 at 10:50 PM

    Thanks! And I'm so glad you could stop by. :)

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  11. LariAugust 4, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    It's wonderful. You should! :)

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  12. Lauren BermanAugust 5, 2011 at 1:28 AM

    I loved the Secret Garden as a child too.
    Here's my HOP for this week.

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  13. Jayne FordhamAugust 5, 2011 at 5:03 AM

    Hi,
    Just dropping by via the blog hop. I also loved the Secret Garden as a child... would love to re-read it :-)
    Check out my FF @ http://australianbookshelf.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/book-blogger-hop-4-and-feature-follow-friday-2-2/
    I’m hosting a Mega Aussie Author GIVEAWAY which is international so please stop by and check it out!
    JayneThe Australian Bookshelf

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  14. Karen @ Books Beside My BedAugust 5, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Love that you took a book to your movie theater job! I also love The Secret Garden, such a beautiful story!

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  15. kathyAugust 5, 2011 at 8:54 AM

    Just hopping by! I love it when you find a book that you're excited to read any chance you get. :) I never did read The Secret Garden but I should probably remedy that.
    Happy Friday!

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  16. TributebooksmamaAugust 5, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    Just hopping by,have a happy Friday!

    http://tributebooksmama.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-blogger-hop.html

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  17. Jenni ElyseAugust 5, 2011 at 12:27 PM

    Hello! You should check out my latest blog post. :) I think you'll find it interesting. (Not the hop. The one posted after it.)

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  18. LariAugust 5, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    Thanks! It really was a lifesaver when I worked there. haha

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  19. LariAugust 5, 2011 at 1:05 PM

    It is a great re-read. Thanks for stopping by! I'll be happy to stop by and check out your blog.

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  20. LariAugust 5, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Thanks for hopping by. :)

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  21. LariAugust 5, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    Read it! I enjoyed it for the first time as an adult.

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  22. Lisa ChoboterAugust 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM

    Hi (new follower) I have always loved The Secret Garden. Great choice
    Here's my #FF

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  23. PeggyAugust 5, 2011 at 2:14 PM

    Hi, thanks for stopping by Pawing Through Books earlier.  I'm following back!  Have a great weekend!

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  24. AlisonAugust 5, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Hopping through. I still need to read The Magicians. I want to. Cormier's I Am the Cheese really freaked me out. I haven't read his others.

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  25. PatriciaAugust 5, 2011 at 4:03 PM

    I haven't read The Secret Garden but the name sounds SO familiar. Thanks for stopping by my blog too. =)

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  26. thelibrarianreadsAugust 5, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    I've only done two of your books...1984 and A Conneticut Yankee. Nice picks. 1984 is one that stuck with me a long time too. I still connect it to a lot of dystopian YA. Thanks for stopping by my blog. And for the record I don't spend too many days reading ;) But the few I get are worth it in a school library! 

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  27. Nicki J MarkusAugust 5, 2011 at 5:36 PM

    Hi. Thanks for the follow, following back. Love your book picks!

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  28. JennyAugust 5, 2011 at 6:42 PM

    I have The Magicians just sitting on my shelf waiting for me too. I better hurry since the second's coming out.

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  29. InlibrisveritasAugust 5, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    Thanks for the follow! I'll follow you back through google.
    I really enjoyed The Secret Garden as well, :)

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  30. JoleneAugust 5, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Just dropping by for the blog hop.  I haven't heard of that book. Guess I need to go google it.  :)

    My hop: http://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/08/if-i-could.html.

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  31. ilovebooks1972August 5, 2011 at 8:40 PM

    Thanks for stopping by my blog!  It's neat you're a librarian, that is what I want to be!  I have a degree, just can't seem to get my district to let me out of my science position when a library job opens up. 

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  32. LariAugust 6, 2011 at 1:32 AM

    Haha! That's cool. And it is so easy to see how 1984 inspired much of literature in later years.

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  33. LariAugust 6, 2011 at 1:35 AM

    That's awesome! I actually haven't worked in a public library since January though. My husband got a job in Hawaii so now I'm currently on an indefinite sabbatical while I take care of our 3 year old. I've been keeping up with library stuff however, so my transition back into the workforce can be a smooth one.

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  34. MolliAugust 6, 2011 at 10:15 AM

    I had more than one answer, too!  I have never read The Secret Garden, but I have always wanted to! 

    I'm a brand new follower.  Please come stop by my blog to see my answers!  :)

    http://onceuponaprologue.blogspot.com/2011/08/follow-friday-13-book-blogger-hop-11.html

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  35. Barmy_bexAugust 6, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    I love the Secret Garden such a beautiful book. :D

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  36. LariAugust 6, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Thanks for following and for stopping by. I checked out your blog. Have a great weekend!

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  37. LariAugust 6, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    Isn't it? :)

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  38. MolliAugust 6, 2011 at 12:19 PM

    I saw!  Thanks ever so much, girl!  :)

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  39. MiriAugust 7, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    My husband is reading The Magicians right now. He loves it, and told me he thought I would like it, so I'm considering picking it up after he finishes. What do you think of it?

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  40. LariAugust 7, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    I am starting it this week! I'm in the middle of "Ashfall." 

    ReplyDelete

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