A View of My Garden in a Mirror 2010

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

#6 of 10 Things I Love in No Particular Order

Reading!

I love to read a good book. Fiction and non-fiction. I don't have time to read as much as I would like to but when I do here are some of the books I enjoyed.

 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson,
followed by the other two books in the series.
A thriller and a half, I couldn't put them down. 

A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
An amazing story of several characters in India.
The characters could all be considered "misfits" and 
they are together out of poverty and end up creating
their own little family. It will make you 
appreciate your own life.



The Intimate Garden by Brian D. Coleman
This is probably more of a coffee table type book, 
but the pictures and ideas are wonderful.
Check out one of the houses featured in the book, 
the garden is jaw dropping beautiful.



 The Ultimate Plant Book, by Kate Bryant and Tony Rodd
This book is about 4 inches thick and has detailed information about every plant or tree you can imagine. It also has great pictures! 
I use mine so much it is starting to wear out. 
One of the best impulse buys I have ever made at Costco.


Grasses: Versatile Partners for Uncommon Garden Design
By Nancy J. Ondra (author) and Saxton Holt (photographer)
I found this book in the gift shop at the Oregon Garden.
Many plant books are limited on the information for grasses
and this fills in the blanks of my gardening book collection
Great pictures and great detail of common and exotic types of grasses.


For The Love Of A Dog by Patricia McConnell
This is non-fiction by a wonderful animal behavioralist.
Keith and I were lucky to be able to attend one of her seminars 
when she was in our area. We have read many of her books she 
opens up a whole new perspective on dog behavior.


  The Art Of Racing In The Rain by Garth Stein
This book is written from the perspective of the dog. 
You will laugh, cry and never forget it.



Stress Less, by Thea Singer
I am only 3/4 of the way through this book but I think it is worth mentioning. I read a review in the newspaper about it and asked Santa to give it to me for Christmas and he did! It is much more about science and research and the damage that chronic stress does to our bodies and to the very core of our DNA rather than how to go about reducing stress. It will scare you into exercising, eating right and de-stressing! Now I'm stressed! Eeek! The good news is it may not be too late to reverse some of the damage of stress. A very interesting read.



16 comments:

  1. Thoroughly with you in terms of the rich rewards we get from reading. Thanks for sharing some of your favourites here, Annie - my son and daughter have just finished reading the Steig Larsson Trio and could not put them down! I mainly read non-fiction, but just might borrow their copies ;)

    I'm going to get hold of both Dog books you have recommended. I recently read The Dog Whisperer by Paul Owens (also follow the Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer series on TV).

    I also love gardening books!

    I'm currently reading The Fear by Peter Godwin (a bit of a misnomer in that the sub title is The Last Days of Robert Mugabe!) - rivetting and frightening!

    I've just finished Bill Bryson's At Home - what an incredibly informative work covering the history and developments of what we, today, call home. (I've read all of his books BTW - just love his writing!)

    HERE'S TO FITTING IN A LOT MORE TIME FOR READING IN 2011 :)

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  2. I also love to read and you have given me some very good ideas on books to look for!

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  3. Are you going to point us at the next ten blogs? Nan Ondra and Saxon Holt have a blog.
    http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=15262
    Saxon Holt also has his own photography blog. And Nan Ondra has Hayefield.
    That would give you 3 of your 10 already, just from that one book!

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  4. A Fine Balance is one of my all time favorite books - it's not very well known so I was surprised to see it on your list! Thanks for the ideas for gardening books too!

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  5. Some good suggestions! Thanks!

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  6. Nothing like a little news about how stress affects you to cause stress. It sounds like an interesting read, Annie as all of your selections. I think I have the predecessor to your "Ultimate Plant Book" and it is a winner for sure. Every gardener needs at least one really good reference book. Cheers.

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  7. Reading is one of my absolute favorite things to do! I keep seeing the first book you listed, and am going to have to check it out. Plant books are great, I have several on succulents and I never get tired of flipping through their pages!

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  8. Dear Annie, I am sorry I haven't visited lately, but I am so glad to see you continuing to meet the '10 favorite things' challenge! I received the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo for Christmas, but haven't started it yet. I feel I need to begin when I have some time space for a can't-put-it-down book. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2011! Pam x

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  9. Desiree,
    Thanks for your book ideas! I will have to check them out!
    Annie

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  10. Cat,
    That is neat that you feel the same way I do about "A Fine Balance". It is such a wonderful book. Everyone should read it. In fact I need to read it again!
    Annie

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  11. Mandy,
    Which book do you have on succulents? I plan on adding more this summer to my rock garden area and would love some more ideas.
    Thanks,
    Annie

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  12. Hi Pam,
    When you do start reading the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series we won't see you for awhile. It's too hard to set them down! We recently watched the first two movies and they were pretty good. The second was better than the first. The 3rd is not out on DVD yet so we haven't seen it.
    Annie

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  13. I've got Stieg Larsson to read and can't wait to hide for the afternoon with it. I really fancy reading 'The art of Racing in the Rain' too so thank you for posting about that.
    I nipped over to say thank you for visiting my mad blog and am really glad I did. the photgraph above of your garden is BEAUTIFUL. Oh to have a gorgeous garden like that.
    It's a pleasure to be here. I think I'll stroll around for a while if you don't mind. By the way I have added myself as your latest wallflower/follower...anyone who can make their garden this wonderful has to be worth following.
    Lovely to 'meet you'
    Carol

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  14. I read that book about grasses. Couldn't put it down. Can't remember how it ended though...

    :) Happy New Year!!!
    xoxo

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  15. Hey Viv!
    Still a smarty pants I see! LOL
    Thanks for the laugh!
    Happy New Year to you!
    xoxo,
    Annie

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  16. Annie - I've got Succulent Container Gardens by Debra Lee Baldwin, Growing Cacti and Other Succulents in the Garden by Shirley-Anne Bell and Hardy Succulents by Gwen Moore Kelaidis. They've all got great pictures, the first and last probably being the best!

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