Do You Book Group?

Book clubs and groups are a great way to learn about new books and share your love of reading with others. I have a local book group I attend occasionally, and I am also a part of several groups on Goodreads. I'll admit that I'm not the most regular attendant at these groups, but I still enjoy being a part of them, and often I read the books even if I can't make it to the meetings.

Book groups offer several great advantages. If you find a group you fit well with, you have a network of other enthusiastic readers who understand your love of books and can help you find new books to read. Hopefully, you'll enjoy most of these books, but it will also challenge you to step out of your book-box and try some things you may not have otherwise. You'll likely be surprised from time to time.

Interestingly enough, a book group can open up new opportunities for you. I've come across several authors who are willing to do free skype chats with book groups (something they won't do for you personally, but will do for a whole group). You can even ask for review copies of books and may get them sometimes for free (assuming you are actually willing to write the reviews). I recently sent out free advance ebooks of a novel I'm currently writing (In An Instant) to a book group who offered to read it and give me their feedback. I greatly appreciate this as an author.

You'll also have a group to discuss the book with who can help you see it from new and interesting perspectives. This is fun and will help you understand things you may have missed initially. You'll bring those expanded perspectives to every book and interaction you face in the future.

And, book groups are a great way to get out and do something a little different from time to time. If reading is something you enjoy, or would like to get into a little more, I highly recommend finding a book group that shares your tastes and interests.

Are you a member of a book group? 

What are you're thoughts on book groups?

My Favorite Non-Fiction Books

This is my list of favorite non-fiction books. They make the list if I found them to be BOTH useful or educational AND entertaining. I'll be honest, I don't read a whole lot of non-fiction books, so the list is a little short, but here it is.

POP! by Sam Horn- This book is ll about how to come up with POP! out, get-your-attention titles, taglines, and marketing slogans. It's incredibly useful and helpful in addition to being a great read with lots of humorous and intriguing examples.

Me Inc. by Scott W. Ventrella- All about running your own life based on principles of successful businesses. It's interesting and insightful, and draws amazing parallels showing that truths remains constant through all venues it is applied to.

How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy by Orson Scott Card - Since I primarily write speculative fiction, this was a great resource, though it is useful for tips on good story telling and writing in general. It is written in an interesting and engaging manner that makes it an enjoyable read.

Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicolas Sparks and Micah Sparks - This is the autobiography of Nicolas Sparks (one of my favorite authors). I love reading the story of how other authors "came to be", if you will.

The Survivors Club by Ben Sherwood - This book looks at true life stories of people who have survived unthinkable circumstances in an effort to quantify what makes some people better at surviving than others, and how you can be a better survivor.

The E-Myth Revised by Michael E. Gerber - This is a great book about the problems most entrepreneurs and new businesses suffer from, and what to do about them. Being an entrepreneur, reading this book was like talking to someone who knew all my biggest business secrets.

The Other Side of Heaven by John H. Groberg - This is the exciting, humorous, and poignant tale of a Mormon missionary sent to Tonga and the adversity he faces, things he learns, and ways his life is changed as he helps others. Disney made a pretty good movie of this about ten years ago, but, of course, the book is better.

The Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss - This is a great book for anyone thinking about becoming an entrepreneur, but terrible for anyone trying to fight the independence urge.

My Little Reader

How do you instill a love of books and reading in children?

I thinks it starts from when they are the tiniest of little babies. I started reading to my daughter, Allie, when she was just a few weeks old and haven't stopped. She is a year-and-a-half now and she loves books. She's gone through different phases along the way. Sometimes she would really let me read to her, and other times she wanted to turn the pages so fast that I could hardly get past two or three words per page, but I always tried to follow her pace and let her be involved. I think that really helped. I never want reading to be a frustrating experience for her.

Here's Allie reading in her rocking chair. The bookcase is close enough that she can grab books and keep reading (or at least turning pages) for a long time. They all end up on the floor before it's over, but Allie has a great time.

Amazingly, Allie spends more time looking at books than she spends playing with any other toys. She even likes to carry a book around with her when she's playing outside.

I read to Allie, and I take her to story time at the library nearly every week. After story time, she chooses several new books to check out and take home.

I really hope she continues to love books as she get older and starts actually reading on her own.

What have you found helps to instill and encourage a love of reading as children get older?

My Favorite Baby/Children's Books

I've mentioned before that I have a one-year-old daughter named Allie. She is a HUGE fan of books, which is awesome! She'll sometimes sit in her rocking chair pulling books off the nearby shelf to look at for half-an-hour at a time. I love reading with her, even though it's a departure from my usual literary standards.

Here is a list of my favorite books to read with Allie (in no particular order). I'd love to know what books you like to read with your little ones, as I'm always on the lookout for new books for my little bookworm.

No Matter What by Debi Gliori - This is a sweet book about the enduring nature of love a parent has for their child.

 
 I Love You All Year Long by Steve Metzger - Love endures through every season and the fun and special activities of those times.

That's Not My Monster by Fiona Watt - A touch-and-feel book where each monster isn't quite right "eyebrows too hairy" or "paws too bumpy" until finally, the little mouse finds HIS monster and "It's ears are so fluffy."

Where's My Teddy by Jez Alborough - This is an adorable book I actually memorized as a teenager because it was just so fun. Eddy's looking for his teddy in the woods, only to discover a real bear who is also frightened and looking for his own teddy.

I'm Not Sleepy by Jonathan Allen - This little owl can barely stay awake, every parent that has seen their child fight sleep will understand and relate.

Thank You Bear by Greg Foley - A perfect book for anyone who has ever had something truly great, even if those around them didn't see as much value in it.

Henry Babysits by Robert Quackenbush - A cute book about a favor to babysit that keeps snowballing out of control.

With You All the Way by Max Lucado - A meaningful allegory about how God is "with us all the way" if we ask him to travel with us.

But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton - I never expected to have a favorite board book author, but I do, and it is Sandra Boynton. All of her books are really cute and cleaver. This one is really probably my favorite.

It's a Little Book by Lane Smith - A cute little story about all the potential uses of a book if you didn't know what a book was for.

Good Work, Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish and Lynn Sweat - Amelia Bedilia is a maid who takes everything completely literally, making for hilarious events.

My Favorite Books (Part 2)

See the first half of my list here.

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - I won't say I completely agree with Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism that she presents in this book (especially where it comes to her atheistic view and aversion to doing anything nice solely for the sake of being nice). However, she presents excellent points about truth, rationality, responsibility for actions, and the value of hard work. The philosophy is conveyed through the vehicle of dynamic and compelling characters and events that makes this an enjoyable book that I would call a must-read.

The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld - This is a fun, futuristic sci-fi series about a dystopian society of tyrannical control. It's a page-turner for sure.

Watchers by Dean Koontz - An exciting and emotional tale that examines the dichotomy of good vs. evil.

The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins - A futuristic dystopian society punishes former rebels by making their children battle it out to the death in "The Hunger Games" each year. Excitement, adventure, and a sweet little romance weave through this gripping trilogy.

The Giver by Lois Lowery - I guess I like futuristic dystopian stories about oppressive governments, because here's another one. This is a great, thought-provoking tale of safety verses freedom, choice, and progression.

If You Could See Me Now by Cecilia Ahern - This is a fun story. It turns out that imaginary friends are real, wonderful confidants, and even open to a little romance. Sounds strange, but it's very fun and heart-warming.

A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks - The heart-wrenching tale of young love, loss, and finding meaning in life.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer -Alien body-snatchers have taken over the world, but they didn't count on human tenacity and the way love changes people to the very core.

The Children of the Promise Series by Dean Hughes - This is a historical fiction series that takes place during the onset of WWII on through it's conclusion. It follows a family of Mormons as they are pulled into every aspect of involvement from life back home to life as a P.O.W. and more.

The Fablehaven Series by Brandon Mull - This is a fun and fabulous fairytale series (comparable to Harry Potter) where fables are real and the mythical creatures live on preserves where only certain people are privy to the truth. It is fun and gripping, and full of deep truths about the nature of good and evil.


What are your favorite books? 
I'm always on the lookout for something new to read and love!

My Favorite Books (Part 1)

In addition to writing, I love reading. I thought I would take a little while to catalog some of my favorite books, and share them with you. I'm going to split this into 2 posts and I'm sharing them in no particular order, just as they occur to me. This is fiction books. I'll make another post for non-fiction later.

Please share your favorite books with me in the comments and maybe they'll become new favorites of mine.

The Declaration by Gemma Malley -This is the first of 3 books, and I include them all here. This is the tale of a future society where the secret to eternal life has been discovered. The catch: to op-in to life-ever-more you have to sign The Declaration vowing never to have children, thus keeping the planet's population stable. Anna, is a surplus (an illegal child). Let the fight against injustice begin.
 

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown - I love lots of books by Dan Brown, but this is my favorite. Dan Brown is a master of creating mystery and tension that keeps you engaged and turning the pages.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - Along with this, I'll include all of the Ender books and the entire Shadow series, which is a companion series. This is a great sci-fi series filled with an awesome world, fantastic and dynamic characters, and pearls of astonishingly poignant truths about life and human nature.

Empire by Orson Scott Card - This is a thriller about a modern day civil war in the U.S. It's full of political maneuvering, deception, and manipulation. Especially great for anyone who cringes at the thought of the word "progressive" when it comes to politics.

The Choice by Nicolas Sparks - I love almost all of Nicolas Sparks' book, but this one was especially compelling. It features not only a sweet love story, but a heart-wrenching choice everyone who's truly loves dreads ever having to face.

Deception Point by Dan Brown - This is my second favorite book by Dan Brown, also filled with great gotta-know-what-happens suspense. This is a mystery of Political maneuvering and government cover up with a side of astonishing scientific discovery. 

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling- It's a modern classic. I think what I love most about these books is how detailed and integrated they are. A minor, though interesting, detail in one book will later turn out to be a key clue to an important mystery one or two books later. As an author, I take my proverbial hat off to J.K. Rowling. 

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - I know, I know. These books are cheesy and melodramatic, but they are also fun and create such vivid characters. I enjoy the books just as much on a serious level as I do poking fun at them. They had to make the list since I've read them all at least half-a-dozen times (gasp).

The Odd Thomas Series by Dean Koontz - A fascinating tale of a guy, Odd Thomas, who can see dead people. Though his ability pulls him into some truly terrifying situations confronting sadistic, monstrous people, Odd Thomas manages to remain truly good. Good in spite of the evil, not because he's sheltered from it, but because he chooses to be good knowing full well what the options are.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin - I love the subtle and clever wit as much as the love story. Jane Austin is one of my favorite authors, though I love listening to the audio books best.

Lightning by Dean Koontz - This is an exciting thriller about love, tragedy, strength through adversity, history, and the future, with a fabulous and surprising sci-fi twist.

Lost December by Richard Paul Evens - A modern-day Prodigal Son story told in a relatable, surprising, and gripping manner that makes this book an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience.

Part 2 of My Favorite Books list