Monday, June 2

Books You Can't Live Without


I'm guessing that most of the bloggers and visitors to the Teen Fiction Cafe love books, and I'm no exception. I love to escape, whether to a real place or one you can only imagine--or to be able to see the world through an interesting character's eyes.

But have you ever sat down and thought about the books you simply cannot live without? Books that guide you in your everyday life, help to define those things that are fuzzy for you, or serve as must-have references?

Glancing through my bookshelf, there are several nonfiction books I like to have on hand. The Bible, the dictionary, the thesaurus, my "What to Expect When You're Expecting" was a must-have when I was pregnant, health books, writing books, parenting books, "The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Inspirational Quotes," and "Kama Sutra." Just kidding on that last one, but seriously, these books are such that if they went missing, I'd have to replace them.


Do you own any book(s) that you cannot live without?

12 comments:

Keri Mikulski said...

I agree with What to Expect.. Definitely couldn't live without that one. My writers guides. Umm.. My fave softball book of drills for practice and some teaching books. :) Great post!

Amanda Ashby said...

The one book that I can't be without is my faithful Edmonds Cookbook. Practically everyone in New Zealand owns one and it is full of hearty old-fashioned recipes that even someone like me can't burn!!!!!

Samantha said...

I'm not a non-fiction fan. The only books I've ever replaced are The Giver by Lois Lowery (I think) and The Phantom Tollbooth by something Juster. I think those are two children's books that can be appreciated for different reasons at different ages.

As for the little non-fiction I read... uhm... I'd hate to replace my dictionary since I highlight words I look up.

Melissa Walker said...

Ooh, this is a good question. I still love my mom's 1970s copy of THE JOY OF COOKING. Does that count?

Alyson Noel said...

I couldn't live without STORY by Robert McKee, POWER OF NOW by Eckhart Tolle, and anything by JD Salinger.

Cara King said...

I'd be lonely without my Oxford English Dictionary. :-)

Cara

Erica Orloff said...

I have a couple of religious/spiritual books that when I am beyond feeling low, somehow remind me that I will get through whatever it is. Man's Search for Meaning, a philosophy book by Viktor Frankl is one. My copy is so battered . . . when I was hospitalized for weeks one time with Crohn's disease, I literally read it over and over and over again.

E

Wendy Toliver said...

Keri -- I still have What to Expect though my baby is 20 mo. :)

Amanda and Melissa-- totally forgot about cookbooks. My favorites are Better Homes & Gardens New Cookbook, and the Jr. League of Ogden cookbook (which I think about 15 recipes are from my family's favorites)

Alyson, Cara, and Erica -- thanks for sharing!

Sara Hantz said...

My Collins Thesaurus and also our Readers Digest World Atlas!!!

Hillary said...

Dress Your Best by Stacy London & Clinton Kelly (the hosts of What Not To Wear). I love it! I can't live without it. It's amazing!

Wendy Toliver said...

Sara and Hillary, I expect you two to be attractively dressed world travelers! :)

Anonymous said...

There are countless books I can't live without.