What’s on Lisa’s Nightstand?

Okay, so I know that this might seem like an odd choice, but I can admit I love the Twilight series. I’m a fan. This book has been on my nightstand for a while. I’ll pick it up and read a few pages, here and there, enjoying the added facts to characters we may have only glimpsed in the books. I actually feel comforted by the fact that Stephenie Meyer seems to really know the entire story behind all the characters she’s created, even if we, the reader, was only given the barest of descriptions in the books. I like the world I visit when reading a book to be three dimensional, and I often felt some of the characters were little more than wallpaper in the series. Granted, I get the series really is about Bella and Edward, but I still like knowing that for SM at least, all the characters are more fully developed in her own mind.

Ken Follett is known worldwide as the master of split-second suspense, but his most beloved and bestselling book tells the magnificent tale of a twelfth-century monk driven to do the seemingly impossible: build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known.

Everything readers expect from Follett is here: intrigue, fast-paced action, and passionate romance. But what makes The Pillars of the Earthextraordinary is the time—the twelfth century; the place—feudal England; and the subject—the building of a glorious cathedral. Follett has re-created the crude, flamboyant England of the Middle Ages in every detail. The vast forests, the walled towns, the castles, and the monasteries become a familiar landscape. Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters—into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.

At once a sensuous and endearing love story and an epic that shines with the fierce spirit of a passionate age, The Pillars of the Earth is without a doubt Ken Follett’s masterpiece.

This book was given to me by my father, who knows my love for historical fiction. We often read many of the same books, and many of them are from this time period: middle ages England. I’ll admit that this book is taking me forever to read. I think that’s mostly due to it’s overwhelming length and depth. This isn’t a book of fluff or easy reading. The storyline is intricately woven between many main characters and the scenery is breathtaking. I enjoy the moments that I do pick the book up and read a few chapters or pages, but it’s not one of my quick reads and never will be, but that’s just fine with me.

Virginia Woolf’s stream-of-consciousness masterpiece follows Clarissa Dalloway through the course of a day as she prepares to host a party in the evening.  The beautiful June day brings back memories from her happy schoolgirl years. She wonders about her choice of husband—was she wrong to have married reliable Richard Dalloway, refusing the exciting Peter Walsh, and what was the place of her schoolgirl love? The story travels back and forth in time, densely weaving the texture of an intelligent, upper class woman’s life lived within the strictures of post-WW I England.

I may be crucifed for this, but I’m having a hard time getting through this book. I understand that it’s supposed to read like we’re inside Clarissa’s head as she makes observations about her day, however, I find the ping-ponging of her thoughts and page long sentences to be difficult to read without wanting to rub my eyes from fatigue. *Gasp* I know. I wonder if there’s something wrong with me that I’m not finding this to be the masterpiece it’s touted to be. As of right now I just don’t get the supposed genius that is Virginia Woolf.

Harper Blaine was slogging along as a small-time P.I. when a two-bit perp’s savage assault left her dead. For two minutes, to be precise.

When Harper comes to in the hospital, she begins to feel a bit …strange. She sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.

But Harper’s not crazy. Her “death” has made her a Greywalker-able to move between our world and the mysterious, cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift (or curse) is about to drag her into that world of vampires and ghosts, magic and witches, necromancers and sinister artifacts. Whether she likes it or not.

I’ve had this book sitting on my bookshelf for a couple of years now, and I finally decided to give it a shot. I have the second one in the series as well so if this one just knocks my socks off I’m ready to go on with the story. I’m excited to dig in to a series that’s completely new to me. Other than that, I know nothing about it except the premise sounded interesting. :)

Finally, the book that never leaves my nighstand:

This devotional for all writers emphasizes the importance of deep thinking in the context of writing and cultivating a meaningful writing life. Action-oriented entries prompt writers to integrate practice into their daily life and dedicate meaningful thought to their writing pursuits. From getting in a creative frame of mind to maintaining good writing habits to breaking through writer’s block, this helpful guide is every writer’s key to developing the discipline, focus and dedication needed to become successful.

This book was actually given to me by one of my former employers. She knew how passionate I am about writing, and I have to admit that even if I use the two small Coach clutch purses that she’s also given me in the past quite often – this is the gift that I really love the most. Each day there’s something inspiring waiting between the pages of this book, especially on days when I’m feeling like a complete and total writing failure.

So there you have it. I never said my nighstand wasn’t cluttered, but I am really reading each of the books I’ve listed. And perhaps now it’s a little more clear as to how I can keep the stories straight in my head. Each of these books carries vastly different stories within them, but they all have one thing in common: the ability to take me away to another world for a while. And really, isn’t that one of the best things about reading?

Until next time,

~Lisa