I had a rough day health-wise, and my mind is a creative black hole of nothing at the moment. So, I figured I’d turn this post over to you guys. The numbers tell me that there’s a decent amount of you out there, and I know that a few you of comment regularly, so this should work if you cooperate.
I think I’ve asked reader to de-lurk once or twice in the past, but I thought I’d go ahead and do it again. If you’re reading this, please leave a comment. This isn’t for my vanity (as I said, I see the numbers), but because I’d like to get to know you, or at least know of you; you’re a person, not a number. After all, you get to know me.
I won’t make it awkward. If you choose to be so kind as to grant my request, you can answer one of the following:
1. What are three books that you absolutely love and could read over and over? (Series count as one.) This does not have to be good literature. In fact, I’d prefer it not to be. I’m not well-versed in “fun” literature, so help educate me! If you feel like providing a short synopsis of each story or series, feel free. Or just feel free to make suggestions you think I would like.
2. Is there any topic you’d like me to post about or anything about me personally that you’ve been wondering? I’m willing to write posts dictated by the people reading them. As far as I’m concerned, only my sister enjoys what I currently write, and even then, half of her enjoyment comes from Alice Thursday; the rest comes from familial loyalty. Most anything is fair game, and the more creative, the better.
3. What is your favorite appropriate joke?
Feel free to answer any of the above, all of the above, or none of the above if you’d rather write something else–introducing yourself, telling me how long you’ve been reading, how you came upon my little space of insignificance, which Beatle you like the most, what super power you’d like to have–whatever. Just write something. Remember–bad day health-wise; it would cheer me up.
Now, go. 
Lindsay
1. a. The Diane Mott Davidson culinary mysteries.
b. Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody Egyptian mysteries
c. Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael medieval mysteries
Lots more where these came from! What do you like or dislike?
Hi Lindsay
I don’t have any good answers to any of those questions, but I am indeed a lurker.
I love your first question. Here goes:
a. The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace.
b. Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom, lesser-known books by Louisa May Alcott (the author of Little Women)
c. The Lord Peter series by Dorothy Sayers
ooh ooh I have to do one more
d. Georgette Heyer novels
also
e. The Little House books
and
f. The Narnia Chronicles
So I like a lot of books. So what?
(which reminds me of…”So I got a lot of eggs. And I keep them in the couch…”)
I’m not sure what it says that 66% of my favorite books are children’s literature…
Books I can read over and over (which is saying a lot because I HAAAAATE reading/watching stuff over, I have to almost completely FORGET what HAPPENED):
The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. I think I’ve read this book ninety-four frillion times and I love it EVERY SINGLE TIME. I am going to get it off my shelf RIGHT NOW.
The Facts and Fictions of Minna Pratt by Patricia Machlachlan. (I think you would really like this one.)
The Chosen by Chaim Potok.
The only grown up book I think I’ve read more than once or twice is Written On The Body by Jeanette Winterson. It’s a love story, but you don’t know the gender of the narrator and… it’s just really powerful. At least, it was to College Me.
Well you are right about the familial ties…I probably would have never found your blog unless we were related. Heck, I may have never even known what a blog was! So a big THANK YOU for entertaining me
I owe my horribly, lame blog to you (not that you made it horribly lame, but you inspired me to start one-now if I could just find the time/creativity to work on it more).
1a. Harry Potter…I’ve read the entire series several times and have started it again. In fact, I have been reading the first book to Alice. It takes a LOT longer to read a book when reading to an infant.
Now if I can just name my yet-to-be-picked-out kitten Twilight (appropriate b/c I like the book, it would fit with Alice, and she was born on the full moon right after Halloween!)
1b. White Star…coincidentally this appears to be a favorite among all of us Long children. I have read it a zillion times and will continue to do so. Now if they would just make a movie out of this…hmm, maybe I’ll make a movie of it!
1c. Twilight series…you got me hooked (just like Gilmore Girls)! I just realized the other day that I unintentionally named my daughter after my favorite vampire in the book
2. Hmm…not sure if I can think of anything to suggest writing about. I should probably ask my readers the same thing on my blog. I really need to get my own ideas instead of stealing yours (but I give credit where credit is due). What does NaBloPoMo stand for?
3. My favorite appropriate joke…I have a hard time remembering jokes. Well really the punch line. I will have to try harder because I will have to start telling Alice jokes soon
Hope you are feeling better! I love you and can’t wait to see you soon!!!
Oh, and I have a SUPER nice, BIG surprise for you when you come home
And for once, I am not going to tell you before-hand! Yay, me! I won’t cave…I won’t cave…so don’t try to talk it out of me! I can keep it a surprise (I really hope!) for another month and a half!
Oooh, I cannot possibly choose just three books. Um, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madeleine L’Engle, and maybe the Harry Potters as the third. (It is too close for third place, I have lots of others.)
Hmm, writing topics. Let’s see here. Um, thinking. I can’t even think about interesting things for me to write about. Oh, here’s one. I once asked my readers what they would get if they got a plastic/cosmetic procedure and the answers were really, really interesting to me.
I’ve told you my favorite joke a million times. Why do penguins sit on marshmallows?
Why do they sit on marshmallows?
Just found you today via. post at “Intentional Disciples” about your “Catholic Cliques” post which I liked very much. From what I’ve seen, I really like your writing style.
Comment on another post: RE: being uncomfortable in Catholic groups as a Convert. I was uncomfortable in Catholic groups in my 20’s and I was a cradle Catholic. I was just pretty much uncomfortable most of my 20’s.
Question 1:
A) Lord of the Rings
B) Tony Hillerman Novels (Mysteries set in 4 corners region with Navajo main characters – Hillerman was Catholic BTW father of 6? but not ‘Catholic’ Novels)
C) Ivan Doig’s trilogy “Dancing at the Rascal Fair” “This House of Sky” and “Ride with me Mariah Montana”
D) “The Big Sky” A. B. Guthrie
Question 2:
You’re doing it. Making sense of Culture, life and Catholicism as best you can with the eyes of someone who is still fresh and not as tired as I am.
Question 3: The one about the priest who called in sick for Sunday Mass because it was a perfect morning for golf. God helps him play the round of his life finishing with a hole in one. St. Peter asks God why he did that? God says – “Who’s he going to tell?”
Top books to recommend:
A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving?)
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, my all time favorite
These are books I revisit every few years, just love them, they are like old friends.
In the spirit of the season, you may want to read Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
Happy reading!