For PaperBackSwap’s 8th Birthday, we asked 8 members

to tell us about 8 books that have mattered to them.

Today we feature Marie E. (MarieE)

Growing up I always had plenty of books to read.  I received a new book every time I went to the grocery store with my Mom, and since we did that once a week I acquired quite the collection in my pre-school years.  After I received my first library card in Kindergarten I was a regular at the library.  My love of books has not changed and I am always looking for a new book to read.

My favorite book growing up was Where’s Spot by Eric Hill, I read that book over and over again, I loved lifting the flaps in the book.  Along with the book I also had a Spot stuffed toy.  Spot actually was a very special toy; he went with me often.  When I was 3 or 4 my Dad had a meeting out of town, we arrived at the hotel before the official “check-in” time and my parents were told they had no rooms available so my Mom & I sat in the lobby waiting for a room to be available while my Dad was in his meeting.  I decided that Spot needed to jump around the lobby and I wasn’t listening to my Mom, mainly because it was also nap-time, it was amazing how fast we got a room when Spot was jumping all over the lobby.  We still joke how Spot was able to get us a hotel room quickly.

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell  & Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley are two other favorite books of mine.  In 7^th grade, I was reading at least a book a day if not two and my teacher required us to read some books from her extensive class room library, by the time I was in 7^th grade I had already read most of the books in her class room library, but she had Gone with the Wind which I knew was a classic, and was also a very long book, roughly 1,048 pages, so it kept me busy for a while.  Another girl in my class and I read the book at the same time and discussed it every day.  Was it appropriate for a 7^th grader, maybe not, but I enjoyed reading it and then its kind-of sequel Scarlett.  I have since read both books several times and still enjoy them today.  I saw my 7^th grade teacher a couple of years ago at Target and she still remembers that we are the only two students she ever had that ever read the book cover to cover and then read Scarlett on top of it.

I initially was not all that interested in reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, when it first was released.  My younger brother enjoyed the series and made me take him to Wal-mart one day so he could buy the newest book (I am not sure which one it was), on our way he was telling me how great the series was and decided to give the series a try.  He had all the books at that point and I started with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and loved it, I was skeptical of the hype, but the series grabbed me and by the time the last book came out I was waiting in line with him.  Harry Potter started my keeper shelf.

Another series I have enjoyed is The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, the book is defiantly young adult but I enjoyed reading about Mia over and over throughout the many book series. The Disney movie may have made the series popular, but the books have staying power for me.  I have the entire series on my keeper shelf.

When I first started with PaperBackSwap I was introduced to many new books, One for the Money (Stephanie Plum, Bk 1) by Janet Evanovich  (ISBN 9780684196398) is one of those books.  I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the book, but the book only cost a credit so I tried it and I was hooked.  Some of the books in the series are better than others, but the characters are so funny and I am always ready for the next book to be released to read about their newest adventures.

Romance books have always been the core of my reading material.  I even subscribe to Harlequin’s HQN/MIRA line of books so I always have a fresh shipment of books that come each month in the mail, kind of like the Dr. Seuss books for kids.  Virgin River (Virgin River, Bk 1) by Robyn Carr was not a book I immediately was drawn to but after seeing it on so many of my friends wish lists I added it to mine and I am so glad I did.  Robyn Carr is flat out one of my favorite authors, she writes so vividly that you almost feel like you are there with the characters in the book.  The series started out with 3 books and now has something like 20 books in the series and they are each as good as the last.  I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

I don’t read much non-fiction, but the title of this book grabbed me and frankly the books are hilarious.  Bitter is the New Black : Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or, Why You Should Never Carry A Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office by Jen Lancaster (ISBN 0451217608), Jen has written several books to date and I always love the titles.  If you are looking for a good laugh one of her books is a great place to start.

I love to read, I feel like I am forgetting something if I don’t have a book or my Nook in my purse when I leave home.  I am so glad I found PaperBackSwap 5 ½ years ago, I have enjoyed every moment of being a PaperBackSwap member, even though I absolutely love my Nook and the free e-books I can check out from my local library, I still come back to PBS several times each day.  I post all of my books here, with the exception of any that are un-postable and even those I do my best to “give” away to other members for free.

Happy 8^th Anniversary PaperBackSwap!!!!!!!

Tags: Book Recommendations, Book Suggestions, Members, Milestones

This entry was posted on Friday, September 7th, 2012 at 11:34 pm and is filed under Holidays and Special Dates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.