As I said a few posts back, I recently overloaded my book reading plate. Actually, if life hadn’t thrown me a few curve balls, they probably wouldn’t have seemed so overwhelming – but, as it was, having a cat with one leg in a cast and more online work to do than one person should even TRY to do found me staring at my pile of books like, “Are you even serious?!”
When the holidays decided to join in the mix, complete with baking, decorating, and shopping – I stopped staring at the pile of books, I put them out of view. The ones that were sitting, politely, waiting to be reviewed as well as the ones that were waiting to be read – they were each ushered to a shelf on a wall I seldom see. I promised them that I’d come back for them, after I caught my breath.
I was glad to see, this morning when I did in fact return for them, that they were right where I’d left them. And they were in good spirits, too. That’s the great thing about dealing with books – they’re so intelligent and insightful.
I just wrote a review about one such book on my Mental Fitness blog. The book is titled The Language of Emotional Intelligence and you can read the review by clicking the link. It was an incredible little book.
Below are other books I’ve enjoyed reading. They’d make great books for yourself AND/OR for book lovers on your Christmas list.
Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals
Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet
I put the book into a roll top desk because I didn’t like what it had on its mind – Goodbye. I was not ready for goodbye! Amazingly, neither was Prissy! She celebrated her 20th birthday recently and seems to be doing as well as expected for a tiny, antique cat. She purrs just about constantly and remains the happiest, best natured little thing on earth.
When it was clear that we’d weathered that storm, I brought the book out and read it. As one of the biggest animal lovers the world has ever known, I always want to read books by other animal lovers. Kindred spirits and all that.
Saying Goodbye to Your Angel Animals: Finding Comfort after Losing Your Pet
Riding into Your Mythic Life
Riding into Your Mythic Life: Transformational Adventures with the Horse
I know horse lovers everywhere would cherish every word of this book.
The Way of the Horse: Journal
Way of the Horse: Equine Archetypes for Self-Discovery – A Book of Exploration and 40 Cards
The Hero With a Thousand Faces
The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Bollingen Series)
I always encourage everyone to occasionally read “up” or “above” the reading level they currently read the most often. For me, personally, I generally hover around Dean Koontz and Agatha Christie – they’re my happy place when it comes to reading fiction. I try to stretch my mind as often as possible, though, by reading books that are more challenging – whether it’s Shakespeare (Love Shakespeare!), other classic literature, or great non-fiction books from years ago, like The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Bollingen Series)
I understand that some things, some situations, and (Heaven knows) some people beg to be complained about. However, for the most part, I absolutely detest complaining or whining of any type. When my girls were small, they got the idea fast enough. The same “Mommy” that wouldn’t blink if they argued in the back seat, smiled through their Kool-Aid spills and usually cleaned their messy rooms up for them would practically have a melt down if one of them whined or complained.
on Amazon (it’s also available on Kindle!)
is a big, beautiful book with Oprah’s gorgeous smile warming the cover.
or 
… Emphasis on yet.
– Click 
– How’s that for a title?? This is another wonderful book that’s also easy and fast to read. It’s actually compiled of a series of amazing essays, so they can be read in a one essay a day fashion. I would actually advise you to read them that way, because each essay stands on its own as a powerhouse of motivation and inspiration. The book is so amazing that you’ll want to devour them all at once. I have to confess, that’s the way I did it. But I’m going back now and reading them one essay at a time – really allowing each one to “set in” before moving to the next. This is a profound and powerful book that will change you forever. The truly beautiful thing? If enough of us are changed, we can change the world!
– A wonderfully fun, yet highly motivational little book. It, too, will change your life for the better – by changing the way you “look at” things. It’s a make-over for your attitude, which is pretty essential because your attitude touches every single inch of your life.
– My family’s health is even more important to me than my own, so I recommended this great all-in-one book to them. The author, Shawn Phillips, has as much knowledge about nutrition and fitness as any author I’ve ever read. He lays it all out for the readers in an easy-to-read and easy-to-live style that puts better health within arm’s reach.
. She’s the talented, engaging author who also wrote “The Friday Night Knitting Club.” I love her style! Comfort Food is about a lovable host for a television show on the Cooking Channel. The main character, Gus, is a fifty year old mother who has had this show for 12 years. The ratings are dipping, so the producers add a diva-like co-host, Carmen. Carmen loves nothing more than Carmen, so you can imagine how well that goes over.