A Beautiful Mind

I must admit to not knowing much about the poet and writer Maya Angelou even though we shared the same birthday.  I wasn't even a big fan of her works which is not something I'm proud of of course.  But she seemed to be a truly amazing and influential person.  I saw this quote on Twitter earlier and I love it.  It's the God's honest truth and makes perfect sense.  If only others would follow this philosophy.

She was an inspiring woman who I know will be missed.

Miss Reads Alot

Based on the few newspaper articles I've gotten a chance to read this week, it seems I missed a very important day and have officially missed my calling.  It turns out that this week was World Book Night.  How did I not know this?  Thousands of people got together and handed out their favorite books to complete strangers.  How cool is that?!  I'm sure it's a bit expensive in that I think I'd want to use that money to buy myself more books but if it gets more people reading I suppose it's an appropriate way to spend your paycheck.

In the media coverage of World Book Night, there were also a few articles on the many Literature prize competitions going on around the world. One specifically, the Best in Female Writing award, appoints one head judge each year.  It is this person's job to read all the books that are nominated and choose their favorites.  This year over 200 books are nominated.  You can see where this could be a full time job. I'd like to say, if anyone in power is listening, I will take on that difficult task...anytime, anywhere, you just say the word!  How bad a gig could it be?  You get 200 free books and you get the time to read them all.  Then you get to tell everyone which ones were your favorites and they have to listen.  It beats the heck out of what I did with my day!

So in the spirit of all things bookish, if you care (and if anyone who has the power to appoint judges for book awards is looking for new talent...), here is my Top 10 list (in no particular order).

1. "Bookends" Jane Green
2. "A Cook's Tour" Anthony Bourdain
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling
4. "Lunch in Paris" Elizabeth Bard
5. "The Littlest Angel" Charles Tazewell
6. "The Da Vinci Code" Dan Brown
7. "Stillwatch" Mary Higgins Clark
8. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" William Shakespeare
9. "A Moveable Feast" Lonely Planet Anthology
10. "Tales of the City" Armistead Maupin