posted August 05, 2004 02:51 AM         

The New Birth Order Book (Dr. Kevin Leman) - Interesting, but I don't think I fot the "only child" stereotype.

Writings on an Ethical Life (Peter Singer) - I am totally engaged in reading this book. Peter Singer is an Australian philosopher who has written many great things on animal and human rights.

Tripping - An Anthology of True-Life Psychedelic Adventures (Charles Hayes) - Haven't started this one yet, but it looks really cool.

posted August 05, 2004 03:20 AM         

I'm reading Master and Margarita right now, and it's turning out to be really good- it's by Mikhail Bulgakov, and it's basically about Satan. Wow, that makes it sound like an evil and creepy book, but it's actually more historical and satirical.

And then, I picked up the Count of Monte Cristo awhile back, put it down for awhile, and picked it back up yesterday (I do this a lot) and I've been liking it a lot too since I have a t00by loff for long books.

posted August 05, 2004 02:21 PM         

The Secret Life of Bees About finding love in unexpected places, when feeling especially unloved. A beautifully written novel about a girl who accidentally killed her mother when she was 4, lived through years of abuse and disinterest from her father, and then set out to right a wrong, left home...and found...well. Read the book.

The Rule of Four Kind of akin to The Da Vinci Code.

posted August 05, 2004 04:39 PM         

Another book I'm in the middle of at the moment is The White Dragon by Anne McCaffrey, an imaginative, yet brilliant author who has entranced me with her vivid tales of the planet Pern since I was an 8 year old child.

posted August 05, 2004 08:38 PM         

Embraced by the Light - by Betty Eidie
It's the autobiography of a Native American woman who had a near-death experience. But it's so much more than that. It's a wake-up call to your soul. I highly recommend this book, and I guarentee that it will move you, change you, and make you a better person. I bought that book 3 times, and kept lending it out to people, who would pass it on to other people, who would pass it on to other people, and so on...so I never did get a single copy back. But, that's ok. I was thrilled that others were just as moved by it as I was. I read the whole thing in about 5 hours. It was that good.

And also, The Poisenwood Bible, by Barbara (?) something. Lent that one to my sister, who lent it to her freind, and it's still out on loan. But, a very good, quick read. It's a huge book, though, don't get me wrong. But it moves along quickly. And you're sad when it's done, like you're going to miss these people, because the characters are so well developed and real. It keeps changing perspective, like each chapter is written from the perspective of a different family member. It's another book that will move you, deep down.

I only read books that touch on really profound issues, and/or somehow improve me. I have no use for brainless fiction. Must be my 8th house stellium, which includes Mercury.

posted August 05, 2004 09:31 PM         

But this book is really great, and it has inspired quite a bit of creativity and a few short stories....

posted August 05, 2004 09:59 PM         

I've read a lot of books over the last few months.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (awesome)

The Lovely Bones-read it in one night...good book but I was disappointed by the ending

The Notebook-by Nicholas Sparks-great book..made me cry...saw the movie...movie is good...book is better...different ending.

I'm almost done reading The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks which is a "Sequel" of sorts to The Notebook.

posted August 05, 2004 11:56 PM         

manipulative, charming, blames others, attention seeker, tenacious, people person, natural salesperson, precocious, engaging, affectionate, loves surprises

Famous people who are youngest children: Eddie Murphy, Goldie Hawn, Billy Crystal, Joan Rivers, Leslie Nielsen, Danny DeVito, Drew Carey, Jim Carey, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, also the late comics John Candy and Charlie Chaplin.

As you can see, a lot of comedians happen to be youngest children

According to the author, last borns enjoy the limelight. Dr. Kevin Leman, author of the book is a last born child

And as for that book you were describing, it sounds really cool. It's rare you find a book that really changes the way you feel or think. For me, that book was 1984. It really made me think about human relationships, and the limitations of the capacity to love and to trust. It was also really moving, politically.

posted August 06, 2004 01:19 AM         

Farenheit 451
Catch-22
and
A Study in Scarlet (a Sherlock Holmes novel).

I'm halfway through with F 451, and it's really good, though maybe a tad purple-proseish. But it's not too noticeable, and it's really just- I dunno, wow so far.

Ohh, dorkus, don't mean to impose, but does it say anything interesting about only childs?

posted August 06, 2004 02:07 AM         

The only child personality is very similar to that of the oldest child.

posted August 06, 2004 05:59 PM         

Two famous middle children are Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

posted August 07, 2004 08:08 AM         

In fact, two of the most profound books I've ever read, that had enormous impact on me, were fiction. (Or were they?! )

Illusions by Richard Bach. This is an absolute must read.

And, of course...

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery

I used to read a lot of New Age-y type books, but now I mostly avoid them. For my ten cents, they just seem to muck things up. I think at the root of things, life and love are far more simple. We just like to make them complicated. And...those sorts of books, well, you'll have to get to the last page of Illusions to understand. Don't read the last page first, though!
It will take only about an hour for you to read at most, and you can probably find a copy at a used book store. It's very inexpensive.