The South Dakota Cowgirl

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Spinning in Books

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I know, I’ve really really been a bad blogger when it comes to doing Spin Cycles. Bad, bad, bad!

It’s summer, though, and I’m busy and the past few topics haven’t really got my juices flowing but this one…

Books. Beloved Books! I love books. Zach loves books. His dad loves books. My folks love books. My sister loves books. We love to read. Reading is a window to another world. You can learn about different cultures. You can be transported to far away lands. You can relate to different characters and see parts of yourself in them.

For me, reading isn’t just fun, it’s a way to learn about different things; to escape my own reality (though don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my own reality!).

When I was a young, horseless girl, I dreamed about having a horse to ride; galloping across an open pasture or field; a horse to feed apples to; to feel its breath upon my neck. I read every single book in “The Black Stallion” Series by Walter Farley (I still own all of those copies, and a copy from the 1950s that was my dad’s). I read every single issue of Horse and Rider I recieved, and I read cover to cover, more than once, an Encylopedia of the Horse that my dad purchased for me on one of his many trips to Europe. I also loved “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry. Let’s not forget about the classic tail of “Black Beauty”. Also a favorite of mine! I loved and still do love the James Herriot Collection: “All Creatures Great and Small“. Who can forget, “My Friend Flicka”. I remember just bawling when I thought she was going to die! If it’s a book about horses, I still, to this day, have probably read it, am reading it, or it’s on the list to read!

What young girl of my generation didn’t crave a good mystery? I have read every single book in the Hardy Boys Series and I think as many Nancy Drew Mysteries as I could get my hands on. I’m pretty sure I read most all of these before I was in the 5th grade! I vidly remember reading so many books from this age: Blitz, Where The Red Fern Grows (read and re-read), and Old Yeller (read and re-read). I read, as a child, the entire CS Lewis Collection on Narnia- The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe being the most well-known of that. I re-read that entire series a few years ago. I still love it as much today as I did then!
I did go through an “I don’t read for fun stage”. It was called High School and college. I was too busy reading in school, chasing boys, playing pretty pony with my real horses and just being a teenager. Though there were several novels I read in High School that still sit with me, one of which I’ve read more than once – “The Once and Future King“, by T.H. White. I love that book, about Camelot, the Knights of the Round Table, King Arthur, Guenevere, and that whole period of history. I read Gone with the Wind (all 1000 pages as a freshman in high school), The Grapes of Wrath (as a junior), more Shakespeare than I cared to as a senior, though Hamlet still sticks with me (If you haven’t seen the movie with Mel Gibson, I recommend it). We read the Canterbury Tails, and Beowulf.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve read “Call of the Wild”, and all sorts of short stories by Jack London. I love Tom Clancy, and Robert Ludlum (who wrote more than just the Bourne series). Edgar Allen Poe. The fantasy side, that T.H White’s book brought out in me is still alive and well when I read Harry Potter. I love those books. I relish in being transported to magical places! Forbidden by Elizabeth Lowell is also a really good fantasy book. I love her! She also writes suspenseful mysteries, that always have some steamy scenes between the hero and heroine of the plot. Whirpool, Innocent as Sin, The Wrong Hostage.
I love John Grisham, Greg Isles, and last but not least: Janet Evanovich. If you haven’t read the Janet Evanovich Series, on Stephanie Plum I recoommend you do so, forthwith! They are some of the funniest, wittiest, most cleverly written books you’ll ever read. I eat them up- will read them in one sitting if possible. I absolutely cannot get enough of her character, Stephanie. She just released the 15th book in the series. Do you have to read the books in order? No, but they’re hella funnier if you do!
Since moving to the reservation, I’ve become enamored with Native American History, and as my new found motto in life is, “if you can change it do so, and if you can’t let it go”, I’ve decided to do something about it. Currently I’m reading “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” By Dee Brown. It’s a history of how the west was “won” as told through the eyes of the Indian. I cannot begin to tell you, how ashamed we as a society should feel about this. I realize that it was a century ago, but regardless, the things that people do in the name of greed, fame, fortune, religion- it’s harrowing. I really hope to learn more about this culture, and I hope it’s never lost. I’m even considering learning to speak Lakota, because, well, why not?
On my list of reading for this winter are the True Blood books (we just started the HBO Series- it’s freakin’ great!); the Twilight Series and “Lonesome Dove”, which I’ve yet to read- shocking, I know. I am sure this isn’t an all inclusive list- there’s lots of time here in the winter to read, so I’m gonna bet I get a lot more than just these read.
That’s all for my Spin this week. I rambled I’m sure, but I love books. I love to read. I think if everyone enjoyed reading as much as me, the world might be a better place!

Give your horse or dog, or cat the gift of mobility.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sprite's Keeper says

    Wow, you love reading more than I do! I hear the True Blood series is great and I wish I could have liked Twilight more than I did. (I struggled to finish it.) I did enjoy Grapes of Wrath and absolutely loved Shakespeare. Great Spin and I have a few books from your recommendations to add to my list! You're linked!

    Reply

  2. Toni says

    Sweet, I recognize that HS reading list. Were you in LEAP?
    I also read and loved the Black Stallion series and all the Nancy Drew books. I still own The Black Stallion Mystery- one of my favorites- and one time wished for a barn like the one that was in the book (the secret entrance- yummy).
    I may go re-read that again.
    Oh, and I saved alot of my college books too; I cannot bear to toss them.

    Reply

  3. Tana & Tally says

    You might like the book 'The Lady Rode Bucking Horses, The Story of Fanny Sperry Steele'. She grew up in Montana, was quite the horsewoman, rodeo broncs. Good read. Another good one is 'Blind Your Ponies' by Stanley West.

    Reply

  4. Heidiwriter says

    I love this quote I just ran across today: "I must say that I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a book."Groucho Marx

    Good post. I love books too!

    Heidi
    author of Cowgirl Dreams
    http://www.heidimthomas.com

    Reply

  5. BrownEyed Cowgirls says

    Thanks for letting me know about the hay. I'll let me mom know there is other good hay available, so she doesn't feel forced into buying something she wouldn't normally get.:)

    Reply

  6. Kat says

    Loved your post – reminded me of good clean things that I should pick up again and savor. You sound really happy and fulfilled too, so I'm happy for you – miss you though.

    Reply

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