I've been sober for awhile now, but I just joined this forum in the past week- so far it's a nice supplement to my 'real' life (or whatever you want to call it- it's all real, isn't it?), to surround myself with people in recovery online also. I love you guys.
Over the past couple of years, I've been reading fiction at a more furious pace than ever before. For a long time what I read was mainly just the newspaper and biographical/historical non-fiction books. I've also been a musician, and an on-again off-again writer and into poetry and such, for a long time. And then I was triggered a couple of years ago to get back into fiction, and now it's mostly what I read. As it's now the fifth week of the new year, I just started on my fifth book (or maybe sixth, I'd have to look back through)...I normally read about 80 pages a day or so on average.
As far as recovery literature is concerned, I was sponsored (and therefore "raised") early on in AA by a fourth-dimension Big Book fanatic, and so I rely on it more than any other program literature. Any time I'm having a problem, I know that the answer is in the book! You know? And then I've also given more credence recently to the 12 & 12 and Living Sober.
But as far as non-conference approved stuff...there's just so much out there! This is just an aside, really. We all know that working with others, as the Big Book says, is "the bright spot of our lives". I believe that with all my heart, and experience it every chance that I get. But I'm also enriched by a host of fictional characters. Not stealing any vicarious pleasure out of the things I read; it's just something I enjoy. I'm grateful for every day that I get to live.
I'm currently reading Co-dependent No More by Melodie Beattie. It's been very enlightening so far. I also like to read John Grisham novels when I have extra time- like vacations, beach visits etc..........
Liars Poker (Michael Lewis), The Breakwater (George Mandel-out of print, but awesome), Not God: A History of A.A. (Ernst Kurtz), Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand), Mr. Bear Squash You All Flat (Morrell Gipson), The Complete Short Stories and Sketches of Stephen Crane (ed. Thomas Gibson), The Soloist (Steve Lopez), Kitchen Confidential (Anthony Bourdain), and Staying Sober (Terence Gorski and Merlene Miller). These would be welcome re-reads at any time. Reading now: Living the Twelve Steps of Recovery (A.Messenger-just published-submitted for Conference approval livingtwelvesteps.com) And, (whispering, head down) selected Nora Roberts trilogies to put me to sleep peacefully during the work week LOL
Reading has always soothed my soul and stirred my mind. I think it has helped me get through life in some significant way, and reading has certainly benefited my day-at-a-time sober self, whether for relief, release, education, creativity, hope, or just the joy of appreciating words used well.
I love reading about history and economics and science. For fiction, I mostly like classic novels and more modern trashy spy-adventure stuff. I don't really like the things that have been getting Pulitzers recently. And the bible of course!
__________________
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's.
I love reading about history and economics and science. For fiction, I mostly like classic novels and more modern trashy spy-adventure stuff. I don't really like the things that have been getting Pulitzers recently. And the bible of course!
Yeah I read a lot of history -non fiction- and GOOD historical fiction, Patrick O'Brien, George Macdonald Fraser, recently reading a number of books all at the same time dealing with the Pacific Theater in WWII, so reading day by day, The Marines see 35 planes leave and 2 come back, then reading the memoirs of the 2 that made it back, then reading the Japanese version of events so getting 3 dimensional picture
A Dawn like Thunder/Guadalcanal Diary/Helmet for my Pillow/Flyboys all at once for example, since they are broken up week by week and even day by day it's fun to jump back and forth, then watch "The Pacific" which is based on Helmet for my Pillow and 2 other memoirs
It's a lot of fun, read enough history and you start bumping into all the same characters as told through the eyes of another, example last night watched "The Kings Speech" or whatever, that new movie, but had already read about his brother who abdicated to marry a commoner for love, in everything I had read about the brother he was painted in a sympathetic light, this was not the case from George VI memoirs, George VI was a bit pissed at him, great movie btw
__________________
it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
Not much into the fiction stuff, but I enjoy History, finance and economic type books.
As far as non-conference recovery books, "The Little Red Book" from Hazelden, is not talked about much, but deserves some props. Written in the 50's, IMO they did a great job putting together some of the knowledge gained about the steps in the 13 years or so after the BBook came out.
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
When I meet anyone in a meeting who is having problems with boredom or stinkin thinkin, I recommend taking up reading, not just Recovery stuff but Books of any kind for enjoyment or educational. It gets me out of myself. I read anything from Medical, Philosophy, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, The Zohar, Bible. My interests can change from day to day so I have to be prepared, LOL.
__________________
The smallest of good deeds is greater than the best of intentions.
Anonymous
just if you haven't read either of those I recomend them
I do have A New Pair of Glasses- a guy I sponsored gave me a first edition of it, years ago. Very good stuff. I'm not familiar with Shantaram. Who is the author?
Most (if not all) of the things I read that aren't specifically program literature don't have to do with recovery, though. Mostly 20th century fiction, American and British authors. I love Saul Bellow, and surprisingly, Iris Murdoch. I have about 20 of her books, I think. I also like Jonathan Franzen a lot- he was one of my sister's favorites, so I've picked up a couple of his books recently. Other people I've read simply because of my sister's influence are Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath, and David Foster Wallace (bonus points for anyone who picks out a certain theme among those three). Playwrights- Eugene O'Neill, Henrik Ibsen...all kinds of things, really.
hsoj wrote: I'm not familiar with Shantaram. Who is the author?
Shantaram is a 2003 novel by Gregory David Roberts, a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from Pentridge Prison and fled to India where he lived for 10 years.
Shantaram is a novel influenced by real events in the life of the author, Australian Gregory David Roberts. In 1978, Roberts was sentenced to 19-year imprisonment in Australia after being convicted of a series of armed robberies which he had committed to feed a heroin addiction after his marriage ended and he lost his daughter. In July 1980, he escaped from Victorias Pentridge Prison in broad daylight, thereby becoming one of Australia's most wanted men for the next ten years.
__________________
it's not the change that's painful, it's the resistance to change that is painful
i'll read the phone book if u put it in front of me.
Honestly, I HAVE read the back of the airfreshener can in many a bathroom, if there is nothing else to read in there!
It just might be possible that my next 12-steps might need to be for romance readers anonymous, if or when that becomes unmanagable. So far, I am not there yet.
AA sort of granted me "permission" to read more spiritual literature than what my church would limit me to. I find such literature very thought provoking indeed, and hope to always feel free to delve into such.
Reading has gotten much sweeter in sobriety. I pick up more subtle nuances and retain much more of what I read now. Love it!
Each day EARLY,,at lunch time, and whenever I get some downtime,I put on the ARMOR OF GOD" BY READING FROM MY SPIRITUAL BOOKS OF MY FAITH BELIEFS.I then like to read,program literature,spirtual books,The Shack' POWER oF LiVING,gRAPEVINE,bASIC tEXT,wORKS HOW AND WHY, 12/12, ETC,DRUMMERSWORLD AND ANY MUSICAL WRITINGS,BIOGRAPHIES ON PLAYERS ETC... and like we all say "the writings on the wall of any public MENSROOM!!!! :)
__________________
Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
When I read the subject line, I screamed "me! me! me!" in my head! I've been wondering how many other AA members have similar hobbies as e.
I love reading. I, too, have dabbled in poetry and the like. And I am a musician (violin).
I don't read too much non-fiction, except about math or physics... things like "Fermat's Enigma" and "The Golden Ratio: The Story of PHI, the World's Most Astonishing Number" (before you guess that I'm a nerd....let me tell you that I'm an engineer, and then you'll be sure :)).
I read mostly fiction. Right now I'm working on Anna Karenina. I've also been reading the Bible (I've never read the whole thing before), and I find that to be captivating. I would love to hear any suggestions you might have for me! The Saffron Kitchen by Yasmin Crowther and Kim Edwards' The Secrets of a Fire King are two of my faves. Feel free to private message me suggestions!
__________________
At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.
--Father Alfred D'Souza
