Coffee with Julie - Latest Comments

Re: The Running Bug

disqus is shi‎tt‎y platform‎‎‎ — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 05:31:54 -0000

interesting experience

Re: It’s Friday, Friends. Let’s Shoot for the Stars!

disqus is shi‎tt‎y platform‎‎‎ — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 06:46:41 -0000

pretty awesome

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

disqus is shi‎tt‎y platform‎‎‎ — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 05:58:52 -0000

worth try

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

amy_boughner — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:29:56 -0000

I'm still scared to read Room

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

amy_boughner — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:29:30 -0000

When I read The Catcher in the Rye I knew that JD Salinger was the writer I wanted to be. I was more convinced when I read Seymour: An Introduction. John Irving's Cider House Rules was a big one for me in high school, and I've read several of his now, most recently In One Person which I loved. I can go on and on about books that I have loved, books that have changed me but I don't think I could choose just three. I've gone through so many stages.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

allison — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 19:23:53 -0000

Interesting notion. I read so much that it's hard to single out books that I would say changed my life. The three you named do stick in my memory, which says something. The Fault in Our Stars broke through a reading rut and kept me up half the night - I love everything by John Green, actually. I reread Catcher in the Rye a couple of years ago and found it heartbreakingly sad, and it bothers me when people talk about Holden Caulfield as some kind of hipster bad boy when he's clearly lost and crying out for help. The History of Love is a book that I read more slowly than almost any other, stretching it out in delicious little bites, because as soon as I started it I knew I would be bereft when it was over and I wanted it to last as long as possible. I agree with Giulia about Perfume and Isabel Allende. I was completely unmade by Home by Marilynne Robinson. The most affecting and wonderful young reader book I've read recently is Plain Kate by Erin Bow - I ordered it from the Scholastic flyer and it was amazing.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:06:45 -0000

Hi Barb! So happy to see you here! Thanks for stopping in to visit ... I would love to hear what you are reading in your part of the world right now ....

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

disqus_UDagyNAFED — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:40:42 -0000

well, this is the first time I have done something like this and I end up with a weird screen name so just ignore!
Barb

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

disqus_UDagyNAFED — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:39:34 -0000

Julie, thanks for sending me the link to your blog. I did enjoy your article and it plants in me a thirst to read more! When I do, I shall let you know the surprises!
Barb

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Robyn Grauer — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:46:49 -0000

I was due July 8th, and Mack was born at 37 weeks on June 17th. You're son's a week-ish younger than mine then? My almost 5 year old is Mackenzie (Mack), what's yours?

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Robyn Grauer — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:45:11 -0000

That's weird! I have the Captcha because of a lot of spam comments :( Thank you! He's doing much better, and I'll have to photoshop his grad photos this week, cuz I don't think it will heal before then.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Sarah McCormack — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:10:32 -0000

have your tried HP??? what about Stella.... has she read them? I am so jealous whenever I hear about a kid starting the series.. I love them so much! It is so much more than fantasy...so many amazing characters. first 3 books very kid-ish, and then they really change. trying really hard here to convince you :)

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:06:47 -0000

Hi again Robyn! I just checked out your blog and tried to comment but for some reason the captcha is not showing for me so I can't get it through. I wanted to say that I'm so glad your son's teeth and jaw are okay. My daughter had her teeth banged up very badly from a fall when she was a toddler :(

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:01:39 -0000

My son was supposed to be born on July 16th! But my water broke three weeks early, so he's a June baby :)

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:00:39 -0000

I read a fabulous book recently, Lisa. It's called The Fault in Our Stars. So good.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:59:44 -0000

I enjoyed Glass Castle too ... but Harry Potter, sorry, still haven't done it :( I haven't read anything fantasy-ish since the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in grade school. I just have such a hard time getting into this kind of genre.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 08:58:38 -0000

Two votes for Room :)

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Robyn Grauer — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:31:35 -0000

Let me know what you think of it! You're in Canada too right? (I'm in Montreal). www.knitpurlmama.com My middle son is also turning 5 this month! (June 17th. My birthday is June 16th - he broke my water on my birthday almost 5 yrs ago). What date is your son's birthday?

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Sarah McCormack — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:23:52 -0000

p.s. I liked "Room" too because it had such an interesting "early childhood education" aspect to it.. I enjoyed that element of the story.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Sarah McCormack — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:21:08 -0000

great post Julie! I am going to look for all 3 of those books, as I haven't read any of them!

books that changed my life..... I will have to say Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter!!! love love love all 7 of these and am currently reading them again (4th time). I loved them the first time, but reading the whole series which each of my sons (individually) has been one of the greatest joys of my life.. without question. Witnessing them experiencing the magic that is reading through JK Rowling's amazing imagination was something I will cherish forever. ( I think I recall you saying once you hadn't read them.. shame on you.. lol!)

my absolute favorite book is "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak.. it reads like poetry. An amazing story that I will never forget. if you haven't read it, you must. the Prologue is a bit tricky to get through but once you get through the first 30 pages or so, there is such a pay off! I recommend it BIG TIME!

another book I really loved was the "Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls.. just 'cause her attitude towards the challenges she faced in her life was so inspiring.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

LVS — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:55:42 -0000

I have read "Prayer for Own Meany", which was excellent (and I'm thinking I'm due for a re-read) and I've also read "Barney's Version", which was good... Wondering what else was in the 50 books list in "Real Simple"? though on a total aside, I am very ambivalent about "Real Simple" because I've leafed through a couple of issues and most of the stuff in there isn't about simplicity at all... but that's for another time perhaps. :-)

A book that really affected me was "Bridge to Terabithia". The first time I ever cried at a book - I don't remember how old I was, maybe 10 or 11?

What else is on your book shelf these days Julie?

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:34:08 -0000

That is interesting about your son, Robyn. My son is turning 5 this month. Might be a perfect time for me to read it.

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Julie Harrison — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:33:15 -0000

Hi Giulia!

Wow, based on your reading list, we really have nothing in common, LOL! I've tried a few on your list and never made it past the first 10 pages.

But I did read Perfume as a book club book and I've never read anything else like it. So different, with the focus on scent. I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.

Now, Kate Atkinson. Not sure how I've missed her. I will need to pick up both of these books.

Thanks so much for reading and sharing your books!

Julie

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Giulia@audrey74.com — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 11:05:02 -0000

Perfume by Patrick Sueskind. I read this the first time when I was 13, then again and again and again. I still love it.

House of the Spirits and Under the Sea by Isabel Allende. Her writing is magical.

Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck - the story is just so good.

Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson. That story was wonderful and left an impression on me and her new book Life after Life was really good and raised a lot of questions for me about life and the circle of life.

A Farewell to Arms by Hemingway - again an amazing story. His writing is just so beautiful.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. I read this in high school after we read Jean Eyre (which I also love) and it's an amazing interpretation. I still remember it vividly.

Captain Correlli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres, made me cry. It's touching and beautiful and the movie doesn't do it justice.

Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez - it's epic! I love South American writers, there's always something mystical about the stories and the characters.

A lot more than three ;)

Re: 3 Books that Changed My Life

Robyn Grauer — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:05:58 -0000

When I read Room, my eldest son was 5. Emma Donoghue does a FANTASTIC job narrating through the eyes of a 5 year old. The subject matter isn't that pleasant in the book, but it's worth the read, and I thought We Need To Talk About Kevin was worse in subject matter as a parent. Hannah's Gift I read in one shot or over one night 2 days - something like that, but be warned, Kleenex is a must!