On this weeks Frugal Coast2Coast radio show (How to Become Frugal) Lynnae and I got talking about libraries & books. As any longtime reader of Frugal Upstate knows, I am a voracious reader and I absolutely LOVE libraries.
For those of you who haven’t tuned in to the show yet, there is a chat room that occurs, live, while the show is broadcasting*. This last week there were over 80 folks in there discussing topics related to (and sometimes completely UN related to) what we were discussing on the show.
When the topic of libraries and books came up, the chat room exploded with questions and suggestions. Lynnae and I were asked to reveal our favorite books on the air, and then to publish them on our websites for all to remember and enjoy. Pop by your local library and check some of these out! If you find them to be valuable resources, then try buying them used on Amazon, Half.com etc 🙂
So here we go-some of my favorite frugal resource books as well as awesome fiction writers in a variety of categories.**
The Complete Tightwad Gazette (or 3 individual volumes) by Amy Dacyczyn
The Best of the Cheapskate Monthly by Mary Hunt
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
The Wealthy Barber by David Chilton
Betty Crocker Cookbook
Better Homes and Garden Cookbook
The Victory Garden Cookbook by Marian Morash
How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman
Not Just Beans by Tawra Kellum
Herb Mixtures & Spicy Blends by Maggie Oster
The Joy of Cooking
Any crockpot cookbook that looks good to you
Any bread machine cookbook
Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew
The 20 Minute Gardener by Marty Asher
The 20 Minute Vegetable Gardener by Marty Asher
Lasagna Gardening by Patricia Lanza
The New Victory Garden by Bob Thomson
The No Work Garden Book by Ruth Stout
Sprouts and Saplings-Gardening with a Difference by Monica Brandies
At least 1 or 2 good organic gardening books.
Stitch and Bitch and Stitch and Bitch Nation by Debbie Stoller
Amanda Quick
Johanna Lindsey
Catherine Coulter
Jayne Ann Krentz
JD Robb
Diane Mott Davidson
Lilian Jackson Braun
Janet Evanovich
Douglas Adams
David Weber
Alan Dean Foster
Jim Butcher
Charlaine Harris
MaryJanice Davidson
Anne McCaffery
David Eddings
Raymond E Feist
Robin Hobb
Terry Goodkind
Tamora Pierce
Terry Pratchet
Meg Cabot
Ann Brashares
This is just a sampling of the books/authors that I enjoy. What are yours? I am interested to hear -maybe I’ll find someone new!
Photo by Dawn Endico
*Unfortunately, the chat room is not archived, so when you listen to the show “On Demand” you can’t see the conversation. They are hoping to remedy that eventually. For now if you want to join in the fun you have to tune in live on Monday nights at 8:30 EST. Next weeks show is on budgets. **I wasn’t joking about being voracious folks. I read roughly 3 novels a week-I’m sure I’ve read hundreds of thousands in my lifetime. This will not be a complete list of “everything Jenn has ever read”
I have some of those books! 🙂 My problem is that I’m a bookaholic and buy more books than I get around to reading.
Some of my favs are:
-The Princess Bride by William Goldman (the book is way, way better than the movie, which was pretty good too)
-the Lillith’s Brood trilogy by Octavia Butler
-Getting Things Done by David Allen (non-fic)
-No Plot? No Problem! by Chris Baty (non-fic on writing a novel)
the Edward Eager books for kids (including Half Magic, Magic by the Lake, etc)
-The Elements of Style by Strunk and White (non-fic)
-The Cosmic Code by Heinz Pagels
-The Real Science Behind The X-Files by Anne Simon
I like a lot of paranormal romance novels but I’ve also got some other things I read as well:
Laurell K. Hamilton
Christine Feehan
Katie MacAlister
Nora Roberts
David Eddings
Beatrice Small
J.R. Ward
J.D. Robb
J.K. Rowling
Those are some of my fav authors
Some of my fav in the sci fi/fantasy list:
Laurell K Hamilton
Kelley Armstrong
LE Modesitt
Kim Harrison
Keri Authur
As well as the already mentioned Jim Butcher and Charlane Harris. I too can read 2 to 3 novels a week. (Alas not at the moment as I am a full time grad student so while I am reading it is not the books of my choosing, lol).
Candi
Yay! Thanks!
I read a LOT of cookbooks. A lot. All kinds, too. Got to have inspiration!
For non-food books, I’ve been reading James Rollins lately. Very entertaining–especially the books on cd that I can listen to while exercising, doing housework and cooking.
Love the library. I’ll be checking out some of the frugal selections you’ve listed.
I would like to add Barbara Walker’s Treasuries and A Knitter’s Companion to the knitting list. Stitch and Bitch is great, but a good stitch dictionary (like Walker) and a handy reference for sizes and how to do stuff are invaluable for figuring things out without a pattern. And that can save a lot of money.
I love books too but there just seem to be enough time to read these days so I end up reading when i go to bed which i’m sure is one of the reasons why I sleep so badly.
Any way I couldn’t give up the books.
Teresa-Good list. I have “elements of style” too! who would have thought that a grammar book could be such a fun read?
Mamma McK-Fun! Glad to see we have some of the same tastes.
Candi-Hmm, some new ones to me in there. I’ll have to see what my library has.
Amanda-you reading cookbooks doesn’t surprise me 🙂 I love books on tape too-especially for long car trips etc.
Harper-Good recommendation for knitting. I learned so long ago I wasn’t sure what to list as a good reference book for new knitters.
Kate-fitting in reading can be hard. I keep one in the car for appointments and lines etc. I also read instead of watchint TV in the evenings (gotta have priorities)or while I’m eating lunch. Maybe you can swap something out and then have a more restful period right b4 bed to sleep better. Good sleep is so important.
I have to add my favorite cookbook for “thrifty eating.” The “More With Less Cookbook.” I love this cookbook! Not just for the recipes (although they are fabulous) but also just for the information and encouragement it gives me about being more frugal.
I also like Orson Scott Card in the fantasy/sci-fi category.
Jill
Don’t forget a new resource of Clark Howard on CNN. He has good advice and if you missed his new shoes you can get info on Clark Howard at CNN.com
Wow – lot’s of good books, I might have to read some of these.
My favorite authors (this is all fiction stuff): Chaim Potok, M.M. Kaye, Madeleine L’Engle, Ray Bradbury, Charles Sheffield (sci-fi, since you seem to like some sci-fi), Barbara Michaels.
For personal finance books, my favorite author is Larry Burkett.
I’m nuts for most of Martha Stewart’s books. I can’t wait for her new craft book to come out in March! Paper Crafts puts out some really good books on, well, paper crafts.