I received the Skirt! newsletter in my email a few minutes ago, and decided to check out the list of ten books to put under the tree.  Since I am still waiting for the phone call from the doctor, or for my handy-dandy little pager to go off again with work for me to do, I decided to make my own list of must-read books.

No particular order, though.

1.  Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  I adore all of her books, but this one inspired me to change the way I eat.  And plant a squash plant!  (Which bloomed beautifully and grew so fast but never produced ONE SINGLE SQUASH!)

2.  The Hope / The Glory by Herman Wouk.  I know, it’s two books, but The Glory is the sequel to The Hope.  Both are amazing books.  I was entertained enough to read multiple times and learned a lot of history as well.  (I did notice that both of my books have completely different covers than those on Amazon.  Odd.)

3.  Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.  I first read this book several years ago and have since re-read it twice.  The story is fascinating, and so poignant.  I love it.

4.  Freaking Fabulous by Clinton Kelly.  Clinton from What Not To Wear!!  A whole book on how to dress, act, host, and just live fabulously.  I devoured this book and even my mother wants to borrow it!

5.  Women’s Murder Club series by James Patterson.  Strong, sexy confident women working together, fostering amazing friendships, and kicking butt at the same time?  What could be better?

6.  The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.  I didn’t even know who wrote this one until I looked it up for the link.  It is loooong but wonderful.  I have read it at least 3 times.  The story is so detailed and easy to read!  So many plot lines, also, so it doesn’t get boring.

7.  The entire Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovitch.  Hi-freaking-larious!  When the first book has an early scene with Stephanie’s granny accidentally shooting the chicken off the table at dinner I knew it was going to be good.  I’ve read them all, 1-14, and a couple of the between-the-books novellas she’s published.   If you don’t laugh at Stephanie’s luck or Lula’s actions, or mentally lust over Ranger (trust me) or Joe Morelli, then you have no blood running through your veins and must go to the ER immediately.  Seriously.

8.  Organic Housekeeping.  This is awesome if you are like me and can’t breathe and feel like a 500 lb person is sitting on your chest when you are around most household chemicals.  (Hint:  never ever EVER spray-paint your bathroom cabinet in the bathroom.  No matter how many fans you have on.)

9.  The Lovely Bones by Alice Seibold.  Touching story of the murder of a young girl, told by her as she watches her family.

10.  The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  I have loved this book since junior year of high school and now own three copies.  I can’t get enough!  The parties, the fashion, the carefree-ness (I think I just made up a word!), the irony, the ending.... a masterpiece.

I think that is a good place to stop.  I could go on all day; I love to read and love so many different books!  These are the top of my list, though.