Ii've been meaning to get to this:

Total number of books?

Is this seriously the total number of books I own?

- There's the ridiculous stack of cookbooks in my kitchen. These include cookbooks like "Betty Crocker" which I've used only in emergency (say to learn how to cook a turkey) as well as my favorites (Real Food Daily, Natural Ingredients, Donna Hay).

- There's the actual "library" shelves in the office downstairs. The shelves have been completely filled and empties more than a few times over the course of the years. About 6 months ago I went through and put 10 boxes of books away and donated them. That was a tough day.

- There is also the boxed set of parenting books. This is mostly books about parenting babies -- vaccinations, homebirths, family bedding, etc., etc. I couldn't bear to part with most of these books because it took me so long to acquire them "back in the day."

- Then there's the "favorites" cabinet in the family room. These are books like A Literate Passion - Letters between Anais Nin and Henry Miller; or my favorite historical series by Sharon Kay Penman... or some wierd off the shelf books that I've found over the years.

- Then there's the bookshelf in my office which has all the yoga books, Buddhist books, Hindui books, etc., etc. This stack is growing quite large lately.

- Then there's the poetry corner... Rumi, Hafiz, e.e. cummings...

Last book read?

I have to ask the same question -- fun or work? The last "fun" book I read with Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Someone loaned it to me and I did like it. The writing was spectacular but it was one of those books that I just put down and thought "Damn, that was depressing as hell."

Last book bought?

Project Management in Theory

Five meaningful books?

Ramayana, Ramesh Menon

This book is a powerful and attainable retelling of the classic story. Jai Hanuman!

Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin

Whether or not you are pregnant, want to be pregnant, have been pregnant.... had a homebirth, want a homebirth, will never have a homebirth... Ina May Gaskin is a revolutionary leader in the woman's right to choose her birthing environment and have a complete experience.

Yoga Mala, Sri K Pattabhi Jois

I first read Yoga Mala when I was still practicing "basic ashtanga" at a fluffly studio. It enticed me... and gave me the confidence to follow a path that seemed right for me.

Geek Love, Katherine Dunn

I used to judge a bookstore (back before Barnes and Noble and Borders were on every corner) by the existence of this book on it's shelves.

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I'm having a hard time with the last book... Do I put Fire by Anais Nin, or a Henry Miller book, or Rumi because he inspires me daily... I'll have to think on that some more.