The book meme

[zyzyly]

I tried that book meme thing that's going around--pick the book closest to you....page 18 (or 23)...fifth sentence..., but all the books near me are medical books:

...recognized by a constellation of clinical and physiological abnormalities...

...the av node is activated at....

...and so on.

Mostly dry, uninteresting words that lack the necessary ingredients to stimulate my imagination. Every book in my office is like this. I need something else nearby that I can turn to for a word of inspiration. Something to rouse me and take me beyond the walls of the hospital, even if only for a moment.

What do you suggest for my desktop book of inspiration?

Comments

[luscious-purple.livejournal.com]

I have a little book called "Prayers for Healing: 365 Blessings, Poems, and Meditations from Around the World," edited by Maggie Oman and published by MJF Books of New York (ISBN 1-56731-427-9). I don't know whether it's still in print. But it has wonderful poems and quotations and prayers from a variety of religious traditions. Some will be familiar (like St. Francis of Assisi and Martin Luther King Jr.); others won't but still are deeply moving.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

I believe we have "Prayers for Healing" at home somewhere--I'll look for it.

[blistermoth.livejournal.com]

The Bible or anything by Anne Lamott.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

Anne Lamott--I know the name, but none of her work. Thanks for the suggestion.

[zeppo-marx.livejournal.com]

My office is the same way. All technical manuals. Leading to dull sentences about pure virtual classes, or the execution order of default Unix scripts.

However I DO have the Far Side Anthology close at hand. And Calvin and Hobbes.

For me it is escapism I seek when I need a break from work.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

The Far Side Anthology is one of my favorites--something for every occasion.

[calledisrael.livejournal.com]

a couple in sight of my chair right now which i would always recommend:

the complete english poems, george herbert
(you seem like one who would appreciate the herbert.)
the great divorce, cs lewis (which i am re-reading right now)
leap over a wall, eugene peterson (one of my favorite books EVER)
practicing the presence, brother lawrence
(which is honestly amazing and i have just now started. lifts my spirit so much.)

wow... i have too many books about liturgy.

happy reading.

[myasma.livejournal.com]

Had I been at home, I would have nothing but theology books at hand.

I think poetry was what I hungered for--I'll find some Herbert and keep it close by.

all excellent suggestions--thank you!

jt leroy

[purple7luv.livejournal.com]

most likely not your cup of tea or coffee..
but imagination
reigns
beautifully painfully
extreme
written with some substance.
(albeit abuse)

JT LeRoy

also... :)

[purple7luv.livejournal.com]

anything David Sedaris...
AND~!!!!!
Happy Birthday
Arlina!!!!!

:)

"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Near-Death Experiences"

[saintgeorge.livejournal.com]

Yesterday I bought a copy of this book (linkhere.) I thought it might be helpful to you in your ministry as an ER nurse.