In Case You're New Here...

 I was recently asked to introduce myself and recommend 10 books. In case you're new here, this may be a lovely place to start. All of the book recommendations can be found in a longer form on this blog as well.

HELLO chilly Wisconsin! 

 My name is Crystal Otto and I love books - particularly the paper kind because they smell and feel amazing! I love owning books, reading books, looking at books, sniffing books, collecting books, talking about books, helping promote books, and I'm currently writing a book. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am about this class because I love the idea of sharing my love of books with students.

 My 11 year old daughter is taking a summer school class where she is hoping to write her first book and I like to think that her love of books, reading, and writing all began when I was pregnant with her. I probably shouldn't try to take all the credit though - we all know it's God's plan, right? 

 When I'm not thinking about books, I'm playing music and singing. I'm a church musician and a mother to 6 amazing humans! I also enjoy kayaking, biking, riding horses, cooking, baking, and swimming! 

The ten most memorable books for me (thus far in life) are: 

 The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (This was the first book I absolutely fell in love with during my 4th grade year. I owned the Scholastic version with the yellow cover and I carried it everywhere and read it 6 times that summer. I even perfected my ability to read while on the back of my mom's motorcycle since I couldn't possibly be dragged away from reading and my mother agreed that I could try it if it would get me out of the house.) 

 I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb (I even have Mr. Lamb's signature on this hard cover edition because we have mutual friends. This book drew me in and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since 1998. Lamb is a fantastic author with many amazing books, but this is my favorite.) 

 She's Not Herself by Linda Appleman Shapiro (Linda is the wife of the king of audiobooks, George Guiddal. George and Linda are the ones who helped me get Wally Lamb's signature, but I digress... Linda is incredibly talented and this book is a memoir about her youth and life with her mentally ill mother. Linda and I are now friends and she has painted several pictures that hang in my home, She's Not Herself was very eye opening for me as a daughter and mother; it's very well written and if you're thinking of writing your own memoir, this is an example of how someone who didn't consider themselves an author can become a successful one!) 

 Harriet Hates Lemonade by Kim McCollum (this is a recent book for me by an author I was unfamiliar with (McCollum's writing style is incredibly engaging and she's a fabulous story teller! Harriet Hates Lemonade has given me so many things to think about in my own life and my relationships and I'll remember this book always!) 

 Sugarland by Martha Conway (As a piano player I was excited about the accuracy of the musical references in this book. Additionally, I said to my husband "Martha Conway must be an amazing historian" because she did such a fabulous job with each and every details of the jazz age. Nothing felt out of sync or out of place. As an author, she give you the details you need without any extra flowery page fillers.) 

 The House on Linden Way by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo (The House on Linden Way is one of those unexpected books with countless plot twists! After reading it the first time I need to let you know I'm going to read it again - like immediately! It's one of those books that is written so well that once you get to the end you find yourself wanting more - and when you re-read some of the chapters, you find little hidden tidbits you missed the first time! ) 

 Memoir Revolution by Jerry Waxler (Whether you are a reader, a writer, or a journaler, or story teller you will find Memoir Revolution to be a worthwhile read. There’s definitely a story going on, but Waxler takes the role of teacher. I hesitate to refer to Memoir Revolution

as “text book like”…so I would describe the experience of reading it as follows: It’s like getting to know a highly admired college professor and then being invited to his home for a study group and then you get there and there’s wine, snacks, fabulous coffee, and great conversation. You have an opportunity to learn something in an environment so comfortable you never want to leave.) 

 The Alphabet Sisters by Monica McInerney (I laughed, cried, and rolled my eyes throughout this read. When done, I wished for more chapters because I wasn’t ready to leave the characters I had grown so attached to. I would recommend this book to others and give it five out of five stars. ) 

 Cold Light of Day by Elizabeth Goddard (I absolutely loved each and every page of “Cold Light of Day” by Elizabeth Goddard. This novel was unexpected in that it wasn’t your same old ordinary predictable romance with a hint of mystery or mystery with a hint of romance. I had no idea who should be trusted or who might have been around the next turn. This unpredictability made it oh so much fun to read! (as a side note, I took it with me everywhere I went one Saturday and even got the pages wet in the hot tub at the hotel we were staying at; I literally did not want to put this book down.) Grier is such a quiet hero and Autumn is likable and sweet. Their guy/girl next door qualities make them relatable and you feel as if you know them personally. I was incredibly thankful to find out “Cold Light of Day” was book 1 in a series, because you can’t help but want more of these delightful characters, quaint little town, and gorgeous Alaskan setting. I’m looking forward to reading more books by talented author Elizabeth Goddard.)) 

 The Summer of New Beginnings by Bette Lee Crosby (I absolutely enjoyed each page of The Summer of New Beginnings by Bette Lee Crosby. The main characters were well-developed and the story moved at a quick pace. I had an inkling of what might be coming next, but still delighted in watching the story come to life. I especially appreciated the tension created between the characters. This is a heartwarming and light read that could be enjoyed by any reader. I'm happy to say my daughter and mother will be reading this book next - and in today's world of cuss words, sex, and scandal, it's nice to have a book I can comfortably share with others without worrying about offending. A beautiful story told in the most lovely way! **to be fair, I love anything by Bette Lee Crosby and she wrote a book based on my real life story called Baby Girl and that might be my favorite, but it seems a bit arrogant to choose a book based on your own life as your favorite...) If you'd like more book recommendations, let me know! 

Leave a comment introducing yourself and tell me about your favorite books - I can't wait to get to know everyone better and hopefully grow my TBR pile through this initial discussion! 

 Hugs, ~Crystal