A novel game of tag

I was tagged by Joel Mathis, of Cup O' Joel. I'm honored, Joel. Sometimes blogger-to-blogger tags can be sort of lame, but I dug this one. All about books. The tag game works like this: blogger tags five people to respond to a series of questions, new blogger tags five more, etc. I enjoy seeing the different sides of bloggers I read through topics on which they might not normally post. So here goes.

1. One book that changed your life.

American Dreams: Lost and Found, Studs Terkel. I read this during my senior year of college and it helped me bridge the gap between journalism and the writer I was hoping to become, while opening my eyes to the real world I was about to enter. This book is filled with hope, guts, trials and shows the true hearts of Americans who are chasing their own dreams.

2. One book you have read more than once.

Lake Wobegon Days by Garrison Keillor. Keillor was the reason I started focusing on fiction writing in college. I wanted to be just like him: radio show, novels, columns, red socks. I still have a framed picture of the two of us on my desk at home for inspiration.

3. One book you would want on a desert island

The Bible. It may sound cliche, but seriously, I've always wanted to read this from cover to cover and truly digest the contents. Also, when I'm found by a fishing boat, and a news story breaks the wires, I'd rather be known as the bearded survivor who relied on spear fishing and the Gospels than the bearded guy with an airport-purchased Grisham novel in his hand.

4. One book that made you laugh.

Naked by David Sedaris. Closely followed by Me Talk Pretty One Day. Line-by-line laughs. Sedaris is an amazing storyteller and comic wonder.

5. One book that made you cry.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I'm not sure I actually shed a tear, but it was the most heartwarming, heart-tugging book I've read in a long while.

6. One book you wish you had written.

Independence Day by Richard Ford. This is an amazing book - won the Pen Faulkner and Pulitzer in the same year. The first book ever to do that. To truly invest in the characters and storyline, read The Sportswriter first. I had the privelege of meeting Ford at a writing conference and hearing him read a few short stories - also wonderful reads.

7. One book you are currently reading.

Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by Yvon Chouinard. Yvon is the founder of Patagonia. I'm in awe of his business sense, however "reluctant" he claims to be...he was successful by doing the right thing. Plain and simple. It's a great blueprint for any company and all managers.

8. One book you have been meaning to read.

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything, Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. If I had a doller for every person who has recommended this book, I'd have at least five bucks. I just need to buy it. And read it.

Five bloggers I'm tagging.

Mason
Risley
Caroline
Jenne
Sara

Listening to - Cat Power, The Greatest.