Learning to read Oprah's reading room reviews

This is the second blog I've ever written in my life and I'm so excited! Since writing my last blog I have had to beg my teenager again to help me learn how to post, publish, comment and, yes, even sign in.

She looked at me during a blog practice session and said, Mom, really, how can you not know how to do this?" I said, "well, honey, when I was your age we didn't have cell phones, e-mail, facebook, my space, twitter or blogs." She stared shocked and said, "Well, how did you communicate with people?" I explained to her how we had to pick up a phone, stop by or write a letter. "Letters, she said softly, I've rarely gotten or written a letter." That's when I realized how far apart our generations are when it comes to technology. Well, at least we both still read books. And on to that....

When I was checking out Oprah's Reading Room in her November Magazine I thought the big black bold titles in front of each review were the book titles, but after going to the book store to buy my first pick for the experiment I've learned two things: One, I was wrong, and two, the book will not be in stores or available on Amazon until next Tuesday, November third. I guess the big bold black lettering headlining each review is the promo, but the book titles are in the text. So, the actual title of my first pick is not "The Road To Poetry", but it's actually "LIT" by Mary Karr. At least I got the author right in my first blog.

Oprah's reviewers say her memoir opens with a letter to her son and "chronicles a decade of motherhood, alcoholism, and a long, skeptical slog toward faith." Sounds inspiring already. Even though I have not read the book yet, this process inspires me. I started writing with fresh vigor yesterday. And any day that I write I know I am inspired. I feel energized. Creativity. Creativity. Creativity. It fills my soul.

I'll be running to the bookstore on Tuesday and I hope you join me. Let's get inspired to create.

Love to all my Internet reading friends. And by the way... my daughter says I'm finally learning technology can be cool.

working on being inspired to write daily, Leslie

My reading like Oprah experiment begins

I am a writer who needs inspiration every day. I'm constantly struggling against my own demons to write. So as I prayed on this last week I thought I should try a twelve month blogging experiment.

I decided to read one book that Oprah suggests in her monthly reading room in her magazine. I don't have television and Oprah's magazine is my lifeline for inspiration. I always run to the supermarket to buy the latest edition. I want to see how reading one of Oprah's picks might inspire me as a writer. I want to see if any of you out there want to join me in this experiment and share with me how my pick of the month might inspire you with your creative passionate dreams. 

I begged my teenage daughter to give me fifteen minutes of her time to help me set up this blog because I had no idea how to do it. I am still in awe of the internet and how it works. Being a kid of the 60's--this whole thing still baffles me.

The November O issue is out so I am starting my reading like Oprah experiment with one of her picks on page 146 in the November issue. The title is "The Road To Poetry" by Mary Karr and it's a Memoir. I am choosing this because one of my writing projects is a memoir . I'll try to read a few chapters every week and blog about how they do or don't inspire me in my writing or in any aspect of my life. Let me know if any one out there in Internet Land would like to join me and let me know how this memoir impacts you. I am also already reading a memoir the author Mary Karr wrote a long, long time ago titled " The Liars Club." When I went to the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans two years ago, a New York Times bestselling author suggested this Memoir to all aspiring memoir writers-- so I bought it fast.

Well, here goes...Hoping Reading Like Oprah can inspire me...

Writer seeking inspiration, Leslie