Books

Although I don't have as much time to devote as I'd like, I still love to read.  I'm talking physical books.  I don't have a Kindle and, while I wouldn't turn one down if it were given to me, there's something about holding a physical book...flipping pages...using a bookmark...the scent...it's oddly satisfying.

The first favorite book I can remember is "Hubert's Hair-Raising Adventure".  It's about a vain lion whose mane catches fire, and the lengths he goes through to get it back.  I first read it in first grade.  I went to a 3rd grade reading class and, whenever we had "free read time", I would run to the books and grab Hubert before anyone else would.  When, near the end of the school year, I ended up in the hospital, my teachers gave it to me.  I still have it.

While in the hospital, I also got a ton of "Big Little Books".  Those little bite-sized nuggets were wonderful.

In 3rd or 4th grade, each person in my class was assigned a different book by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Mine was "Little House On the Prairie". I was immediately hooked.  Eventually, my mother got me the entire collection...book by book.  It seemed to take forever, but I would read the new one as soon as I got it; I would read the books I had in chronological order, fitting the new one in its place.  Unfortunately, my mother didn't get them IN chronological order!  The last one I got was "By the Shores of Silver Lake"...which was #5 of the 9.  Once again, I still have them, although "Little House in the Big Woods" - the first one I got - has a masking-tape spine.  I still love Laura; a few years ago my husband gave me a wonderful book titled "I Remember Laura", with interviews of people who knew & loved her!

My mother knew that I liked to read, and would often get me books.  One book she gave me when I was about 10 or 11 was "Karen" by Marie Killilea.  It's a true story about Marie's daughter, Karen, and her battles with having Cerebral Palsy.  It's not an easy read: it took me 3 tries to get past the word "infinitesimal" on page 2!  However, once I got past that, I found a story rich in love, faith, and humor.  I have read it - and its sequel, "With Love, From Karen" - several times.  It wasn't until just a few years ago that I found out that I was actually named after this book!

I still love to read.  Some of my other favorites:

• The Bible, which I have read - cover to cover - several times.
• Most of the early works of Stephen King, including "Carrie" and "The Stand".
• "Swan's Song" and "They Thirst" by Robert McCammon
• Most of V.C. Andrews, including the Dollenganger saga and "My Sweet Audrina".
• The Dragonriders of PERN series by Anne McCaffrey
• The Belgariad and the Mallorean serieses (is that a word?) by David Eddings.
• The Bad Girls of the Bible series by Liz Curtis Higgs
• The Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins
• "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb
• The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
• "Maus" (I and II) by Art Spiegelman
• "A Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

I also have a soft spot for biographies and autobiographies, including:

• Mick Fleetwood
• Wynonna Judd
• Naomi Judd
• Roger Daltry
• Jimmy Webb
• Patty Duke
• Chuck Norris
• Eric Clapton
• Patti Boyd
• Mackenzie Phillips
• Maria Von Trapp
• Helen Keller

I also love re-reading books; to me, it's like revisiting old friends.  Granted, I usually like a little time to pass before a re-read...but that just gives me the opportunity to read another book!

Just Like the White-Winged Dove...

Stevie Nicks is easily my favorite singer.  I remember my introduction: my sister & I had gone to the local record store and she bought a Fleetwood Mac album.  I don’t remember if it was “Fleetwood Mac” or “Rumours” – pretty sure it was “Rumours” – but she played it when we got home and I was hopelessly hooked.  Over the years I studied about this incredible band that originated in England and discovered their early, blues stuff.  Fleetwood Mac quickly became my all-time favorite band, but I always ended up coming back to Stevie's solo stuff.

Oddly enough, I find it easy to pick my favorites of her songs, both solo and with the Mac.  This is my Top 10 list of each, as of today.  She’s still recording, so anything is subject to change.

Top 10 Stevie Nicks Solo Songs:

10)  Desert Angel, from Timespace – This is both powerful and sweet at the same time.  Stevie is a staunch supporter of our armed forces, and she wrote this soon after Desert Storm began.  The plaintive “come home” at the end gets me every time.

9) Cathouse Blues, from 24 Karat Gold – This song is just so much fun!  It’s catching Stevie in kind of a silly moment…pure joy.  You’ve got to love a line like “I wear the highest of high-heel shoes”.

8) Ghosts Are Gone, from In Your Dreams – I find that I really lean on the hard, powerful songs more than the ballads, and this one fits the bill.  The opening guitar riff is PURE rock power!

7) I Can’t Wait, from Rock A Little – Once again, one of her strong, powerful songs.  The first time I heard it, I was blown away by the power.

6) Whole Lotta Trouble, from the Other Side of the Mirror – This one is more of a bluesy, jazzy number, with horns, no less.  You can’t help but sway to the beat.

5) Stand Back, from The Wild Heart – Stevie synth-pop.  ‘Nuff said.

4) Fall From Grace, from Trouble in Shangri-La – I didn’t consciously pick songs from different albums, but each album seems to have one huge, stand-out, power ballad…and this is Shangri-La’s.

3) The Nightmare, from Rock A Little – See?  Rock A Little is a bit of an underrated album.  This song definitely fits the title, as the build-up is like a nightmare building up its terror.

2) Wide Sargasso Sea, from In Your Dreams – I’m a sucker for story songs, and this one has a wonderfully tragic story, with one of the most powerful endings of any of her songs.  It builds…and builds…and builds…and then just stops…”but you’ll never forget that kiss”.

1) Edge of Seventeen, from Bella Donna – I have loved this song since the very first time I heard it, and even with her extensive catalog, including b-sides and soundtrack additions, nothing has touched this in my heart.  I hear that opening Waddy-riff and my heart just leaps for joy.  My absolutely favorite version, however, is the one she does with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.  Unforgettable!

I give an honorable mention to "One More Big Time Rock'n'Roll Star" (b-side), "Has Anyone Ever Written Anything For You" (Rock A Little), and "Gold and Braid" (Live cut)

Top 10 Stevie Nicks songs with Fleetwood Mac:

10) Freedom, from Behind the Mask – Easily the rockiest song from this album, it almost resembles a spinning top.  The lyrics are rather biting:  “look at me with daggers, it won’t do you any good; all the looks that you’ve used on me won’t work now that you’ve fallen”.

9) Beautiful Child, from Tusk – The softest and sweetest song in her Mac catalog, it’s both uplifting and sad at the same time…”I’m not a child any more…”

8) Gold Dust Woman, from Rumours – My opinion: this song is stronger lyrically, musically, and topically than “Dreams”…but “Dreams” gets all the press.  It’s a hard song to listen to, it’s so confessional…but that’s part of its magic.

7) Sara, from Tusk – Of course, I mean the FULL version, not the chopped-up radio mix.  It’s an odd love song…odder if you know the story behind it.

6) Straight Back, from Mirage – This has a “Sisters Of the Moon” vibe, in its intensity.  I absolutely LOVE the overlapping lyrics, which she also uses that style in “Beautiful Child”, but you don’t miss a word.

5) Sisters Of the Moon, from Tusk – Take the musical style of “Straight Back” (yeah, I know this came out first), add the confessional tone of “Gold Dust Woman”, mix well, add an unforgettable keyboard riff…and voila!

4) Silver Springs, b-side to “Go Your Own Way”, also released on “The Dance” and the special edition of “Rumours” – The most popular song that nobody has heard of.  So full of heartache, but with a warning…”you’ll never get away from the sound of the woman that loved you”.

3) Storms, from Tusk – This one is a hidden gem.  Just a soft, sad lament.  A grossly underrated song from her discography.  “Never have I been a blue, calm sea; I have always been a storm.”

2) Gypsy, from Mirage – This song is the very essence of Stevie Nicks.  I think that this is the best song that, if someone asks you, “What’s the big deal?” you put this on and it answers the question perfectly.

1) Illume, from Say You Will – Another hidden gem.  This song is about her experience with 9/11.  Both the lyrics and the music tell of her pain, fear, and anger.  I find that most of her Mac stuff is softer, but this one rocks as hard as her hardest solo stuff.

I give an honorable mention to "The Second Time" (Behind the Mask), "Welcome To the Room...Sara" (Tango In the Night), and - of course - "Dreams" (Rumours)