Task #8: Read All Isabel Allende Books

In my post 3-0 is STARING me in the Face! I mentioned that I wanted to read all of Isabel Allende's books.

In case you don't know she is a Chilean writer and most of her books (if not all) have women as main characters. She is a great story-teller and so are many of her protagonists.

I just finished reading Eva Luna today and I plan on starting Cuentos de Eva Luna (The Stories of Eva Luna) next since you kind of have to read them together.

Here's a list of the works of Isabel Allende (I've put the books that I've read already in bold). You can find the English titles online:

The House of the Spirits (La casa de los espíritus) -- I read this book in English as a child.  It is one of my favorite books, period.
Inés of My Soul (Inés del alma mia) -- I also read this book in English
El Zorro: comienza la leyenda
Eva Luna 
La isla bajo el mar -- I started this book awhile back but just couldn't bring myself to finish. It was just too depressing...and long. Maybe I'll try again.
Cuentos de Eva Luna
Hija de la fortuna
Retrato en sepia
La gorda de porcelana
De amor y de sombra
El plan infinito
Paula
Aphrodita
La ciudad de las bestias
Mi país inventado
El reino del dragón de oro
El bosque de los pigmeos
La suma de los días
El cuaderno de Maya

Marathoning A-Z

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One of my Christmas presents this year was the Kindle Fire. I'm not really into technology (I don't even have a smartphone) but I have been trying to give it some use. So far my favorite apps are Pandora...and all the other free stuff! 

I've been downloading free books like crazy since I got it. There are actual, real, copies of books in my possesion right now that I don't even have time to read. However, the lure of FREE has hypnotized me. What can I say?

This book I came across in the solo sports section. It's the Kindle Fire edition. It's nice in that you can bookmark pages and highlight passages for later review. 

If you haven't read this book already you might as well get it, especially if you own a Kindle Fire. While it didn't really tell me anything life altering, it was a good read. 

The book definitely reinforced a lot of things. Things I've read about already, for example, and some other things I've been thinking about throughout my training and when race day comes along.

Honestly, it was quite motivating, and nice, to know that there are tons of us out there. We are a unique "type" of person. I haven't even run my marathon yet and I've already made lots of cyber friends.

My favorite quote in the book is this:

"Whenever someone asks you why you are running a marathon, simply reply: Because I can."

Man do I wish I'd read this book months ago! That is the perfect comeback for those sneering people who think that running a marathon is just ridiculous. 

There are those that ask, in awe, and that's harmless. But there are those "haters" who just want to get you down.

There are tons of funny little lines like that in the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will probably re-read it again at some point. Probably when I'm preparing for my second marathon!

What are some books you've read that inspire you?