Art Books I highly recommend. This is based on the fact that I come back to them often.
The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
Watercolor Secrets, by Robin Berry
Compendium of Watercolor Techniques, by Robin Berry
The Complete Guide to Watercolor, by Ray Smith and Elizabeth Jane LLoyd
Painting Beautiful Skin Tones, by Chris Saper
Artist’s Color Manual, by Simon Jennings
Exploring Textures in Watercolor, by Joye Moon
Taking Risks with Watercolor, by Shirley Trevina
Handbook of Plant and Floral Ornament, Handbook of Ornament, both by Dover Press
How to Draw the Human Figure, by Louise Gordon, and Drawing the Head and Figure by Jack Hamm
This is a list of books compiled by my women friends. It's recommended reading from some really great people. Let me know if you have any you would like to add. I'd love to keep the list growing.
The Big Rich, by Bryan Burrough (rise and fall of the Texas oil fortunes)
Falling Leaves (memoir of an unwanted Chinese daughter)
The Innocent Man, John Grishham
Wild, by Cheryl Strade (lost and found on the Pacific Crest Trail)
All That is Bitter and Sweet, memoir by Ashley Judd
The Long Way Home, by Karen McQuestion
People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks
City of Thieves, by Benoff
Lots of Candles Plenty of Cake, by Anna Quindlen
Now my favorites:
NEW!
The Nightingale
The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion
The Girl From Krakow, Alex Rosenberg
The Girl on the Train, Paula Hawkins
House Girl, Tara Conelin
Mickelson's Ghosts, John Gardner
The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
Prague Winter, Madeleine Albright
Path Between the Seas, David McCullough
The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
Not so new, but still wonderful!
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, by Helen Simonson
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak
Greyhound, by Steffan Piper
The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein
Old Town, by Lin Zhe and George A. Fowler
The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach
Room; A Novel, by emma Donoghue
The Hindi Bindi Club, by Monica Pradhan
The School of Essential Ingredients, by Erica Bauermeister
Mudbound, by Hillary Jordan
Silas Marner
Gone Girl
New Additions From Other Great Ladies 7/19/12
The Color of Law, by Mark Giminez
Fall of Giants, by Ken Follett
The Women, by T.C. Boyle
Elizabeth Street, by Laurie Fabiano
Patron Saint of Liars, by Ann Patchett
My Robin, by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Land of the Blue Flower, by Francis Hodgson Burnett
War Brides, by Helen Bryan
The Bridge, by Kay Bratt
Daughters For a Time, by Jennifer Handford