Tuesday, July 24, 2012

B is for Books



"There's more to life than books you know, but not much more.."


from the 1984 song "Handsome Devil" by 
The Smiths 








After my people and pets, books are my greatest treasures. I am fortunate enough to have amassed hundreds thousands of them, and have spent many hours lured in by their irresistible richness. A peek into my home library will attest to my obsession with the printed word! 


Book in hand, the whole world is laid at my feet in all its beauty and complexity. I can be anyone…go anywhere…experience lives entirely different from my own, and grow a little from the experience of trying on other peoples’ realities, however briefly. 



 Books took me through a troubled childhood by being my friends when I had no other and my refuge when the world asked more of me than a child should have to give. As an adult, they have been my joy and my inspiration…a continual celebration and exploration of life in all its diversity.
Additionally, I have found a wonderful serendipity at work in the world of words. Sometimes the right book manages to find us at exactly the time we are in need of it. Such was the case a few years ago when I happened upon Tara Frey’s, “Blogging for Bliss”. 


I’d been curious about blogs, but knew little about them. That all changed after reading this book. Its straightforward and concise information, coupled with yummy pictures and pages of inspiring bloggers and sites, was just the catalyst needed to lure me into the vibrant world of blogging. I have never looked back. 





 A Few Books In My Studio




 I am a fast and focused reader, so it's an ongoing challenge to ensure I always have great stacks of both fiction and non-fiction books awaiting my eager hands.

 (Okay, it's not that difficult since I do make weekly visits to Chapters and the local thrift stores!)


My mother complained that I always had my nose stuck in a book, as if there was something wrong with that! 

Now the only complaint I hear is from my beleaguered husband who doesn't understand my reluctance to ever give books away. 


I live in the thrall of bookish delights. Here are a few titles that have delighted me so far this summer, (with many more in waiting)...


1) Still Alice  by  Lisa Genova  (2009)

2) Small Wonder: Essays  by  Barbara Kingsolver  (2002)

3) To Cut a Long Story Short by  Jeffrey Archer  (2000)

4) Collected Stories  by  Carol Shields  (2004)

5) Floating In My Mother's Palm  by  Ursula Hegi  (1990)

6) Saturday  by  Ian McEwan (2005)

7) The Art of racing In The Rain  by  Garth Stein  (2008)

  8) Wildflower  by  Mark Seal  (2009)

9) The Weird Sisters  by  Eleanor Brown  (2011)

10) All Roads Lead to Austen  by  Amy Elizabeth Smith  (2012)




 Old or new...printed or electronic...I take comfort in knowing books will always be my friends...



To read other takes on the letter "B", do stop by ABC Wednesday and enjoy the variety...


17 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Of course, I adore this bookish post, as our letters back and forth over the years have always related current reading discoveries.......on your list, I have also enjoyed Still Alice, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and Small Wonders. (I LOVE Barbara Kingsolver!) I was surprised to see Ursula Hegi has one out I didnt know about, will be following up on that. I adored her Stones From the River enough to read it again, if I only had time, and didnt have a stack of books as tall as I am To Be Read Next.

All Roads Lead to Austen looks good too....did you see the movie The Jane Austen Book Club? You must have. I so love it!!!!!!

Katy Cameron said...

Give books away?! Oh the horror! I think I need to go and pet my collection now just to reassure them...

Lynette Killam said...

Everyone assured me, in my studio post, that it's not possible to have too much stuff, Sherry. I extend that premise to assert it's also not possible to have too many books! Of course, now that they're building up in stacks down the hall, I concede I may have to cut back just a little, if only because I keep stubbing my toes...LOL!

Lynette Killam said...

And Katy...I knew you'd agree that giving books away is a sacrilege...:)

Leslie: said...

I must admit I'm a bookoholic! I'm constantly online at Chapters looking for more. I see you have lots of Ken Follett - he's one of my favourites. Also, one of my favourite books is "The Art of Racing in the Rain," and I've had the honour of having 2 of my students (both boys) accept my suggestion of reading it - they LOVED it, and even admitted to getting a bit misty-eyed at the end.

Leslie
abcw team

The Poet said...

Dear friend,
My wife is the book lover. If she gets a hold of those she will be in paradise (LOL). Thanks for sharing.

Kay L. Davies said...

Ah, yes, books! I don't make regular visits to book stores the way I used to. I just re-read old ones these days. Saves space, LOL.
Very interesting post, however, especially the list of titles.
Hmmm.
K

Jama said...

I'm a bookworm too, been hoarding books till there's no place to put them. Stopped buying books since then , but never stop reading. Good thing the library is nearby.

Roger Owen Green said...

this librarian approves of this message.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

Sherry Blue Sky said...

I havent read Ken Follet and am beginning to think that may be a mistake.......by the way, the book you sent me, Let's Pretend This Never Happened by the Blogess is laugh out loud hilarious!!!!!!!

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I used to be a voracious reader. Now there's so many other demands on my time that I struggle through books and take forever. Right now I'm reading "The Time Traveler's Wife" -- in 2 months I've made it about one-third of the way through. But when I retire, I'll be a voracious reader again!

Chubskulit Rose said...

wow, that's a lot of books!

Set of B's
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

LindyLouMac said...

Calling by from ABC Wednesday, a lady after my own heart as I have an entire blog for books!

Joy said...

"Keats and Yeats are on your side", couldn't resist another Smiths lyric. I always love a browse amongst the bookshelves.

MERYL JAFFE, PhD - parent, psychologist, teacher, author... said...

My husband and I love books as well. They're ALL OVER the house, teeming over double lined book shelves in each and every room. I love getting lost in books be they fiction, non-fiction, prose, or graphic novels (there are some truly awesome non-fiction graphic novels whose art mirrors the powerful words).

Great post.

Madeleine Begun Kane said...

I can definitely relate to your bookish post. Great job! Madeleine Begun Kane

Breezy said...

I love your list.. I want to read The Weird Sisters. Maybe I will have the chance before school starts again.

Happy Reading