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...

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.ca/

Magpie Tales: No. 73

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Reach out your hand...pull

me near that I might not

lose sight of all I love.

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This painting speaks to me of the disconnect we sometimes feel in our lives...in our families and our passions. Too often, doing what's expected of us has little to do with what makes us feel gloriously alive....

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Today, I feel infused with life as I've learned about a poet with whom I was not familiar, and a painter.

The piece above is titled "People of Chilmark', painted in 1920 by American artist and muralist Thomas Hart Benton. His lush, earthy work highlights everyday scenes of life in the U.S. As an admirer of Diego Rivera, I recognized some of the same elements in Benton's work.

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This is my first time to join Magpie Tales. For more tales based on this photo, do stop by the link below...

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http://magpietales.blogspot.com/

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Additionally, my friend Debra left a comment on my page referencing the English poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, whose striking and unique approach to language enlivened the strict poetic forms of the time. Thanks D.,for brightening my day! 

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