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For the love of books, I am always anxious for summer – longer days, relaxing by the pool, and catching up on stories that I didn’t have time for during busy work months. My love of reading started early on. I would go down to the local library, pick up ten to twelve stories (old and new) and try to figure out which one to start first. I would get lost in the story, unable to put it down and finish entire novels in one to two days. Those days feel so far away and seem more like a distant memory. It continues to surprise me when my own kids and younger folks have literally no desire to pick up a book. I mean where do kids think their favorite movies came from? Countless times some of the best-made movies came from the written words. Reading truly was a chance to immerse yourself and conjure up the characters in your mind. What could possibly be better?
Years ago it was such a joy when Oprah announced the book of the month club pick on her show and I couldn’t get my hands on the new release quick enough. I collected so many books that way. Then exploring the author’s catalog and finding more to devour. Whenever I am interested in learning about something new or finding a project around the house, I first look for ideas in books. I have bought countless books from the internet, but will still continue to drive to the local bookstore to really immerse myself in the experience. It is truly wonderful to find a treasured book, sip on a cup of tea and spend an afternoon getting lost in the pages. With all the technology and resources at the click of a button, I do find myself wondering if books will start to hold less importance and eventually disappear, similar to the newspaper.
I start to scan my collection on the shelves, flipping through the pages like a long, lost treasure that once was found. It brings joy and nostalgia every time. Perusing the pages of a book bought ten years ago and my senses are immediately refreshed. A memory frozen in time that gets awakened with each image. My collection has really grown over the years – cookbooks, design books, travel books, textbooks, romance novels, and how-to books. It reinvigorates me and sparks my desire to further add to the mix. Rereading some of the classics never gets old. It’s funny how perspectives can change depending on what is happening in your life. Storylines that maybe didn’t quite make sense during my younger years, gain insight and purpose as I am reading them now. Books really do stand the test of time.
Some of my favorites include Anne of Green Gables (childhood memories), War and Peace, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Who Moved My Cheese?, The Bluest Eye and The Alchemist. Re-reading these books and exploring new ones are just magic to unwind and escape the stresses of everyday life. Early memories of when my Grandfather would read a book to all the kids on Christmas, (before opening presents and after eating our holiday meal) adds to all the nostalgia and makes me smile to think back on. Those were the days that were worth keeping. As the world keeps changing and evolving and our climate seems unrecognizable, it’s reading a good book that feels like getting trapped in time when life felt simple. This blog is just a nod to all the readers out there that continue to hope, dream and escape one page at a time.