Grateful for Books

Today I'm grateful for books.  Of course, many of you already know of my love affair with the written word, and for that, I sincerely apologize for my gushing in regards to this blessing in my life.

I don't know what I would do without the ability to read wide and various tomes.  Going into the bookstore or library is near ecstasy for me.  One of my favorite quotes, one I put on my Facebook page comes from an Argentinean writier, Jorge Louis Borges:  "I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."  Doesn't that sound divine?  I certainly think so.

My current reading consists of various church items, a fantastic writing book, and a few crochet patterns for snowflakes.  I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to read, and know how, and enjoy it.  It isn't a chore to me.  In fact, I thin I was grounded from books like most children are from television when I was a child.  Perhaps my mother could confirm or deny this.  It seems logical though.

What fabulous things are you thankful for and what books are you reading today?


*Thanks to Google for the Image*

Cloudy with a Chance of Reading

There is snow dusting the mountains outside my window today.  Because of the stark contrast of white against the vibrantly colored leaves, I am reminded how quickly the seasons come and go.  The clouds are hanging low and dense, maneuvering the milky substance over the canyons and hills.  The rain pelting the glass reminds me exactly what I want to do today….curl up in a blanket, on the couch and drink hot chocolate with a good book.

From the time I was a small child, in Washington State, I’ve always associated a rainy day as something that necessitates a good book and some peace and quiet.  Because the number of rainy days usually outnumbered the fair weather kind, I felt the need to read, a lot.  I’ve always loved to read, and a trip to the library was nigh paradise on earth for me.  A bookstore where books are unopened and smell of the bindery is something that makes me swoon to this day.  Just ask my family about the joy that a trip to Barnes and Noble can bring me.  We seldom leave without some sort of purchase.

People are walking by, holding cups with Starbucks emblazoned on the side, and the rising steam is evident, even at my distance.  I suddenly have visions of hot cocoa with large marshmallows melting into swirls of creamy white decadence.  I want to dip my finger and pull up a dob of sticky, gooey, sugary joy, pop it in my mouth and close my eyes in pleasure.  The aroma is tantalizing.

I’m taking a few days off of work to play with my kids and just have a generally fun weekend; they are out of school so this is a perfect time to laugh, run, and be crazy.  Part of me really wants to snuggle up and read.  Oh, we could all huddle under a blanket and read respectively, but I doubt that would work as Nigel is still in a learning phase and Abbie isn’t a fan of reading like I am.  How did she get so many of my traits, but not this one?

Books and rain.  They go together like peanut butter and chocolate, a delicious combination that is comfort food for the body and soul.
*Thanks to Google for the image*

What are your rainy day activities? 

A new read...The Goose Girl

I just finished up with the Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. While I think it was a good story, it was a bit slow for me.

There have been mumblings about this story for some time and I've even had a couple of friends recommend it to me after I finished the Twilight series a couple of months ago. I think part of my problem was that I had heard all the hype about this book and came into it with expectations that weren't realistic. This book is, suitable so, in the teen section at the bookstore and carries with it a very good adaptation of the fairy tale. It just didn't have the action that I had anticipated.

Will I re-read it? Yes. I think I will even read it to Abbie out loud. There is nothing there that she wouldn't be able to read herself, but there are some words that she would struggle with because they are difficult names, etc. It is a story she would enjoy.

I think I will try to read the other books in Hales' Beyern series as well as some of her others. From what I understand, this was her first book and she is bound to be an author that I will enjoy more and more as she produces more work.

This must not be a very glowing review, but I did enjoy the book. Perhaps I've been spoilt by some authors who are more verbose and action packed, and in the adult section of the bookstore. Or perhaps I just need to re-read and spend a little more time looking for the hidden nuances that I'm sure are there.

WOW!

A very short post tonight, just to say that I have finished a book that I LOVED!  Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon.  You may have seen a post about her a couple of weeks ago when I was finishing up the first in her Outlander series.  This is the second book and amazing!  Daniel thought I was crazy to get so emotionally caught up in a book when he literally saw me sobbing towards the end of it!

Nigel was adorable and got me tissues and kept asking if I was okay.  Of course I am!  I just forgot for a moment that it was fiction and I wasn't living in pages.  I have book three but I'm resisting for a bit until I can recover from the emotional roller coaster.  Of course book two left a cliff hanger of an ending and I need to get going to find out what happens next!!!!

My new reading fascination

I have read an amazing book by Diana Gabaldon and am hooked on her series called Outlander.

Such a yummy read!  Now, those of you who know me well, know that I am a voracious reader.  I have tried to find the next book in the series in a number of places and just can't seem to catch a break.  I was getting really frustrated and ended up at Amazon.com to order Dragonfly in Amber, the second book in the series.  Today I finaly (after what seemed like forever) the UPS man brought me my next installment of time travel in Scotland.  Don't let that very poor description cause you to bypass these books!  I devoured the first one in a week and loved it.  Now for my next guilty pleasure!!

Hmm, I wonder why one image is larger than the other when I sized them the same???  Sometimes I don't get this Blogger bit.  I've always had an affinity for Scotland, so my heritage must be showing.  This is just whetting my appetite for more of the Highland images.  Perhaps I'll go there someday.  That is my dream vacation.  Forget sandy beaches and warm tropical breezes.  Give me the heather and wind rippling off the loch and I'll be happy!