Books, How I Love Thee…

~ Meg

 

Writers, if you are not a lover of books, you need to have your heads examined.  Seriously, you cannot, CANNOT be a good writer if you do not read!  I have always loved books.  As an only child, I grew up reading – making fictional friends to take the place of siblings.  The first books I clearly remember reading were Richard Scarry’s picture books.  Then it was Ramona Quimby and her big sister Beezus!  Nancy Drew, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women….

I was a book nerd in high school, too.  When other kids goofed off in free periods, I’d go bother the librarian.  My high school librarian Mrs. Long, was a big, intimidating lady, but damn, she had great taste in books!  She introduced me to The Hobbitt and my favorite book of all times:  Dune, by Frank Herbert.  This is the book that I’d want with me if I were marooned on a desert island.  (Desert?  Get it?)

But honestly, there are so many close seconds…  I’ve read the complete Sherlock Holmes collection and not just because of the TV series, either.  (Although, I could listen to Benedict Cumberbatch reading the phone book.  That voice…)  Other favorites include: Robinson Crusoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.  More contemporary favorites are Tom Clancy’s: The Hunt For Red October, John Grisham’s:  A Time To Kill, Khaled Hosseini’s:  The Kite Runner and Sara Gruen’s:  Water For Elephants.

Anthony Trollope asked, “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book and a cup of coffee?”  I couldn’t agree more!  Perhaps I would add to that: a rainy or snowy day and a cozy blanket to wrap around your shoulders.  To be forced by the weather to stay inside and curl up with a book?  Heaven!  And to have one with some heft, too, be it paper or electrons!  As far as I’m concerned, a good story can go on forever!  Lord of the Rings?  Bring it on!  Red Mars?  Yes!  I already gushed about Dune, right?  Yeah well, there’s a trilogy!

Do you like spoilers?  Can you stand waiting till the end to find out if “our hero” makes it?  I have to be honest, before the advent of e-readers, I was unable to resist checking the last page of the book just to see if everyone gets out alive!  It’s not like it’s impossible to check in an e-book… But I just don’t do it!  Weird.

Anyway, I read many different genres and enjoy them all:  mystery, thriller, romance, science fiction, espionage, historical fiction, biography…  It’s been said that you can know a person by the type of books he (or she) reads.  What does that say about me?  Am I unknowable?!?  Hmm.  Perhaps just multi-faceted.  Oooh yes, that sounds deep and sophisticated!  *Snort*

Lately, I’ve been reading more historical fiction than anything else.  I recently read Vikingr by my friend, JS Malpas and have been swept away by the moving story of a blind girl and a young German soldier in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  So what are you currently reading?  Tell me what books you love!  And what’s on your to-read list?  If you like, join me on Goodreads!  Winter is coming, let’s all curl up with a good book!

(Header image courtesy of cardinalnewmansociety.org)

Published by Meg

Easily amused, never bored and constantly distracted. My creative pursuits include writing, drawing, painting and photography.

23 thoughts on “Books, How I Love Thee…”

  1. Agree completely, though I admit that I don’t read for entertainment as much as I used to because I have this thing about reading fiction while I’m writing fiction…hehe. I think a lot of non-writers don’t read a lot anymore because of the convenience of film and television, but also due to modern educators emphasizing deep reading for analysis purposes in the classroom and nothing sucks the fun out of it like that.

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  2. Oh, Meg. You mentioned so many good ones. It hurt me not to include Water For Elephants on my list. I haven’t read The Kite Runner. It is on my list. And you are 100% correct. How can you say you want to be a writer if your not a reader. Great post my friend.

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  5. I was such a book nerd in school. And Nancy Drew was such a big part during my growing up years. I have solved many a mysteries like “how does this shopkeeper know who my father is?!” Hmmm, he must have observed me and dad when i last came to buy bread and egss here. Mystery solved!
    I don’t read all genres now, although i think i should, just to improve my vocab and writing skills.

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  7. I love love love reading books! It has been my favorite from I can ever remember!
    The idea of a sofa, a great book, a cup of coffee/wine and a snowy/rainy day would be heaven!
    I read different genres too but of late I find myself drawn to classics….books written in the 1800s! I wish I had a teleporter to transport myself into that era just to find out more about the people and their lives from that age! 🙂

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    1. I try to read some of the classics too, usually on audio book. This year, I read My Antonia by Willa Cather and The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald. I’ve never read Charles Dickens, so I’m putting him on my list!

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  8. Eek! I just read The Complete Sherlock Holmes as well – somehow never did before which was a mistake…and since you like historical fiction have you ever read Dorothy Dunnett? The Lymond Chronicles are amazing!

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