On Books

Do you ever read a book, wherein the heroine and hero are thrown into the air by the blast of a bomb and sorta wish they don't make it so the book will hurry up and end?

Sigh.

I've just finished two good books, one really good.

"The Brethren" by John Grisham is a good book. I enjoyed it.

But "Jerusalem Gap" by T. R. Pearson is a great book. I loved every word. He knows just how to turn a phrase, how to make you smile and wish the book was longer.

I have the latest Diana Gabaldon in my clutches, and will start it tonight.

However; the one I just finished was not good. Daughter could have done better - heck, I could have done better - when we were in grammar school. It's obviously one of those "outline" books. A person is given an outline and they follow it.

Wish they wouldn't.

I was suckered into reading it because it was about twins. And once I started, I didn't want to stop because I was already in bed and in too much discomfort to get up in search of something better.

That'll teach me.

Anyway, I love books, both reading and writing them.

If you have any books  you  love dearly and would like to share the title so I can read it too, please do!

Well, off to rest my back.

A Year Later...

Last January I started writing two different stories. One progressed faster than the other, and I had written twenty plus pages when the other story took hold and took off.

Last  night, a year later, I finished this story. It is just over two-hundred pages long. As you can imagine I am quite excited.

Today I got it printed with a three hole punch done to the side and put it in a binder so I can begin to proof and edit.

This is hard work. It is annoying. It is frustrating.

Before I'm through with it, I will be sick of the book.

And then, when I think I've perfected it as much as humanly possible, someone else will look at it for me and find all sorts of errors.

And after they finish with it, someone else will read it, and find more mistakes.

I will let it sit "cold" for a while. Then I'll go back and read it again, and you won't believe this, but I'll find more errors.

And sure as shootin', after the story becomes a real live book in print, I'll read it proudly for the first time....and find an error.

It never fails.

Diana Gabaldon, one of my favorite authors, says when one closes the cover of a novel the errors reproduce.

I believe it!

But for now, the printed pages lie pristine between a binder's covers, full of hope and satisfaction.

Just waiting on me to begin.

The most perfect time for the book, because it is newborn.

I can hardly wait to hold it.

I'm a Bookaholic

Anyone who knows me very well knows I'd rather read than eat.

 Unless I'm hungry, of course.

I remember wanting to read, and the first books to influence my life were the "Dick and Jane" series, which taught me to read by the  method of memorization. Worked great, I might add.

I remember being around seven and seeing this fat book in the children's section and my heart rate kicked up. Could it be? Could there be a big book I could read? It was "The House at Pooh Corner" by A. A. Milne. I was indeed allowed to check it out and take it home.

I thought  I had arrived.

The next book that stands out in my memory is one that changed my life. At least my reading life. "Tom's Midnight Garden" by Philippi Pearce is about 'time-slippage', or what we would call today time travel. This is my most favorite book of all time, and I read it to my cousin, my brothers, my daughter, and even did it by chapter as an afternoon group at work.

I've been hooked on time travel books ever since. There are wonderful ones, (Diana Gabaldon, where is that next 'Outlander' series book?), and some very bad ones, which of course shall remain nameless.

Stephen King captured my attention with "Salem's Lot", but the best he ever has done is "The Stand".

There are precious books, books I wouldn't trade, (even for food), one of a kind books that, after I read, can't wait to call my friend and say "You have GOT to read this one!"

I have a list of my favorites, and I share them with anyone who asks.

With my physical limitations, I truly don't know what I'd do without my good friends, books.

It puts a dreamy look on my face, right now, as I think about the four new library books husband brought to me just a few hours ago.

See ya later, I got stuff to do!