Tuesday, October 20, 2020

I'd Rather Be Reading, this author gets me and Rules for Visiting novel

 Hi Anne Bogel, can we hang out? You get me, and I get you, as your book shows.


I don't know anyone who loves to read as much as I do. Reading is a bit like oxygen to me. I have friends who read, and we trade books. Yet, when Anne Bogel wrote of a Reading Twin, I was a bit jealous. She met her reading twin after many years. They share titles that mean a lot to them, fiction and nonfiction, of many genres. I keep acquiring books and work hard to give them away, and aim to have my book collection grow smaller, not larger. My favorite book that I read this year is The Splendid and the Vile. I don't know how Anne (yes, we are on a first name basis, on my side) would like this book, but perhaps it is a wowser of a read for her too.

Does Anne love Anthony Trollope, C.S. Lewis and P.G. Wodehouse as I do? Perhaps so. How could she not? Ha ha.

Here is quote from her book. "People read for a multiplicity of reasons. Nearly forty years in, I can tell you why I inhale books like oxygen: I'm grateful for my one life, but I'd prefer to live a thousand - and my favorite books allow me to experience more on the page than I ever could in my actual life. A good book allows me to step into another world, to experience people and places and situations foreign to my own day-to-day existence." 

I laughed at some of the stories she shares. Any other bookaholics out there? I have a list of novels I want to read, and now that our library is open (you can request books and pick them up outside the library) I am reading them. 


 

I just read "Rules for Visiting" by Jessica Kane and found it a delight. A lonely 40 year old single woman who is a landscape gardener at a university is given a month off of work and she has a brilliant idea to visit her four friends from long ago and re-connect. This involves quite a lot of traveling as they live around the USA and in England. Along the way, at the request of her father, she searches for the ideal tree to plant. I enjoyed this book and give it 4 stars. I just put "House of Trelawney" by Hannah Rothschild on request at the library, a story of an eccentric English aristocratic family, their crumbling home, and the ties of family and love. Hey, does that sound good? Others I want to read are "Ordinary Grace" and "The Church of Small Things." How about you and your reading?

24 comments:

Sue in Suffolk said...

I love reading too, and have a book of books read that goes right back to when I left school and started working in a library in 1971. Now I can also add a list to the blog with a bit more detail.
Lots of people who read my blog say they enjoy my monthly library book photo when I pick up my books from the mobile library that comes to the village every 4 weeks. I order books on line all the time both to borrow and sometimes to buy.
I'm beginning to downsize the book collection now as I don't want to have to move so many when the time comes for me to move

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Rules for Visiting sounded vaguely familiar, I just checked my blog and can't see that I read it but, I perhaps read a similar story>

Jeanie said...

I have a huge batch to read -- and just got two big boxes from swap pals. I'm feeling a little guilty reading when there's so much to do in my house! But I can't help it. I'm working on a book post too. So many books, so little time!

dori said...

Dear Terra,

reading good books is so rich! Because of my lots of animals and my not-so-good eyes, I only read a few sentences a day. But: I always need to know, there is a special book beside me, my secial friend. Yes, my books are my friends! They always hold my hand. Some books I read several times. They are my teachers. I need for one book one season, so I have to choose them very carefully.

I like this sentence very much:

".... I'm grateful for my one life, but I'd prefer to live a thousand - and my favorite books allow me to experience more on the page than I ever could in my actual life. A good book allows me to step into another world, to experience people and places and situations foreign to my own day-to-day existence. ...."

Many greetings from Dori from the Bavarian Forest.

P.S.: My sisters can read one book in one day!!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

I do love to read, but sadly find myself with little time these days to do much reading of fiction. I read the Bible, and my devotionals, and enjoy reading blogs too. The books you mentioned sound quite interesting, and I really need to find the one you highly recommended. Many blessings to you :)

Margaret D said...

I'm not a great reader but I do read.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

The majority of blogs I read, are readers. Yet, I'm not a reader. I am, however, a jotter down of books titles. I will try to read more.

Rian said...

I too love to read and read daily... usually after lunch and at bedtime. And if I run out of books (I have 2 friends who share books with me), then I simply have to reread a favorite. That quote about being grateful for one life, but prefer to live a thousand.. is so true. I tend to enjoy mystery and historical fiction - and even good cozy home-town stories best, but will read non-fiction too. Thanks for the recommendations... will check them out.

Betsy said...

Good Morning Terra, I posted a comment yesterday but it seems like my blog posts, blogger ate it!
I wanted to tell you that I love reading. Knitting has taken over much of my life, but I have always loved books. Our kids have inherited that love and always have a book with them.
I miss our library which is still closed. There is talk of doing some kind of online thing where you order it and they will leave it on a bench outside for you to pick up but that eliminates all of the fun browsing through dozens to find just the right one.
Take care my freind,
Blessings,
Betsy

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love to read...maybe not as much as you but I always have 2 or more books going and I read some every day. Have you read The Hired Girl? It might be a book you would enjoy. I loved it! I'm reading the newest Louise Penny book! They are all SO good!

bobbie said...

My hubby says I don't 'read' books; that I 'inhale' them! And I almost always have 2 going at once!
Another bookworm ~

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Those books sound interesting and fun. I do love to read, and I was on quite a reading kick before the pandemic. Then the library closed and I was bookless. So I started doing my genealogy on Ancestry.com, after having my DNA tested. That became like a real life novel in itself. I have about exhausted that subject for a while and will write something to tell of my discoveries soon, and then I can put that away and go back to reading about other people's lives again, now that our library is open again. Thank you for this post. Yes, I DO love a good book!

NanaDiana said...

I LOVE to read. I have not had a chance to read much in the last few months with the move and hubby's health. However, I am re-reading my Catherine Cookson books before I give them away. I had her whole collection. I love books--the smell and feel of them. I am not nearly as fond of ebooks. I want to hold the book in my hand! I reread some of the classics this past year, too. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn...I think I have read it four times now over the years. lol xo Diana

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Terra - thanks for this intro ... I'd heard of Hannah Rothschild ... but now I know a little more I've noted it.

I love books - and would love to spend more time reading ... I guess it's happening slowly ... thanks again for the thumbs up for the House of Trelawney ... take care - Hilary

Kathie said...

Hello! I love reading too. I'm currently reading "An Irish Country Doctor" by Patrick Taylor. Don't get me started on COVID and libraries... I put those titles on my TBR list. Cheers!

Kathie said...

I think we are all book dragons on here! Ann Bogel is great.. as is Sarah Mackenzie for the younger books.

At Home In New Zealand said...

I find reading is a great way to escape everyday life, as well as learning new things, but I am afraid I don't do very much of it these days.

Aritha said...

I love reading too. Good review. Thanks!

Barb said...

Hi Terra~

I LOVE TO READ! I'm going to checkout some of the books on your list. Reading is my favorite escape especially a story with a little mystery, suspense, humor and beauty. I also love biographies...I guess I love all genres!!

Have a wonderful week!

Hugs,
Barb

Joyful said...

I love to read too but don't consider myself a true bibliophile. Once I get into a good book I do get carried away in the story and cannot put it down until it's finished. It means I often stay up far too late when reading a book I like. Though I consider my annual reading goals quite modest, I'm often shocked to discover that most people I know locally don't read half as much. I'm adding the recent book you profile to my ever growing list of books to read.

Chris said...

I too love reading, I grew up in the 40s and 50s and no TV in those days so lost myself in books..Rules for Visiting sounds very interesting.

Martha said...

Hi Terra, as you already know I love reading too! I'll have to check out some of the titles you mentioned. Thanks so much for stopping by today. it's nice to "meet" you :)

Nellie's Cozy Place said...

Hi Terra,
Again, it was good to hear from you. I noticed on your about me that you are a widow, is that
relatively new??........don't remember you saying that before.....If so, I am so sorry to hear that.

I do love to read but haven't been reading near as much since I started blogging and especially since my hubby retired and now we are working on our card shop, but we read the bible daily.........lol Sometimes we do read to each other when life is not as busy as lately. lol

Take care it was nice to know you still come by at times.
Blessings for a great Novemeber.
Nellie

Linda P said...

Thank you for coming by my blog and leaving a comment. It's good to catch up on your news and to read what you have been doing lately. I agree reading is such a pleasurable way to immerse oneself in different worlds by reading stories and learn new facts with non fiction books. Thank you for mentioning some that you've been reading and some favourite authors. I'm a slow reader and have many unread books on my bookshelf to keep me entertained. Bible notes also help my devotional reading. Enjoy your reading Terra. Every blessing.