As many of you know, I love reading.
I bought "Laugh Like a Kid Again" when I thought of the author Phil Callaway. He was the key note speaker at a Christian writers conference I attended, and got me to laugh and to think. His light hearted true stories in this book include a prodigal dog and Callaway's unexpected afternoon in a prison.
Above is "An Enchanted April" by Elizabeth Von Arnim, one of my all time favorite novels. This edition is only $10 for paperback and $1.99 on Kindle. Four English ladies meet via a newspaper ad to rent a villa in Italy. Each is desperate in her own way to have a peaceful interlude in her life.
The two books I suggest above are easy to read and An Enchanted April is a wonderful story with a bit of romance in it. I recently read an article about how to get good reading habits and you can find the article at A Deep Reading Habit
Can you tell I am a librarian and a writer? I wrote two books with a traditional publisher and I also wrote 1,000 or more articles and magazine columns. Yup, reading and writing, I love em.
The article has tips to help us enjoy reading; two tips are to read physical books and to read for at least 30 minutes. Of course ebooks are also favorites of mine, and sometimes I read for just a couple of minutes. I think the key is to find books you like! If you tell me in a comment or email what kind of topics or books you like I will recommend some to you that might suit you.
Above shows a page in a book a friend gave me recently, titled 100 Illustrated Bible Verses, by Workman Publishing. As Jesus says in John 15:12 "Love one another, just as I have loved you."
24 comments:
I didn't know you wrote all those things. I was reading all the time but have for quite some time now. Mysteries have always been my favorite.
I do read at least 30 minutes a day. Usually in the evening when the grandkids go home. Right now I am re-reading what is on my shelves After most of the kids go back to school, I hope I increase my reading time by bounds. I guess I could catch up on cleaning - but I would rather read!
Reading!! My favorite pastime! In fact, I have difficulty putting a book down once I begin! Sometimes I’m sorry to see them come to an end. Through the years, I’ve enjoyed Rosamunde Pilcher and reread her books yearly. Jan Karon’s Mitford series is appealing; wish she could write another one. Mary Alice Monroe, Lisa Wingate, Kristin Hannah, Sarah Jio….all enjoyable to read. A Man Called Ove is a favorite!
I love Enchanted April, too. I have it on videotape and even though I can't play it on anything I own (and probably should get the DVD!) I can't bear to toss it! When I did my July book post I was lacking on fiction. I should remedy that!
Thanks for these recommendations! Renting an Italian villa with other ladies sounds like something I'd love to do.
Before a series of unpleasantries in 2013, I was passionate about reading. Since then, I've misplaced my ability to focus. I still enjoy a good thriller (J. Kellerman, D. Baldacci, etc.) but it's something I have to make myself stop and do. I'm going to read that article you cite and consider putting my e-reader aside. Thank you!
Just ordered Enchanted April from Kindle. I do prefer real books, but find it easy to read books on Kindle at night on my iPhone since I don't need a night light to do so. And I like stories about small towns, good people, and happy endings (especially these days). I have done some heavy duty reading and enjoy both mysteries and historical fiction, but lately I've been staying light. Thanks for the recommendation.
I love the two tips you highlighted, and I'm off to follow the link in a second.
I particularly love travel books that involve long walks, bike rides, or really extended road trips where the writer interfaces in detail with the locals encountered along the way. Or books where someone moves into a part of the country or the world they've never been before, even to having to struggle with a culture shock . I always wish it were me.
Thanks for the review. I'll look them up on my kindle!
I loved Enchanted April, both the book and the movie. I'm sure I've seen the movie 3 times over the years.
I am a life long lover of books and never does a day go by without me reading something. I'm not a fast reader so I tend to take my time and read every word. I can't imagine life with a book.....
and I bought your Christmas book last year and will bring it out again this Christmas to enjoy a second time.
Not much or a book reader…you enjoy it so that is good.
'The Enchanted April' is one of my yearly Spring re-reads! I really enjoyed this post and I would love to have some ideas for reading on my month in the country. I am spending the month of September pottering around Wales and as an avid reader the more books I have, the happier I am. I am already taking, Dylan Thomas poems, Francis Kilvert's Diaries and Gifts from the Sea. Can you suggest anything? Many thanks
This is great! Thank you so much for sharing, I love a good book! : )
Blessings!
Thank you for the book recommends, Terra. I don't like humor, as a general rule, except for really old tv sitcoms... like The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy. ~Andrea xoxoxo
A kindred spirit~ I too love to read and write though am not published. Enchanted April is one of my favorites. I also have the movie and would just play it to listen to for some time before I figured out I like the film-score so purchased the music :-)
Oh, I would love recommendations. EA is superb, I also like Della Lutes, Gladys Taber, and Alice Taylor. I just purchased the Little House books as I've never read those (Gasp! I know.) I appreciate old time living and the perspective of those who grew up knowing no other way.
Congratulation for being a reader and a writer!!!
Wonderful and marvellous!!
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I love the illustrated verse of John in the Holy Bible.
I love seeing what other people are reading. I just finished a book 'Seven Precious Things' which was a feel-good type of book.
Hello!
Oh my goodness!
I love to read!!!
My family cannot believe I can read two books at one time.
I enjoyed your post today.
Have a nice weekend!
Dear Terra, like you, reading for me has been a life-long habit ever since Mom first took me to the library when I was little and we checked out picture books for me and novels by authors like Frank Yerby and Agnes Turnball (sp?) for her. Later, I'd walk to the library after school and check out novels. At that time, there weren't chapter books or young adult. I read all the classics the librarian recommended and then began--at the age of ten--to read the novels Mom would bring home. In the 1940s many writers of historical fiction provided me my first lessons in the history of the United States and also European history. That, too, (history) became a life-long passion. Thanks so much for sending me back to my early days! Peace.
Thanks for this post, and thanks for visiting my blog to comment. I loved that article about deep reading. I love reading as well, and I am an English teacher trying to get my students to enjoy reading. The article you linked to had some good ideas. I usually read a traditional type book, but I also have books on the Kindle app on my phone. My husband is also an avid reader. I am now following your blog so will be back! Thanks again and have a good week!
I keep a book list. That way I know there is something good to read on it. I attened Catholic school so all the classics were required reading and we all were in the habit of reading. I wish children today would read. They all want to be on electronic devices and I have read that causes so much mental health problems, and so much else. A former blogger I knew, she passed away, was a school teacher. She was a wonderful soul but her only child is so liberal and her little boy recently started kindergarten. He is terribly obese and they just let him sit on the computer or laptop. It is so very sad. I found areal appreciation for reading and writing as a result of my education. One of my lifelong friends is friends with my high school English teacher from my sophomore year. She was fresh out of college when she taught us. :-)
I hope you have a great week and a wonderful weekend too.
I hopped over and read the article. I love reading so I found it interesting, particularly the bit about reading physical books as I have never read an ebook. I set myself a notional target of 30 pages at a time (because that's what my English teacher taught me forty years ago) so that I can really engage with the book but I usually read more. My taste is varied, from the classics to modern literary fiction, I just need the writing to be good. x
A thousand articles and columns?! Oh, my you are a prolific writer!
Thanks for the recommended books.
I recently read Enchanted April and very much enjoyed it. Loved the Italian garden.
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