BOOKS!

What would I do without it?

That precious commodity is my library card.

The library is my institution of higher learning.

It’s my passport to the world.

It’s my favorite entertainment.

My escape.

My connection to the wonderful world of words.


I have been an avid reader since I was a child attending Whittier Grade School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ca 1950.

Almost every Saturday, I walked to our neighborhood Carnegie Library and happily and hopefully entered that magical world.

Once upon a time, the library was our only ‘go to’ place for reference material. We have a much more massive research library at our very fingertips now. It’s called the internet.

As I began writing this post, and remembering my very own childhood library, my curiosity led me to google it…and lo and behold….I found it!

http://www.colorado-springs-vacation.com/pikes-peak-library-district.html

As soon as I looked at the picture, I was transported back in time. I could feel me walking up those stairs and opening the big front door. I could see the light streaming in through the tall windows and dancing on the scuffed and scarred, but highly polished wooden floor.. I could see the librarian sitting behind her desk. She was my friend! But my best friends were lined up, in neat rows, on all those inviting shelves. NANCY DREW waited for me. And MISTY OF CHICOTEAGUE and CALL OF THE WILD. LITTLE WOMEN and JANE EYRE. I don’t remember a lot of what I read back then. But I do remembering racing through many wonderful books every single week. Page turners! Every one!

When I was about 10 years old, I came down with rheumatic fever and was kept on strict bed rest for three months. My poor Mother also had a seven year old to see to and my bedroom was on the second floor- up a very steep flight of stairs. I’m certain that the only thing which saved her sanity was that I could spend untold hours happily engrossed in a book. TV had just come out and back then and IF people even had one, they sure didn’t have one in every bedroom. Imagine trying to keep a 10 yr old in bed for 3 months today without a TV!!!

In the 50 years since, I have been constantly and consistently entertained, sustained and inspired by books. Some of them I read over and over again… And each time I do, I find a new treasure…a phrase…a description….a concept. It’s like spending time with a beloved old friend and getting to know them better all the time.


I love old books:

I read Edna Ferber’s THE GOOD EARTH and IMPERIAL WOMAN very early on. Each of her books was and is a real treat.

Like everyone else alive in those days, I fell in love with GONE WITH THE WIND...both the movie and the book.

That old book of poetry has been a favorite for so long.......It's a 1936 edition. NO, I didn't buy it new! I'm old...but I'm not THAT old! Don't get smart!

One of my favorite poems from the humor and whimsey section goes something like this.

JUDGED BY THE COMPANY ONE KEEPS

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

One night in late October,

When I was far from sober,

Returning with my load of manly pride,

My feet began to stutter,

So I lay down in the gutter,

And a pig came near and lay down by my side;

A lady passing by was heard to say:

"You can tell a man who boozes,

By the company he chooses,"

And the pig got up and slowly walked away.

At a fairly young age, I got my hands on a copy of LADY CHATTERLY’S LOVER and was shocked beyond imagining! Who knew that by today’s standards, it was probably pretty tame. I’m not so sure that’s a good thing.

The absolute goodness of Katherine Marshall’s CHRISTY...both the tale…and the telling of it….still stands today, in my opinion, as an example of what a willing human being can contribute to the world.
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read THE LITTLE HOUSE series. They never get old to me.

I love new books:
THE KITE RUNNER and A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS, both by Khaled Hosseini.

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS inspired my painting Sister/Friends. He brought the plight of many middle-eastern women right into my living room…and into my heart.

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE
HIGH TIDE IN TUCSON
ANIMAL DREAMS, THE BEAN TREE, PIGS IN HEAVEN…all by Barbara Kingsolver.

I have read…and highly recommend every single book she’s written…whether fiction or non fiction. And Halleleujah, she has a brand new book out-THE LACUNA-which I will be ordering from my library TODAY! (There's already 56 holds on this book!)

Speaking of my library....the Eckstrom-Columbus Branch Library....they were nice enough to let me take some pictures today.

But I only took a couple. Because I was on a mission.

Luis Alberto Urrea is my newest ‘discovery’.

Recently, I read INTO THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH and promptly ordered every single one of his books from my library. And, I faithfully read his blog, too.

http://www.luisurrea.com/home.php

His fiction is edgy, hilarious and pointed. His non-fiction will break your heart and send your soul souring at the same time. His poetry will just take you away into another realm!


I love a book that surprises me. Both of these did.
THEN WE CAME TO THE END by Joshua Ferris.
TROUBLE THE WATER by Nicole Seitz.

I’ve been deeply touched in a very special way by the following.

HANTA YO, by Ruth Bebee Hill. It changed my life in a mystical way that I would be hard-pressed to explain. It is an historical novel about Lakota Indians. But, I learned some great spiritual truths from this wonderful book.
It’s out of print and hard to find. I search for copies at yard sales and thrift stores and buy everyone I ever find. I know I've read this at least a dozen times.

SELU, SEEKING THE CORN MOTHER’S WISDOM. This one connected me to my Cherokee ancestry…even with my extremely small amount of Cherokee blood-and inspired this painting.

If you have any love for our Mother Earth, you will love this book! I have an exquisitely touching story to tell about the author, Marilou Awiakta and me. Someday, I might share it here.



Profoundly life changing and empowering for me were these three books.
POWER OF INTENTION-Wayne Dyer
A NEW EARTH-Eckhart Tolle
COMMUNION WITH GOD-Neale Donald Walsch

This is a poor and paltry reading list. But there’s no way I can remember, right now, all the wonderfully enriching books which have delighted me over the years. I’ve started a list at the bottom of this blog. No doubt, it will grow.

Here's what jumped off the stacks and into my book bag today. I'll let you know if they're 'trash' or 'treasure.'

Which books have you loved? Please share.

I have been...am... and will be... forever GRATEFUL for books. And for the fact that something in my genes directed me to read voraciously!