I've been away... very busy with family vacations & an upcoming wedding.

So, what is new in my world of books?

Well I'm reading Jennifer Weiner's newest "Fly Away Home." I'm only about 30 pages into it...so far so good! I enjoy her novels. They are true to heart I think... you really get a sense of the character's whole world; her characters always seem very real to me.

Also, I've dived into one of Anne Bronte's novels...but I think that is for another post.


A few semesters ago...actually probably 2 years ago I had to read a Sherlock Holmes novel (Hound of the Baskervilles) for school. My father is an avid Holmes fan. He loves the stuff. He will read the same novels and short stories over and over again. We all have given up on trying to introduce him to new authors, new characters.

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed Hound, it was excellent. Anyone who is a Holmes fan to any degree should read that novel (if your Holmesian and you haven't, shame on you!) From there, I went on to read another short story (Silver Blaze) per my father's instruction.

Just last week I asked him to recommend a few other short stories to me, which were his favorite?

And this leads us to my point... I think you can see into someone, learn something of them by knowing what their favorite readings are. Yes, of course you won't be able to read everything that someone else enjoys...and you shouldn't. You should read what you like because YOU LIKE IT, not because someone else does or because they recommended it to you.

However, this is my father. In 30 years, he may not be here...I will be able to know which stories were his favorite...why he loved Holmes. (This makes me wonder...why does he love Holmes? I don't know...this worries me, and I shall have to ask. ) Reading these same favorites allows my father & I to share something. Reading the same book or story with someone is a unique way of sharing something, I think.

Do you remember what your last love's favorite novel was? You know their favorite band probably? Why not what they read? 100 years ago ...Elizabeth would have know Darcy's favorite. (And if you don't get the reference.... geewillakers you better get reading)

Do you have a fond memory of a parent reading to you as a child? Or some other shared reading moment?

stars&lyrics,

readinglady

Book's choice

Everyone has different tastes in books. Working in a public library has made me become the personal librarian for a lot of my friends. Some of them read more than others. Often I'll recommend books I've read & like, or loved to them. Sometimes one friend will enjoy a certain book I did, then not enjoy a similar one.

The characteristics of the books A & B may be similar enough...but person 1, who enjoyed book A might not enjoy book B, despite the similarities.

Why? If they are all alike?

Well, they aren't really alike enough I guess. Or is it timing?

Have you ever picked up a book, put it down because it doesn't interest you...only to pick it back up months or years later?

The years part hasn't happened to me...mostly because I'm not old enough...the books I would have been reading 10 years would never appeal to me now. However, I have tried to read books that didn't work out at the time, only to work out later on.

So what does timing have to do with it? Do we choose the books? Or do the books choose us?

I often find traces of my own current life drama (lets face it, we all have a little bit of drama...it may be very different from our neighbor's...but it is there) in the book I am reading. Is this a coincidence? If so, of what sort? Do I see the similiarity between my life and those of the characters I'm reading about because I'm looking for it? Or is there some Librarian Reader's Adviosry God (L-RAG, I like it) who brings certain books to certain people at certain times? There is something comforting in that... that we are reading these books to learn, to see, to hope, to experience a life that can influence ours in some way, even if it is fictionalized.

I feel quite confident in my own reading choices. I would like to think it is in my own hands...but, I don't know...maybe not. What do you think? Is there an L-RAG following you through your public library's stacks?

stars&lyrics,

readinglady

p.s. I would totally be an L-RAG in another life if I could.