Books
My husband says I have a problem. He thinks I may even be a hoarder. I have a problem with books. I love books, like REALLY love books. They make me happy nestled in my hand or sitting within reach. I have a book in almost every room in the house. I need them close to me. They are my friends, my adventures, my comfort. Most of the books in my house I have read many times. A few are still waiting for me to open them, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
Books seem to follow me home. I am an expert at finding free books. I enjoy walking through the big name bookstores, but my money stays in my pockets unless I find a great sale. Secondhand stores are a different story! There are all sorts of treasures to be found there! Let’s not forget library sales and giveaways too. Books seem to pile up in my car, waiting to be brought in the house.
I am a firm believer in rescuing old books and copies of classics. So what if I have three copies of Tom Sawyer or Misty of Chincoteague? Someday these books may be hard to find. My heart jumps when I see original copies of Trixie Belden or Spin and Marty. Old books will never be turned down. I recently picked up a paperback copy of A Journey to the Center of the Earth from 1965. The pages were brittle and yellowed with age. I took special care to not tear the pages as I reread this wonderful classic.
My favorite book to read when I’m sick is the Lord of the Rings. It’s my old standby, my dear friend that takes me on a well trod adventure. Isn’t it hard to read, you ask. Not when you know the story almost by heart. The descriptions of Tom Bombadil and the stinking fens of the Dead Marshes don’t deter me. Friendship, struggle, and good vs. evil make this one of my favorite books. The courage of hobbits gives me courage.
When I bring home a stack of books checked out from the library, I rarely read only one book at a time. I’m afraid that the quality of writing has declined over the last few years. I can devour a book in one day if it keeps my interest, but often I start one book at breakfast and by dinner have read from two others. I think I have book ADD.
Some books I read for the thrill, the Cryptid Hunters series makes me laugh while keeping me full of suspense. Hero’s Song keeps my heart racing with its twists and turns. Other books fill me with bravery like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. My Side of the Mountain and Snow Dog are stories about battling the odds, swelling me with their staunchness. Some are more somber, like the Redwall book Martin the Warrior or Where the Red Fern Grows.
Whether happy, sad, thrilling, or more sedate, books are a part of me.