For the Love of Books
Book worm. Word nerd. Brainiac.
As an avid reader and book lover, I’ve been called all that and then some. Growing up, I was one of those kids who had their nose in a book, ALL. THE. TIME. I slurped my cereal at the kitchen table while reading a book (and if I didn’t have a book handy, I read everything on the cereal box, including the Nutrition Facts). I was on a first name basis with the school librarian at my elementary school. The first thing I did when I woke up was reaching for a book, and the last thing I did before turning the light out at night was closing a book. I read, and read, and read, when I was a kid. In truth, I would much rather spend my waking hours in the make-believe land of Narnia, palling around with Lucy and Mr. Tumnus, than running around with the kids in the neighborhood (I did some of that as well).
Though my literary taste has evolved over the years, the thrill of immersing myself in a good book that takes me to a different place, a different time, has not. I’m also a somewhat unconventional reader. I read three, four books at the time. Something new, something old, something borrowed (yes, I’m a huge library fan!), something true (non-fiction).
So…what’s in store for September?
Something New |
Something Old |
|
 |
|
I love books I can sink my teeth into - complex characters, rich settings, layered language. This has none of that. In truth, Nora Seed, the central character, is quite unlikeable. Lonely, depressed and suicidal with a recently deceased cat, she has nothing going for her. Which is why I almost gave up on this novel. But then it got interesting... Haig explores the deep desire of living a different life. Using the multi-verse concept, Nora gets another chance at a life already lived, in which mistakes can be erased, regrets addressed, choices altered. For all of us who contemplate the 'what if?' in life, this novel lets you travel the road(s) not taken to help answer whether it made "all the difference". |
Who can resist the brooding Mr. Rochester and his falling in love with a plain Jane? This is a love story at its best with characters that are thoughtful and detailed. And with one the most romantic proposals in literature, what's not to love about Jane Eyre? "Come to my side, Jane, and let us explain and understand one another." "I will never again come to your side: I am torn away now, and cannot return." "But, Jane, I summon you as my wife: it is you only I intend to marry." I was silent: I thought he mocked me. "Come, Jane — come hither." "Your bride stands between us." He rose, and with a stride reached me. "My bride is here," he said, again drawing me to him, "because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?" |
Something Borrowed |
Something True |
|
|
|
|
I have a confession to make. I have a long-standing love affair with stately homes, country manors, estates, and the landed gentry. Some of these private homes built orangeries and conservatories to protect delicate greenery from European winters. These dreamy glass marvels are on full display in this equally impressive coffee table book. The Conservatory beautifully illustrates historic glass palaces from 17th-century orangeries for royalty to Victorian showhouses and modern-day designs, revealing fascinating social, cultural, botanical, and engineering advances as they have evolved across history. If you want to lose yourself inside the world's most beautiful conservatories, this book is for you. |
As much as I prefer past eras of human history, I also keep an eye on the future. This book is a fast-paced, easy-to-read overview of the dramatic changes happening in a number of industries including fashion, shopping, entertainment, finance, health care, transportation and food production to name a few. Written with enthusiasm, this book will make you a believer of Mars explorations. Heck, we might even colonize the red planet before 2050, if said technological evolution continues at current breakneck speed. Whether a techno-geek or not, anyone interested in the evolution of technology and human society will get their fill from this book. |
