Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading

"It's not that I don't like people. It's just that when I'm in the company of others -- even my nearest and dearest -- there always comes a moment when I'd rather be reading a book." (Maureen Corrigan, Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading)

From the moment I read that statement I thought it quite possible that Maureen Corrigan and I would be kindred spirits. Sitting in a library, surrounded by books, is a place of peace and relaxation. There's an entire town in Scotland dedicated to books -- Wigtown "Scotland's National Book Town" -- what could be better than that. I would have spent more time there had I had it and the books not been just a tad too expensive.

All that to say the following... anybody who knows me knows that I love books. I love to read them, I love to have them on my shelves, I love to talk about them, and if I'm honest, sometimes I just simply love the smell of them. Pictures of books, stories about book collecting.... you name it, I love it. It's a passion that was passed down to me from my father and is shared by my brother and sister and some of my dearest friends. I remember once that the husband of one of my dear friends once told her that she had to many books because they had run out of shelf space... I felt that a true lover of the written word would have known that new bookshelves were needed in order to accomodate all the books to come.

I am sometimes wary of recommending books in mass because I know that everyone has different tastes and just because I think that a book is excellent doesn't mean that you will. I have read several books over the past year or so that have just been outstanding and feel the need to share (that is, if anyone's reading this). The same husband that I referenced earlier proved himself to be a kindred spirit of reading when he introduced me to Ted Dekker and his Circle Trilogy Series. I was a bit hesistant, mostly because it's not usually what I read and at the beginning it sounded like Dekker's theology might be a little out there. I try to take book suggestions though because it always makes me sad when people don't think that my recommendations are worth looking into so I forged ahead with Black, the first book in the series. Many of you have already heard me tell you that the third book in the series, White, had me in tears as I finished reading it while sitting in a Starbucks in Edinburgh, Scotland. Since this fantastic introduction I have continued to read Dekker's work with awe at his portrayal of good vs. evil. Some of what he writes is STRANGE, but he does always tie things in well. His book Blink was so moving and I think all should read this accurate portrayal of how Islamic women are treated. Some of the statements made about the Prophet Mohammed encompass the most honest portrayal I've read.

Another great book that I've read recently is The Yada-Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson. I don't usually read Christian fiction, especially those written for women, simply because I find them to be shallow and fluffy. I decided to try this because the recommendation came from a good source, and because I've been wanting to fill my mind with things other than the police mysteries I seem obsessed with. Again, the true beauty of this book wasn't shown until you see how Neta brings it all together in the end in a beautiful reminder that we are all sinners in need of a gracious Saviour.

Please share your book love with me -- let me know what books have changed your life. I think that I'll bring this topic up from time to time when I have other books to recommend. I also recommend a book journal, a place to record why you loved a book and what made it so special to you.

Read on dear friends - because that's where I'm going right now!!