{re}reading my favorite books
Have you ever read a book that made you feel as though you formed a true friendship with the character(s), or even the story itself? As an avid reader, I've been lucky to find a handful of such books. Interestingly, I have other books that I consider to be my "favorites" (you can check out my Goodreads page to see my "five star" reviews), but there are a special few that I could re-read over and over again, like visiting an old friend whenever you need the company.
That being said, I made a goal earlier in the summer to try to read a ridiculous number of books before the baby arrives. But you know what? I fell way behind and quickly determined that my unrealistic goal was arbitrary and unnecessary. Instead, I decided to do something comforting and read my favorites again. Those favorites are:
A Dog's Purpose, by W. Bruce Cameron
This story is written "first person" by a dog - a really adorable, charming dog who is reborn into multiple lives while he searches for his life purpose. This isn't one of those depressing books that dog lovers can't read for fear of crying hysterically when the dog dies at the end, because even though the dog does die, he continues to come back! This dog, who for much of the book is called Buddy, has an innocent, sometimes confused understanding of the world that makes you want to simultaneously cry and laugh out loud. I loved everything about this story. It's got more meaning an heart than most stories I've read and it certainly made me appreciate my pets even more than ever before.
The Christmas Cookie Club, by Ann Pearlman
As a Christmas lover, I'm always thrilled to find a book that encompasses a good story and the holiday season. This book was the perfect combination of these things, and even though I'm pretty sure I first read this in the fall, I fell in love with this story and wanted to re-read it again by the time Christmas carols were being played on the radio. The majority of this book tells the story of Marnie, who hosts an annual Christmas Cookie party, and her friendships with the women who attend the party. It also addresses her relationships with her daughters, which adds an interesting dynamic to the story. Bonus: there are lots of awesome cookie recipes included with each chapter!
The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood
I was living in Rhode Island when I read this, and I quickly learned that the story takes place in Providence and the author lives there (she also attended my graduate school for her B.A. in English). The fact that I could visualize many of the places that were described in the book only added to my enjoyment of it, but regardless, the story is a powerful one from the first page on. In it, Mary is struggling to come to terms with life after her 5 year-old daughter unexpectedly dies. Her mother (with whom she has an incredibly rocky relationship) encourages her to start knitting as a way to heal, and she begins to attend a knitting circle where she meets many women who tell her their stories and help her to continue writing her own. It's a beautiful, meaningful, well-written story that I could re-read endless times and never stop enjoying it.
Like old friends, these books warm my soul and fill me with happiness and comfort. Do you have any books that do the same?
That being said, I made a goal earlier in the summer to try to read a ridiculous number of books before the baby arrives. But you know what? I fell way behind and quickly determined that my unrealistic goal was arbitrary and unnecessary. Instead, I decided to do something comforting and read my favorites again. Those favorites are:
A Dog's Purpose, by W. Bruce Cameron
This story is written "first person" by a dog - a really adorable, charming dog who is reborn into multiple lives while he searches for his life purpose. This isn't one of those depressing books that dog lovers can't read for fear of crying hysterically when the dog dies at the end, because even though the dog does die, he continues to come back! This dog, who for much of the book is called Buddy, has an innocent, sometimes confused understanding of the world that makes you want to simultaneously cry and laugh out loud. I loved everything about this story. It's got more meaning an heart than most stories I've read and it certainly made me appreciate my pets even more than ever before.
The Christmas Cookie Club, by Ann Pearlman
As a Christmas lover, I'm always thrilled to find a book that encompasses a good story and the holiday season. This book was the perfect combination of these things, and even though I'm pretty sure I first read this in the fall, I fell in love with this story and wanted to re-read it again by the time Christmas carols were being played on the radio. The majority of this book tells the story of Marnie, who hosts an annual Christmas Cookie party, and her friendships with the women who attend the party. It also addresses her relationships with her daughters, which adds an interesting dynamic to the story. Bonus: there are lots of awesome cookie recipes included with each chapter!
The Knitting Circle, by Ann Hood
I was living in Rhode Island when I read this, and I quickly learned that the story takes place in Providence and the author lives there (she also attended my graduate school for her B.A. in English). The fact that I could visualize many of the places that were described in the book only added to my enjoyment of it, but regardless, the story is a powerful one from the first page on. In it, Mary is struggling to come to terms with life after her 5 year-old daughter unexpectedly dies. Her mother (with whom she has an incredibly rocky relationship) encourages her to start knitting as a way to heal, and she begins to attend a knitting circle where she meets many women who tell her their stories and help her to continue writing her own. It's a beautiful, meaningful, well-written story that I could re-read endless times and never stop enjoying it.
Like old friends, these books warm my soul and fill me with happiness and comfort. Do you have any books that do the same?
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