Sunday, October 23, 2011

My Constant Companions

I am pretty sure some sage author once said something along the lines of “books have been my constant companions.” I turned to the Internet to find such a quote, but it is eluding me.


Suffice it to say, for me, books have been my constant companions. I can measure my life by what books I was reading at any given moment and any given year. Reaching down from the top shelf in my glassed-in bookcase, I can retrieve my journal of books I have read since 1984 and within moments I am transported back into years long gone.


In fact, I did such a thing this morning when I began musing on the quite-possibly-foolhardy notion of starting a blog about my experiences with books. Flipping through it, I discovered I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone for the first time soon after my youngest son was born. Prophetic? Quite possibly when you find out what he is like these days.


Books contain a certain magic, a certain smell, a certain “otherness” nothing else can compare to. Books, throughout my life, have offered escape, have offered solace, have offered a glimpse into worlds I wish I could inhabit. Books have made me cringe, given me nightmares, caused me to lie awake at night wondering what was outside my window. Books have patted me on the back and said, “You’re not the only one who feels that way.” Books have made me break into peals of laughter and have made me sob with heartbreak.


Because of the hold books seem to have on my life, it’s not enough to want to peddle them to my middle school students, my friends, and my family. So, here I am -- ready to share a bit about how my life is tangled up with books.


Welcome and Happy Reading!



13 comments:

  1. I love your glass book case. I really need to work on getting something like that for my house.

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  2. Hi, Leslie! I am so excited you are joining me over here! I have two actually that I love -- my "special" books get to live in them. LOL!

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  3. I'm so excited about this blog! I loved this first post--what a fabulous description of loving books and the impact books can have on our lives! I'm already looking forward to your next post!

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  4. I'm definitely excited about this blog!! Love the bookcase! I can't wait to hear all your recommendations! I have read some fantastic books thanks to you!

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  5. So excited about your new blog Jackie. My brother and I both agree that one of th ebest things our mother ever taught us was to love books. I too love your book case.

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  6. Jett, I hoped you would come! :) Hi, Jen! It's sure to be full of book suggestions. Jessica, it's so true -- my mother certainly taught me to love books.

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  7. I feel so lucky to be able to borrow books from that bookcase (:

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  8. Hi Jackie! I'm excited to follow your blog. It never occurred to me to keep a journal of books that I've read; what a great idea!

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  9. And so it begins... I can not wait to read anything that you write here.

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  10. Michelle, you can borrow books from that bookcase anytime! Denise, hi! My mom kept a journal (actually it is several volumes) of books she had read and when. Nancy, thank you! Already planning the next post. :)

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  11. We are all readers here on the 'Chantry side of life" ......of course as you know your Grandmother was a librarian for the grade schoolers.....they all loved when she read to them......I always have said a good reader is a good speller....altho sometimes it drives me crazy...could have been a proof-reader! Love the blog!

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  12. Jackie, I love the eloquence of your writing. I love reading as well, and I can't wait to follow your blog!

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  13. Maggie, after I read your comment, I told Chelsea about how Grandma was a school librarian -- it's no wonder I turned out a reader :). I still have books she gave me with inscriptions from her in each one. :) Cmskok, thank you and welcome!!! So glad to have you here. :)

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