I don't know about y'all (I'm learning to love this word), but I'm tickled by a free book. So, here's a tidbit from me to you: starting today, August 3rd, Oprah.com members can download the book, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann.I fell in love with books, and I do mean Love with a capital "L," when I first learned to read. I learned young; even the she-really-meant-well teacher, who would force me read to other adults, as a sort of sideshow, didn't deter my budding fascination. I would devour anything printed -- whatever I could get my hands on.
This meant I was one of those precocious kids who hid under the covers with the flashlight (you're going to ruin your eyes!), and when out of my own material, would hunt down my Mother's trashy novels. Many heaving bosoms and wild untamed hearts later, I still love a good romance. But, if driven to tell you what my genre is, or what I like best? I couldn’t pin it down. Seriously. From you’ve got to be joking love stories, to the gut wrenching family dramas (We Were the Mulvaney’s), I’m hooked. That doesn’t mean there aren’t books I toss in disgust when finished. Not in the trash mind you (my God – it’s a book after all!), but the ones I throw on the coffee table, and say, “Well, that was a flippin’ disappointment!”
From my absolute all-time favorite, To Kill a Mockingbird, to my favorite fantasy series by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander Series), I love to read. I love the way a book smells, I love the escapism and I love the fact you can always go back to them. I’m sure Freud would have a field day with me, but until the time comes for me to get psychoanalyzed, I’ll be spending my therapy money at the used book store.
Note: For those who love books, and are in the Madison/Ridgeland/Jackson areas of Mississippi – check out this used bookstore “The Bookshelf.” I make a trip there every two weeks to trade in books and get my next fix. They’ve got good exchange rates, a great selection (even paranormal romance!) and a rare books section. Along with this, there’s a gal behind the counter who pretty much optimizes the southern hospitality claim.
