Reading

My mother and father both loved to read. My dad read mostly Bible study books, which he would critique, finding that many of the books published in the 50s and 60s were not true to the Word of God. He always wrote a letter to the author telling him (no hers back then) how they erred in their interpretation of God's word, and warning them about that jot and tittle thing.

My mom, while she loved to read, really didn't have time. But she always took the time to read through Better Homes and Gardens magazine and The Reader's Digest.

I guess I come by my love for reading naturally then. I'm looking at all the older books I have shelved in my sister's room, and realize that many of them were my mother's books. Later in life she was a member of a book club and read good, clean books. One of her favorite authors (and mine) was Janet Holt Giles. Ms. Giles wrote books about the Kentucky hills, namely the Appalachian part of the state. And her books are filled with life as it was in the 50s and 60s in south-central Kentucky. I loved those books. And when we moved to Cincinnati in 1975 I really wanted to live in Kentucky because of those books. We didn't settle on the south side of the river until 30 years later. And I love living here in Northern Kentucky, which is really nothing like the world down in the hills.

Another author my mom enjoyed was Elswyth Thane -- she wrote a series about Williamsburg, Virginia. The first book introduces the characters that started the families that she uses throughout the series. The first book is about coming to America and the beginning of the revolutionary war. The series ends after World War II, and the beginning of the renovation of Williamsburg. I don't know why the series ends there, but it does. I have read these books several times, and in the front of the first in the series, I keep a large map of Williamsburg -- the part that is the old village so I can follow the footpaths of the characters in the books.

It's difficult to get these books these days. Fortunately, I have a complete set of the Thane books, and I can go to any Kentucky library, in the Kentucky section and get the Giles novels.

If you get a chance, try one of these books. They're really good. If you can find the Thane books, you really need to read the Williamsburg series in order. The Giles books -- to get you started begin with Miss Willie. I think if you read that book, you'll be hooked.

ttfn

Twenty wishes

I just finished a book -- this has nothing to do with Runnemede, by the way -- and I want to recommend it. It is funny and it is somber -- it will make you laugh and cry.

I read anything Debbie Macomber writes -- her early books are not worth the paper they're written on, but her books written after 2000 are. I think in an effort to get notice she wrote books about men and women and added the really personal stuff to get attention -- the "personal" information -- steamy bedroom scenes, let's admit it -- did nothing to enhance the plot or enjoyment of the books.

Now, however, her books are really good. Yes, there are still the personal encounters, but they are written in a general sense and not specific.

So her newest book, Twenty Wishes, is one I grabbed as soon as it hit Kroger's bookshelf. This is part of her series on the Blossom Street store owners, and how their lives all intertwine. And I can see and almost guarantee what the next book will be based on this one. But I digress.

Twenty Wishes is about a group of recently widowed women who get together on their first Valentine's day without their respective spouses. All are depressed -- a couple more than others. And one of the women suggests that they start a list of wishes -- and they choose the number 20 -- and since they meet on a regular basis for lunch or to attend a function that is near and dear to one of the other ladies -- they discuss these wishes and how they are progress in getting these wishes granted.

These aren't hokus-pokus wishes. They are things they wish they had now or had receive prior to the losing of their spouse. And these were spouses they lost, not "significant others." So, the main character, the owner of the book shop -- a book shop like I would like to have owned at one time in my life -- leads us through these wishes made and granted with her friends, and it is a delightful book. I really did enjoy it.

It is NOT a Christian book -- in other words, it's not Karen Kingsbury, but there is some "religion" in the book. Debbie Macomber's later books show a definite turn around about life and God, another reason I like her books.

I have linked to her website in the title of this BLOG if you want to see what else she has written. I do recommend any of the books that have to do with Blossom Street.