The power of a great book
Posted: January 5, 2011 Filed under: breast cancer, kids, literature | Tags: a good read, amazon.com, book club, books, breast cancer, champagne, children's literature, Christmas, kids' books, kindle, reading, recovery 8 CommentsI’m completely entranced by my latest book club book, a super fun story that has me itching to find out what happens next. Not in a suspenseful, dramatic sort of way, but more in the way of great character development that makes the characters seem like real people.
I thought I might get some reading time in while sitting with my aunt at the hospital today, but we chattered and blabbed the whole time instead. After running my errands and doing a few chores, I had about 20 minutes before Macy came home from school, so I raced to the car to fetch my Kindle and get to reading.
I was engrossed enough that when Macy barreled through the door it startled me a little. She wanted to run to the mailbox to see if her latest order from amazon.com had arrived. She too has been bitten by the reading bug and has devoured a new series of books. Her eager anticipation paid off and she was rewarded by the sight of a cardboard box in the mailbox.
Before long Payton was home, too, and barely got his backpack off his shoulder before announcing he was going straight to his room to stretch out on his bed and read. He started a new series just after Christmas, and I am thrilled that it’s something other than Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Nothing against the Wimpy Kid or author Jeff Kinney — I think he has a cute product — but I like to see Payton reading something a bit more substantial.Ā 
Both of my kids are sucked into great books, and I couldn’t be happier. My mom, the former English teacher, would be equally tickled to see her progeny so captivated by literature.
My house is so quiet it’s a little unnerving — no thumping feet up and down the stairs, no phone ringing, no door slamming, no Nickelodeon laughtrack or video game sound effects. It’s pretty great.
The Pink Underbelly 
Still have all the great books you gave Austin when he was a baby! I know your kids will be as wonderful as you are at placing your words down I love that pic on your web of the little book worm
Um, hello, what’s the book?! I just finished interpreter of maladies (Indian short stories) and restless (female spy in WW2). Both were fantastic. Reading Russian winter now and can’t put it down. LMK! I’m always on the lookout for great books. Xoxo
I just finished Russian Winter and *loved* it. Fantastic. I had such a strong image of Nina and her jewels. Now I’m reading The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman, the story of an aging English-language newspaper produced in Rome. The newspaper staff are eccentric and each chapter tells the story of a different character. I am so not doing it justice, so read this review: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/02/books/review/Buckley-t.html. Gonna go check out your 2 recommendations; I especially love WWII stories so thanks! Can’t wait to see you and talk books in Napa!
phew! I’m glad someone asked. I was dyyying over here!
Ok, if you love WWII stories like I do, then you must put the following on your kindle: those who save us, city of thieves, sarah’s key and omg, I’m blanking out but it’s by ken follett and is set mainly in Denmark. I’ll find it and get back to you. Can’t wait for Napa! Xoxo
Enjoy the P&Q while you have it. I too love my kindle and am engrossed in “Mayflower.” You should take pride in your kids’ love of reading. It is born of all the times you read to them when they were younger. A reader is made, not born, and your hard work created these two readers.
So. Kindle. It’s great, huh? I wish it played audiobooks too. Then I’d be sold.
The reading you got done today while sitting with your aunt reminds me of how much reading I got done while sitting with you in the hospital!! š I’m getting a piece of paper and writing down these book titles. Thanks to you, Ed and Lisa for the recs. Would you believe I was in half price books and the book “Personal Story” by Katharine Graham was $3? I almost bought it for you! I’d be interested to know what Payton is reading right now. My Peyton is finishing up the John Grisham kid novel “Mike Boone (or something like that) Kid Lawyer” I just loaded up the sample of Ken Follet’s book “Pillars of the Earth” for my dad on his Kindle and he enjoyed the first chapter so much that he bought the rest of it. I loved that book! The sequel wasn’t as good, but not bad. Another great book I read recently is Water for Elephants.
Ed, slacker mom here was TERRIBLE at reading to my kids! We did a little, but not every night on a regular basis as recommended by our pediatrician, teachers, etc. I am not the poster mom for sure but I am thankful that all three of my boys love to read. I will say that I read “Where the Red Fern Grows” out loud to them, so that’s a commitment to reading! š