What a Joy to Read a Wonderful Book!

I just read the most marvelous book: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I picked it up and did not set it down until I had read all of it. Now I want to go back and read it to savor the wonderful word phrases (including the wonderful title!).

I love to read. I remember learning to read and how I loved the letters "e" and and "a". I read every road sign plus the Burma Shave signs on our Sunday afternoon rides. We would pile in the car with my Dad driving and we would just go for a drive. We had a family joke that if we got lost it would be in Watertown. Seems that we did get lost in Watertown, Minnesota one time and possibly Watertown in some other states (is there a Watertown in South Dakota?). Oh yes, "lost" meant that my Dad had to ask someone for directions. He rarely got lost.

The summer between third and fourth grade the library in William Penn Elementary was open one day each week. I walked there and discovered the Little House on the Prairie books. I still remember the corner and the shelf in that library where they sat. I read all of them that summer. Anne of Green Gables was given to me by my grandmother Robbie one Christmas and I have it still. When Mom would call out that it was time for supper, my response was - Let me finish this page. Then of course, I would try and finish the chapter. Sometimes I only had time to finish the paragraph. My Mom often wondered how I could wear out my shoes so fast when all I did was sit inside and read a book.

I do love books, especially those with a good story. If there is a strong woman as the lead character it is even better. I really am a sucker for a good story! I don't care if it is a mystery, science fiction, or a western. If it has a good story, I will love to read it. I have read so many books in my life that I am thrilled when I find a new author - Yea! it means that there will be more books I will enjoy reading.

I was touched by The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The curious title got my attention from the beginning. I picked up the book and opened a random page. I skimmed a few pages and decided to get it. Then it sat, waiting on the kitchen table for more than a week! Today I picked it up and fell in. Wonderful characters, fascinating story, and very well written. One of a few books I want to read again.

On page 116 Juliet writes: "Have you ever noticed that when you mind is awakened or drawn to someone new, that person's name suddenly pops up everywhere you go? My friend Sophie calls it coincidence, and Mr. Simpless, my parson friend, calls it Grace. He thinks that if one cares deeply about someone or something new one throws a kind of energy out into the world, and 'fruitfulness' is drawn in." Brian Tracy calls this the Law of Attraction. I find it fascinating to experience this phenomenon while I am reading this book! It is as if the lead character - Juliet - is encouraging me and showing me that my dream is not only possible but also can be a continuing source of joy.