Books and Reading
I like books. I like the look of books and the smell of books and especially the texture of books. Books of all kinds and genres interest me. A good mystery is as valuable as a good biography. The key word is good. Finding good books is always a challenge, but participating in a book club has certainly helped me find many literary treasures. So what makes a good book good?
The book must have substance. This isn’t to say a good beach read is off limits. Sometimes I want to read a nice book without a heavy, meaningful plot, but the story must be fully developed.
I must be able to visualize the characters and to care about them. I want to root for the good ones and boo for the bad ones. While I am reading those pages, I want to know much about the people taking my time and effort. I even enjoy imagining who would play the roles if the book becomes a movie or a play.
The setting must be clearly described to the point I can see the scene in my mind. Some authors are brilliant at this. I can smell, touch and hear the surroundings. It amazes me when this happens.
The plot twists must be authentic and believable. And if the author is taking me down many paths, it has to be done in a way that holds my interest without needing to take notes or using a study guide to figure out what’s happening.
The ending must not be predictable. This is critical to a reader. I get frustrated if I am able to ascertain the ending of the story when I am only halfway through the book. What a delightful surprise when the author actually catches me with a totally different ending than I anticipated. Bravo to the author.
So how do you find good reads? I love to find books that are off the beaten path. I consider them little treasures that have not been on the bestseller list or the “everyone is talking about it” list. I find most of these gems through word-of-mouth or staff recommendations at bookstores. Some of my best reads have been books few people have read. Also, I trust the readers in my book club. Each of us knows the level of quality that our members expect. We value each other’s opinion and we do not take our recommendations lightly. After several years in the club, whatever we are doing works.
Finally, I must address reading ebooks using kindle or other devices. When this technology was first introduced, I was very skeptical of using them. As I started this post, I mentioned that I have enjoyed books, actual books, for my whole life. I remember holding the book, “Little Women,” when I was a girl with such fond memories. And I have spent many hours in libraries and bookstores touching and holding old books, new books, little books, and big books. I love books. So how could I go to other side and use a kindle? Parkinson’s. When my tremors made it too difficult to hold a book and read the lines without getting nausea, I knew it was time. I was gifted a kindle and found that I love it. I can place the kindle on the table and keep it from shaking. I can increase the font size to an easier to read print size. And I can read it in the dark with the back light. It holds more books than my bookshelves and is able to fit in my pocketbook, luggage or beach bag. It amazes me that it remembers where I left off in the book, even days later. It amazes me when I can download a new book before I can make a cup of tea. And it amazes me that there are books available that I can sample or even sometimes receive for free. Yes, I still love books AND I love my kindle. How lucky am I?
