Give thanks for good books —November 16, 2007
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday—there are no gifts to buy, there is good food, friends and family get together and sometimes there is time to actually think about the things for which you are grateful. I am most grateful for the people in my life, but I am also thankful for books.
I am thankful for “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown, the very cover evoking a freshly bathed, curly headed toddler ready for a bedtime story. Another favorite from my daughter’s childhood that still makes me laugh is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” by Judi and Ron Barrett.
To Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his “Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” I must say thank you for starting me on a lifelong passion for murder, intrigue and problem solving. Patricia Cornwell, Laurie King, Lillian Jackson Brown, James Patterson and a host of others I thank for letting me continually feed that passion in print and in audio books.
“The Hobbit” and the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien changed my life for the better and helped me see that fantasy and imaginary worlds can be just as relevant as the day to day. And to Harper Lee, a special thanks, for writing “To Kill a Mockingbird.” As a young person, it illuminated my southern heritage and taught me that climbing trees and being smart were all right for a girl. As an adult, it has sparked conversations of weighty issues and rekindled the innocence of childhood.
When I need help with a project, I go to the library. I read “The Painted Ladies Revisited: San Francisco’s resplendent Victorians Inside and Out” by Elizabeth Pomada and Michael Larsen at least five times while trying to decide on paint colors for my old house. Arnold Kozloski’s “Do Your Own Drywall, An Illustrated Guide” became a personal favorite when it came time to replace sagging plaster.
I am thankful to Ted Kooser and his insightful gift of language that helped me understand Nebraska. “Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps” and “Weather Central” are among my favorites.
Last, but not least, I thank Anne Byrne’s “The Cake Mix Doctor” for helping me create impressive and delicious desserts within the confines of a busy life.
Visit the library and say thank you to some of your favorites this holiday season.