I'm Reading a Great Book...

I love to read! I can think of nothing better than to curl up with a great book and be transported to a different time or place, to set my imagination free, and to bask in the wonderful words of a wonderful writer. One of our new Contributing Editors, Phillip Duck (CE of African American Literature: http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/17672 ) introduced me to this quote by author Mason Cooley--"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." I think that is so true. If you love to read, you can go anywhere just by turning the pages!

But what makes a book great? That is something that each reader decides for him or herself, but I think there are many common themes. A great book draws you into the story. The characters are so real that you begin to think they are people that you know. The places seem familiar to you - or very unfamiliar yet at the same time they have the feel of a place you have been. You begin to care about the characters, their problems and their stories. I think a great book is one that I can't put down and hate to see end.

Several of the books I've read lately were so good, and over so fast, that I felt compelled to reread the endings just to savor the story once more before finally closing the cover and admitting that the story had ended. A great book is one that I pick up again, surprised to find that I have finished it, and somehow hoping that there is more to the story - a part I missed, or something that has magically been added to prolong the joy of reading.

Perhaps that is why I love series and sequels and many books written by the same author. I guess I'm always looking for that "little bit more!"

Besides curling up with a great book, the next best ting is sharing that book and my experience with others. That is what I hope to do with this topic over the coming months, I want to share some of those great books that I've read with you.

This topic, Great Books, was conceived and nurtured since October of 2001 by a wonderful writer named Kathleen Anderson. I've had the privilege of working with Kathleen since she first applied to write the topic, and it was with much sadness that I accepted Kathleen's decision in January to retire the topic. She always had great insights and things to say about books and reading, and I very much looked forward to her articles each month.

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