Today I am sitting back re-reading one of my favorite books- Mama’s Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes.  To me it is a near-masterpiece of writing.  Some might call it syrupy and stupid but I call it heart-felt and completely lovely.  I own 3 copies of this book.  We are using it for book club in November and I’ve used it 3 other times with continual glee. Part of what gives me such satisfaction is that most have never heard of this divine book and I feel honored to be its little ambassador.

Do you have any books that you champion? I wish I was rich and could purchase copies of all my favorite books and give them with loving inscriptions to all my dear friends.  I’ve made a good attempt at it with Edenbrooke.  I’ve personally given it to 4 people and shared it with 13-15 (your welcome, Julianne Donaldson!).

Some others that I’ve loved to champion:

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl Harriott Jacobs

Red China Blues by Jan Wong

Delicacy and Strength of Lace by James Wright and Leslie Marmon Silko

North and South Elizabeth Gaskell

Poetry of Elizabeth Bishop

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

Feeling Good by David Burns

Edenbrooke

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Harriott

Howards End by EM Forster

The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

Cheaper by the Dozen

My Life in France by Julia Child

(I know there are many more but those first come to mind).

I’m sure there are many more that I champion. Notice I don’t have To Kill a Mockingbird, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre or Great Expectations on there.  They have plenty of their own championing without my help!

Anyway, this year I have read 33 books (goal is 35 so that will be no problem).  I always make it a goal to read at least 2 books a month- 1 fiction, 1 non-fiction.  I think this makes for a perfectly educated, well rounded human being which believe it or not is my goal!  🙂

Of those 33 books 12 are re-reads! A friend of mine once said that  she had never re-read a book.  I found that amazing!  Most of my adult leisure time, or at least half has been spent re-reading my true loves.   I could read Secret Garden or Anne of Green Gables a hundred times.  I’ve literally had times where I have finished North and South and then started it all over again.  That’s how much I love that book.  To me it is perfection.

I try to leave myself open for new experiences that’s why 21 of my books are not re-reads but I can promise you most of the time I’m secretly yearning for my old favorites.

I often wonder about my life.  About whether I figured out at a young age what I like and who I am or if I’ve just been afraid to take chances.  I don’t know?  Probably some of both.  Do you ever wonder about that?  In so many ways I’m the same person I was in high school.  I like most of the same books, foods, activities (still love to swim!), and still hate being told what to do.  Some things will never change.  Hopefully my sense of fashion has improved since high school…not sure about that one!

I read a book like Mama’s Bank Account and I’m reminded of every other time I’ve read it.  Of who I was and how I’ve grown along with the characters.  I can see a picture of me reading in my AF apartment when I chose it for book club, another of my Aunt Chris’ when we went to visit, another years ago when I was probably looking for a summer read.    I have a book I’ve read for close to 20 years. It has my notes and thoughts. It has my finger prints pulling the edges down.  Tell me any kindle that can give that!

Anyway, I’m going to get back to reading this yummy book!   Love you guys!   What books do you feel you are ambassadors for? Which one’s do you turn to again and again.