The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

If I had to pick one favorite contemporary novel, this would be it hands down. It's the first book I ever read in one sitting! I had seen it in Sam's Club, was drawn to the cover and fascinated by the synopsis on the back cover. I asked for it for my birthday from my mom. The day it came in the mail, I curled up in my papasan chair, cracked open the cover and hardly moved for the rest of the day.

The novel tells a horrible story but does it beautifully. Something about it reached my soul and never left. It made me think about and feel things that no book before it had done. It's certainly a book that haunts you after you finish and that's what I like about it.

I've had more than one person shudder in response to my admission of loving this book so much. I know mothers who hated it or couldn't even finish it. I can understand that. Our life experiences affect our reading preferences, that's one of the things I love so much about books.

When the movie version came out, I went at my first opportunity and may have held my breath the entire time! I was pleasantly surprised and have seen the film a couple of times since then. It's visually stunning and has a fantastic cast.

I've never encountered anyone who doesn't have strong feelings about this book. It's one you either love or hate. And while it isn't for everyone, if you haven't read it and what I've said here hasn't put you off, I highly recommend it! 

I Rescue The Unwanted

Last week I went to my local Salvation Army store on 50% off day. I came home feeling proud of the bargains I'd found and was eager to show off this lovely stack of books which I had purchased for a total of $4.13. My boyfriend and I both adore books so he darted over to look at the titles as soon as I took them out of the bag.   He pointed to the one on the bottom (Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert) and said "Oh you found a copy? Good. But I thought you already had it." I avoided his eyes as I sheepishly admitted that I did in fact buy a copy of the same book two months ago at Goodwill. "But" I explained "That was a paperback copy and this is a hardback. Plus this one was only 75 cents, and this way I can lend out a copy and I'll still have one." I'm not sure it made sense but he'd never ask me to justify buying a book that called out to me.

Committed is one of those books that felt as if it was written just for me at this time in my life. It's part memoir in regard to the author's marriages and part history of marriage and common customs. I borrowed an audio copy from the library last fall and listened to it while I drove. There were times I wanted to talk to Elizabeth Gilbert as she read. It felt like there was a friend in the car with me, telling me her story. She wrote about experiences and feelings she's had that are similar to my own. I'm glad I experienced the book in her own voice but there were many times I wished I could highlight a specific section and absorb the words from the page. I searched for a used copy for months until I finally found one.

This isn't the first book I've felt so strongly about. In fact, there's a David Sedaris paperback in the above pile that I already own on audio but it was 37 cents! I snatched it up immediately! I like being able to give or lend someone a copy of a book I think they would enjoy. After I read Lucky by Alice Sebold, I bought every used copy I came across and gave it to a woman in my life. If someone makes the effort to recommend a book to me, I usually put it on my list and read it as soon as I can get a copy. Even if I don't like it I appreciate the gesture, that someone thought of me.

When I go to yard sales I'll get on my knees next to a box of books to dig through. A person's book collection can say a lot about them. Last summer I came across a couple who, among the usual yard sale wares, were getting rid of a box full of books about shapeshifting and witchcraft. I've seen people selling their books on infertility, troubled marriages, death in the family or any number of illnesses and I think that's such a personal thing to sit out in your yard for a stranger to root through. But for the person who comes across those books and needs them, what a great find!