A love affair with books

By MARY TOBIA

tneditor@tnonline.com

Winter time is my favorite time to get home from work, make supper, and then curl up on the couch with a warm afghan and a good book.

Ok. For all that know me personally, I have a book with me at all times whether it be winter, spring, summer or fall!

I love to open up a novel and get lost in the story. I especially like the rare finds of the ones that appeal to you so much that you find yourself pulling it out and reading it during every free minute you can find.

Like the doctors office, waiting for that ride to pick you up, on your lunch hour, and when you're home cooking supper and letting the pasta water boil over while you have your head in the book…oops.

My "Go To Guru" on which books are good reads is our daughter, Lisa.

She knows what I like and her recommendations are usually right on.

But last year, I did have my druthers when she told me to read the "Twilight" series. This four-book series is a love story between a young girl, a vampire and a werewolf.

Now, I am fifty-something and vampires and werewolves have never been a favorite for me in books or movies.

She asked me to just read a few pages of the first book and then decide. I must admit after the first chapter I was hooked, line, sinker and all. I couldn't get enough of Edward, Bella and Jacob.

One of my favorite and more down-to-earth (if you know what I mean) authors is Lynne Austin. She writes Christian and inspirational fiction. My four favorites so far are the Civil war series. They are told from the northern, southern and slave point of view about the deep and long-lasting effects the war had on the faith of our nation.

Another great author is Max Lucado. I start my day off by reading one of his inspirational reflections. He uses humorous analogies and easy understandings of scriptural thoughts on the life of Jesus. "Grace For The Moment" Volume ll is still one of my favorites.

I have so many favorite authors that this column is not long enough to mention them all.

I just finished "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball, another recommendation from my "Go To Guru." I could not put it down.

It is the true story of a woman who was a New York City writer who falls in love with a young farmer.

They start their own antique farm in upstate New York which is still in business today. The story takes place during their first year of farming. All their produce fields are worked by draft horses and this young husband and wife team believe in keeping the growing process as natural as possible.

Kimball has a way of making the reader laugh out loud as she explains her experiences in the first 12 months as a full-fledged farmer.

Our area libraries are the best place to check out the books. I was happy to find out that if the Palmerton Library did not have a book I was interested in they could borrow it from another library.

The book possibilities are endless there.

I will occasionally buy a book on eBay and then sell it back again.

I can spend hours in Barnes and Nobles just browsing and then stopping for a special coffee latte.

Reading to my children when they were small, and now my grandchildren, is something I always enjoy.

So as Dr Seuss would say "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."