today it was these three things

Today, in between harvesting tomatoes and cutting roses to bring inside, I finished "My Name is Lucy Barton". 

Somehow, in the course of around 5 hours, as Lucy told us her story, mostly through conversation with her mother who had come to visit her during an extended hospitalization, I was captivated.  By the story, by the character, and by the writing.  How did Elizabeth Strout do that so skillfully?   You will want to read it. 

This morning on Brain Pickings Weekly, I found interesting thoughts on why we read.  There is almost always something I write down while reading this on Sunday mornings.  Today it was these 3 things.
1.  "Books are the axe for the frozen sea within us" - Franz Kafka
2.  "A book is a heart that beats in the chest of another" - Rebecca Solnit
3.  "Reading exercises our imagination" - Neil Gaiman

What is there to say after that? 

Comments

[Caroline]

I was just introduced to Elizabeth Strout. I will be looking for Lucy Barton when I go back to the library.

[Joan]

I'm in need of a good book. I'll give this one a go. Have you read Stephen King's trilogy? One of the books is Mr. Mercedes, can't recall the other two..?