During my 31 27 Days of Reading Well, I made a big old stinking deal about the book The Saving Graces by Patricia Gaffney. It’s so good! I said. I cry every time! The characters are so real!
Well, apparently there’s something to be said about reading books in different phases of life. According to Laura, Catcher in the Rye is extremely poignant if you read it at the right stage. (I didn’t read it until after college and found it rambling and ridiculous.) I didn’t read Wuthering Heights until I was well along in my English major, and I adored it, while I know many who read it in high school found it abysmal.
I don’t think I had actually read The Saving Graces since early on in our marriage. The summer before we got married, my daddy’s best friend died from liver cancer at age 50 … and looking back, I think perhaps that affected my reading of the book more than anything.
At 29, I’ve struggled with infertility. I am married with two kids. I’ve held a job, I’ve wanted to be a writer, I’ve gone through some deep depressions. I might have too much in common with some of the characters now.
I was eager to reread my battered copy after I wrote about it this October. But in those water-stained and creased pages I found none of that original emotion. I shed no tears. I felt no real pull to the characters.
Too far away from a cancer experience? Too long without intimate women friendships? I don’t know.
I hate to recant my statements but in this case … I wouldn’t want anyone to buy the book, read it, and think I was nuts. Compared to most else of what I recommend to you, it’s just not my cup of tea anymore.
I think reading tastes change … and I think that is OK.
Are there any books that have led you to say, “What was I thinking?”
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. No, really. That’s the title! It’s an excellent collection of essays from writers ranging from Anne Lamott to John McCain to Frank McCourt. All share a book (or few books, for those who are like me and can’t make up their minds) that changed them.
. I just don’t get it, I guess.)
by John Irving before (see 
refutes that this actually happens, but I still wonder!), or that he goes back and tinkers with precision once he has determined his characters’ paths, but either way this book has such a sophisticated road to the end it takes my breath away. Above all else, it caused me to think about what I am writing and not just blab on in train-of-thought–although we all know I do that some too.
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I was in a 200 level English class entitled Great Novels with the lovely Susan Heroy. I was flip-flopping around about my major, having discovered that I would need more than a summer study abroad to obtain an International Studies major and not really wanting to go that route. Opening Garcia’s masterpiece led me on a wild goose chase. I scribbled in the book. I asked questions of my professor. I was fascinated by his use of mysticism, smells, colors.
series (and I would assume 
series as well) – I love the OH SO PINK illustrations in the Gigi books as well as the message. Mr. V tells Libbie every night now, “Good night, princess. Sweet dreams.” I just love Sheila Walsh’s sense of humor that makes these books readable for parents, too.
by Liz Curtis Higgs – A recommendation from 
series by Melody Carlson – Melody Carlson is another author who writes for children, teens, and adults. This set of four books convey stories in rhyme and help teach basic Bible lessons: sharing, caring, giving.
by Susan Hunt – We haven’t been real methodical about this book yet, especially since the stories are longer with only one picture. Plus, the Bible verses are in KJV. But it teaches practical lessons and I like the idea of doing letter Bible verses! (And we’re going to do these 
– Sometimes I wish that EVERY Bible story were in this wonderful Bible. But otherwise, it’s pretty perfect. Every single story points to Jesus and His salvation of the world. Stories are usually three to four pages long, perfect for bedtime. And having Libbie come up to me and say, “Will you read me the Bible?” is just … perfect!
