Friday, July 30, 2010

Sisterhood of the Traveling Books

My sincere apologies to author Ann Brashares for paraphrasing the title of her best selling book but I needed a catchy title for this effort. I'll be using it until I hear otherwise from her attorney.

Occasionally I have a book that needs to find a new reader and a new (but temporary) home.

But first, let's talk about your reading space, that location where you curl up and get comfortable for a long reading session. Mostly I read in bed in the evening. If I'm going to take time out from my day to read I mosey over under the locust tree where I have a chair hidden under the leafy bower.

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I have forbad The Farmer from whacking off the low hanging branches. It makes mowing the grass underneath an interesting problem, but I manage. The locust tree has lacy leaf formations and that means the light is not blocked, but filtered. It's just perfect for reading. There's a road behind this scene but it has no outlet - one way in, one way out. Not much traffic to break my concentration.

Where do you read? Do you have a special spot?

On to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book. I've just finished a wonderful book that one of the neighbors brought to our Tuesday night Mah Jongg gathering. I don't talk about that group much because it would need to look up the spelling each and every time. Anyway, she brought two books and laid them on the buffet, inviting whoever was interested to take them to read and pass along.

I grabbed this one, "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This book gets a big thumbs up from me. Have you read it? I can't imagine how this one missed my radar for so long.

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It's about a mountain climber who arrived in Pakistan to climb K2. He almost died in the process and while recuperating in a very poor and remote village he had an awakening which set him on a course and gave his life purpose. This book is a real education in the realities of living in such a beautiful but remote spot and it informs the reader about the cultures. It's simply fascinating and uplifting. You're going to want to help Greg with his vision by the time you've finished reading.

As per my neighbors instructions I'm going to be passing this book along to one of my readers. Please leave me a comment. I'll be drawing a name at our Monday Morning Staff Meeting.

My only requirement is that after you've read the book, pass it along to someone else. Thanks for participating.


20 comments:

Diva Kreszl said...

what a wonderful idea! I often have books I'd like to pass along, blogger may just provide the perfect venue.I have always wanted to read this book but as of yet have not.

arlene said...

I would love to read that book. And right now I am looking forward to next month when I will actually have time to read. Then I know the perfect person to pass it on to.

This is a great idea. I did it once before with another group and have often wondered where the book is now...if the chain is still going.

Mary Rex said...

I have heard that 3 Cups of Tea is a wonderful book. I would love to read it and be a part of the new traveling book club.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love to read...and I read a lot. But this is a book I've never read. I've seen it on bookstands and at the library...but I wasn't sure about it! Now I am anxious to read it! This sounds like fun! ♥

Becky K. said...

That does sound interesting. So glad that you have a pretty reading spot. Every now and then I hang out the hammock and read away. Now, if only the dogs would get their own books so they wouldn't be such a distraction! lol

Becky K.

Ali said...

I have wanted to read this book. It sounds very interesting.
Our school starts on Aug 11 and my flower shop goes back into full swing at that time. I will be so sad when my summer is over in a few weeks once school starts. I am reading everything I can get my hands on until then,

Vee said...

Yes, I have heard of that book from Diane (Lavender Dreamer), but I have not read it. It must've been pretty good for you to finish it so quickly.

Your bower looks and sounds like such a lovely spot to read. I like reading on the sofa, curled up with my knees beneath me if they just would stop protesting. I like a beverage on the table at my right...cold in summer, hot in winter. Not too inspired, eh?

Vee said...

What? She's never read it? I could've sworn I read about it there first. Okay, it must have been Carol @ Charli and Me. :D

Jenni said...

First of all, please don't enter me in the drawing. I want someone who hasn't read it to get it. I just finished reading this last week, and it was such a wonderful, inspiring story. (I was just talking about it on Facebook to someone else who finished it, too. Is everyone just now hearing about this book? I stumbled across it almost on accident.) I think at times Relin gets a little wordy and includes details that aren't necessary, or maybe that's Mortenson. I don't mind reading about Mortenson looking through his belongings in a storage shed, or his detour with the wrong girl, or his wife's home birth so much though because the rest of the story is so important. Mortenson has the right idea about how to combat terrorism. I've felt this way for a while now, and reading the part about the extremist recruiting being done through madrassas built in the poorest areas and funded by big oil money from other countries really convinced me. I'm planning to sit my family down and have a little talk with them to see what we might be able to contribute to the effort, and I may see if the middle school counselor would like to start a Pennies for Peace program at my daughter's school.

Leslie T said...

What a wonderful idea. And I love your reading tree. I do most of my reading in bed, even in the middle of the day. If I'm reading, I'm curled up on the bed. Sitting in front of three pillows which prop me up quite nicely and make me feel like a kept woman. Ha.
I frequent two libraries regularly and read a lot of nonfiction.
Have a great weekend, Suzanne! Enjoy your fabulous reading spot!

Pat said...

I find "passing along" a book to be a great adventure for the book. I would love to read your book and send it on to another reader.

Anonymous said...

That book was required reading for all incoming freshmen at Rice University when my son enrolled. They used it as a base for discussion during orientation week. I read it also and was fascinated by it!
Also, thanks for the postcard!

life in red shoes said...

I've had this book in my possession for some time and haven't gotten around to it yet:(
I will now:)

I had a run of bad luck with books this past year, some I actually don't finish! I did however just finish Cindy La Ferles and will passing that along also.

I also read A Soft Place To Land, by Susan Rebecca White, good, maybe 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

I seem to be hooked on magazines, short reads for my tiny attention span.

life in red shoes said...

Oh, and I read on the couch in the winter and the porch swing when the weather is nice. Reading in bed gives me a headache:(

Unknown said...

Love your reading spot. I have heard good things about that book, just haven't picked it up yet.

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! Count me in your drawing for the traveling book. I always read at night in bed, while my husband watches TV.

~Deborah~

Mary said...

what a great idea. I usually get books from the library, but when I travel I buy cheap books at Borders or somewhere and "set them free"

Sandy said...

When weather isn't too hot, I like to read in the hammock in our back yard. Too hot yet this summer to do that, so it is in the tub I go to read. LOL
Mah Jongg: Years ago in the NW burbs of Ill. I played with a dear friend and her friends. Haven't heard of Mah Jongg in about that long since we both moved from that area to NC.
This is my first time at your blog..Got here through another site I read and your blog caught my eye...I used to live in a small town in Wis. surrounded with farms...
Thanks for inviting me in for a visit.

dara Ickes said...

I have left books for other people to take. I used to take them to my office and leave stacks of them. Now I just randomly leave them in different place. I love reading outside under a tree also. So relaxing.

Judy said...

Loved that book...and passed it along.