To All the Books I Love - Condensed Version by Sharon Heagy

  

A Corner of My Writing Sanctuary

Some smells are just the best. My list of wonderful scents includes: a little kid fresh out of the tub, a forest full of pines, cedars and lush mossy undergrowth, a freshly mown lawn or hay field. Lilac blossoms filling the air with hope after a long cold winter. The stomach gurgling aroma of frying chicken. A stationery store with crisp white paper and an abundance of good pens, a bakery full of fresh bread and pastries that you can smell a block away, a library with books read by many and a bookstore with fresh un-cracked volumes. All of these cause me to pause and take in a full breath, close my eyes and release a satisfying sigh. Ahhhh.

As I pause and reflect I may have always been drawn to these wonderful nose sensations but the scent of books holds a special place. From the Grade One world of Fun with Dick and Jane by William S. Grey ("Run, Spot. Run, run, run. Look, Dick. Look, Jane.") to the first time I borrowed a book with my very own library card, reading has been one of my passions. That first volume on loan from the library coincided with my love of horses, Galloping Gold by Patsy Grey. Though I never ever had a horse I was enamoured with the idea of owning one and imagined all the adventures we would have together. 

The next phase on my literary journey took me to my brothers' The Hardy Boys collection and a love for mysteries was born. Authors Agatha Christie and Louise Penny, among others, became my authors of choice. 

My nieces and sister introduced me to the Mitford Series by Jan Karon. One of my nieces even treated us to "Esther Bolick's Orange Marmalade Cake" when we went to visit. It was a divine and decadent treat. Even now my mouth waters at the memory. Those who know me well know I have a weakness for a good cake even though I am generally a salty savoury snacker with one exception of some mighty fine chocolate. 

Recently some friends introduced me to another set of books, the Sensible Shoes Series by Sharon Garlough Brown which follows the spiritual journey of four ladies who come from varied backgrounds and life experiences, and I enjoyed them all.

As a member of Inscribe I have been swept up by a whirlwind of inspiration and imagination among the pages of books published by members as well as a number of their anthologies. Wow! Some savvy writers  have even created entire worlds beyond our own! All InScribe writings encourage me to continue with my own scribbles and intimidate me a little bit. Yet, having met some of the people behind the stories and having listened to the words of their hearts, I know they support and care for each and every member and are sincere in their encouragement no matter the writer's experience. I say this quite seriously, this is not an Inscribe ad but a genuine observation. 

Being a member of a bookclub has increased my reading world and has given me greater understanding of what readers glean or look for in a book. What amazes me almost every time we meet are the varied opinions and details each person takes note of as they read. We have read what some may call real duds and we have read some fascinating volumes, many I would not have chosen on my own but absolutely adored. My heart seeks to find something commendable, a phrase or portion I like, even in the so-called duds, because I know the effort and work that has gone into writing that book. 

Writers of faith have nurtured and helped my spiritual growth in ways I could never have imagined. Books on prayer, fasting, and apologetics line my shelves beside devotionals and Bible studies and commentaries. All are read with the Bible alongside to guide and make sure the material I am consulting is true to the Word. There are a multitude of authors I enjoy but Philip Yancy and Henri Nouwen wake up my gray cells and get me to consider things in a different way.

There are some fabulous books on writing from which I have gleaned much knowledge. Authors like Natalie Goldberg, Anne Lamott, and Stephen King have graciously shared their vast experience in order to spur us on. I must say On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King was quite a wonderful surprise. While I don't read his chosen genre, I found this memoir revealed the heart of the man and the way his writing process developed and I gained new respect for him. I think we could even be buddies.

Non-fiction books are also a part of my library and a couple I have read recently include Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas and The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. The depth and detail to the section of WWII history chosen by each author held me captive. 

This is Happiness by Niall Williams, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman and The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg are three of my current fiction favourites, subject to change without notice.

This blog post could be another couple of pages in length if I included all my favourite books and authors. Two pages of filled looseleaf lay on my table before I quit listing favourites and decided I couldn't use them all. (Oh, what about that one? I need to add it too!) So I won't bore you with any more details. I will say I am thoroughly enjoying reading bits and bobs of everyone's thoughts on reading and look forward to the rest of the month. Wouldn't it be lovely if we could all get together for tea, and of course cake, and discuss this topic further. Perhaps we will have a tea and cake session at conference, heavy on the cake. In the meantime, God bless and I hope you come across a marvellous book that you are excited to share with us all. Maybe your own! Maybe mine?  How wonderful that would be. "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26b) Until next month I leave you with my favourite cheeky Irish blessing, "May the light always find you on a dreary day, when you need to go home may you find your way, may you always have courage to take a chance, and never find frogs in your underpants." (Author unknown) God bless.

Sharon Heagy writes from the little town of Rockglen, which is nestled in the hills of southern Saskatchewan. her kids have flown the coop so she and her husband have retired to town. She writes to inspire and give hope with a chuckle or two along the way.