Reading books is one of our favorite pursuits in our house. I feel I can handle the most challenging day as long as I know that I can retreat at the end of the day to a cozy chair or my bed with a book. Currently, I have four books on my bedside table and each night I choose the one that fits my mood. The books are The Lemon Tree: An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East by Sandy Tolan; State of Wonder by Ann Patchett; Beatrix Potter by Linda Lear; and one of Natalie’s best-loved books: Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery.
Natalie took one of her favorite books on a recent overnight school trip not only to read on the long bus ride, but also to tuck into her sleeping bag like a good friend at bedtime. Next to her bed are three books she’s reading: Habibi by Naomi Shihab-Nye, A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich; and one of my favorite’s, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice by Laurie R. King.
So, you will understand why I loved this story: When Benjamin Franklin was dining in Paris, one of the other diners posted the question: “What condition of man most deserves pity?” Each guest proposed an example of such a pitiable condition. When Franklin’s turn came, he offered: “A lonesome man on a rainy day who does not know how to read.”
3 Comments
Chanell Nunno
Many thanks for your blog! I really respect what you’re writing here.
Hae Kulju
I really appreciate what you’re posting here. Keep posting that way. Take care!
DLazar
that is a great story! I always feel pity when I see a fellow traveler on a 6-hour plane flight resorting to flipping through the airline magazine because they have no book. To me, these long flights are a rare and luxurious stretch of uninterrupted reading.