Reading and Musing

Books are my go-to for joy and escape, information and entertainment. I have not always been such an avid reader. When raising my five children during those years of much responsibility, I did not read. I was just too tired if and when I ever sat down.

I just finished reading Anne Tyler's book, "A Spool of Blue Thread." It held my interest. Below is a quick summary of the book, cut/pasted from goodreads.com. 

  "It was a beautiful, breezy, yellow-and-green afternoon." This is the way Abby Whitshank always begins the story of how she fell in love with Red that day in July 1959. The whole family--their two daughters and two sons, their grandchildren, even their faithful old dog--is on the porch, listening contentedly as Abby tells the tale they have heard so many times before. And yet this gathering is different too: Abby and Red are growing older, and decisions must be made about how best to look after them, and the fate of the house so lovingly built by Red's father. Brimming with the luminous insight, humor, and compassion that are Anne Tyler's hallmarks, this capacious novel takes us across three generations of the Whitshanks, their shared stories and long-held secrets, all the unguarded and richly lived moments that combine to define who and what they are as a family."

This just might be an interesting selection for our senior center bookclub that resumes in September. I have months to decide and during this interim there will be many more books I shall consider. 

I have recently been selecting books from the online library Axis 360 through our Kerrville public library. I peruse the offerings as one would peruse shelves in the brick and mortar building. Sometimes I read about a book that is new and place myself on the reserve waiting list. All this is online. Then I am notified when it is available for download. I like reading on my ipad or small laptop, but also have a Kindle I could be using.

I have many many books to read that I have purchased through Thriftbooks. I am trying to wean myself from ordering any more books. Next winter I am going to take each book and either read it or give it away - hopefully read it and then give it away. Of course there are books that will be permanently shelved - reference books for poetry writing and journaling and other interests.

Just yesterday I started delving into my weaving bags to see what has been collected - a small loom and yes, several books. I also found a video that had never been unwrapped. I think this summer I shall begin the new hobby of weaving. At one point in time I really was intrigued but did nothing about it except order the books and a couple looms. Have you ever done that? It's rather like putting the horse before the cart - acquiring the tools before I try any of it out. Perhaps this is going down another rabbit hole.

Off to peruse my online library for a new download.