National Book Lovers Day
When I read that there was such a thing as “National Book Lovers Day” in the USA (August 9th), I decided to re-blog a post I did four years ago, titled “The Love of Books.” Back then I wrote, “with the advent of e-readers and tablets, books are still some of my favorite things. And, libraries and bookstores are two of my favorite places.” Nothing has changed since then. They’re still my favorite places.
Every time I see a slew of books, I feel the promise of new adventures and ideas. It’s as if the characters inside the pages are just w
aiting to escape with me into some foreign land or invite me into the privacy of their homes. And now, more than ever, there are so many ways to find a good book.
The Shipping News
Right now, I’m re-reading The Shipping News, E. Annie Proulx’s Pulitzer prize winning novel set in Newfoundland. I’ve read it before. Still it’s unusual for me to read a book twice. But now that I’ve traveled to Newfoundland, or “The Rock” as it’s called, I wanted to see how the author used the people and geography of the place in her tale.
I’m almost done and I’m not disappointed second time round. Annie Proulx‘s writing is exquisite. I find that I revel in her descriptions, her metaphors, and her characterizations of the every-day people who are trying to make the best of the lot they’ve been given in life.
There’s the main character Quoyle, a widower who still mourns for the wife who didn’t love him, the aunt who latches on to him and leads him back to Newfoundland, the editor of a local paper who rewrites the stories Quoyle gives him, resulting in incomprehensible articles, and Quoyle’s young daughter Bunny, who panics every time she sees an invisible white dog.
Iceberg Alley, near St. Anthony, Newfoundland
These characters and more off-the-wall types are set against the unforgiving backdrop that make Newfoundland, the most intriguing province in Canada.
When Quoyle mentions the icebergs, I can now see them, as I was just there with my husband. We watched them them float by in Iceberg Alley. Monstrous white mountains riding the waves.
“…but always in earshot, the screech of raftering ice beyond the point, the great bergs toppling with the pressure, the pans rearing hundreds of feet high under the white moon and cracking, cracking asunder.”
There’s something to be said about reading a book that takes you to places you’ve been or ones you want to travel to.
For The Love of Books
I’m glad books are as alive as ever, despite the multitude of channels on TV, and live streaming on computers and smartphones.
Rosemary Carstens, editor of the online magazine The Feast, and Shari Green, a Y/A author sent me this video back in 2012, which enthralled me for obvious reasons. What a perfect little video to watch on National Book Lovers Day and thereafter. Enjoy!
For more on the subject of books, see 
Goodreads , an excellent resource for writers and readers. I like keeping track of books I’ve read on Goodreads. It’s also a site where you can read book reviews and make friends with those who share your literary interests. If you know of other book-related websites, I’d love to hear about them.
Some how I missed National Book Lovers Day! I loved “The Shipping News” and Annie Proulx’s “Brokeback Mountain” and others.
Jo, I haven’t read Brokeback Mountain but I must. Loved the film. Was it in a book of short stories? I also have Accordion Crimes by her on my bookshelf. I haven’t read it yet. I tried getting into it once, but stopped. I tend to be a quick reader. I need to have more patience with her type of writing. This time around, as I mentioned, I’m enjoying The Shipping News very much.
Love that video! What a terrific way to commemorate National Book Lovers Day. I’ll have to re-read “The Shipping News.” I remember it took me a few chapters to get the hang of the lingo, and ended up a big fan. The Rock is definitely on my places to visit list. Thanks for your post.
Glad you liked the video. I notice on Goodreads that the reviews were positive but also mixed. I’m surprised that she uses a lot of sentences that have no verbs. But then again, she’s a master and she can break the rules.