Lavender & Coffee Stains

My name is Ivy and I am a bookaholic.

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~ Charles W. Eliot

No man can be called friendless who has God and the companionship of good books.  ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I have always been a loner during the earliest period of my school years. I have spent my free time studying my lessons and simply reading about my textbooks. My usual favorites then was learning about the historical past and the beauty of the English grammar.

Then one fine day at school, I visited the library.

I picked out one book from the shelf and I met Nancy Drew. I was reading the first book in the series and my free period was almost up. I asked the cute, gentle-looking librarian if I could bring the book home. He said I could if I could just fill up a form and acquire a library card.

Being a loner, the books in the library (and please include that gentleman from the library) had become my friends. They did not judge and never failed to make me feel happy about myself.

Books are delightful society.  If you go into a room and find it full of books – even without taking them from the shelves they seem to speak to you, to bid you welcome.  ~ William Ewart Gladstone

Honestly, I am always in awe being surrounded by books. And yes, it really feels like those books are talking volumes to me. Literally!

A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading it. ~ William Styron

Wherever I go, my relationship with books will never end. In between living a busy life, reading is a great de-stressor. By the time I am ready to put down a book, I am relaxed.

xoxo,

Ivy (^o^)

It has been a while since I blogged. Honestly, I am at a loss on how to jumpstart the writing part. I feel so ancient! 😁 Since I am re-acquainting myself with the process of making sense with words using the keys on my laptop, I thought of participating in First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros hosted by Bibliophile by the Sea. Basically, you just share the first paragraph, or two, of the book you are currently reading or the one you are about to read.


 At the moment, I am reading a mystery/thriller book, The Alchemist's Secret written by Scott Mariani. For my initial participation, I prefer to share the first two paragraphs (it says I can use two) to depict an interesting scene.

Chapter One


France, October 2001

Father Pascal Cambriel pulled his hat down tight and his coat collar up around his neck to protect against the lashing rain. The storm had ripped open the door to his hen-house and the birds were running amok in a panic. The sixty-four year old priest herded them back in with this stick, counting them as they went. What a night!

A flash of lightning illuminated the yard about him and the whole of the ancient stone village. Behind the wall of his cottage garden lay the tenth-century church of Saint-Jean with its simple cemetery, the crumbling headstones and ivy. The roofs of the houses and the rugged landscape beyond were brightly lit by the lightning flash that split the sky, then plunged back into darkness as the crash of the thunder followed a second later. Streaming with rainwater, Father Pascal pushed home the bolt of the hen-house door, locking the squawking birds safely in.

Will this intro excites you to read this book?  


 

I used to read a lot of books back when I was still unmarried and with no bigger responsibilities in life. I averaged from 50-60 books per month. It is quite a small number compared to other bookish lovers I know. Some read like 100+ books per month and they even have the time to make reviews. 


Here came my little boy. In between feeding him and changing diapers, I tried to squeeze in a little reading time. I also considered it my own version of "ME" time.  

I get stuck with 24 books every year. It is the only number I can manage. I utilize Goodreads for my yearly reading challenge. It is less complicated to use and it also serves as my recorder of my reading accomplishment. 


I am guilty of being a slacker for the past 2 months. Brief vacation, sickness from injury for my first grader, the stress taking its toll on me, my son's school activity, the great sandstorm...the list goes on.  I only have 4 books read and according to GR, I am 2 books behind. At the moment, I am reading The Lanvin Murders by Angela Sanders. Now being aware of my sluggish reading tempo, I vow to enjoy this cozy mystery tale about Joanna Hayworth, her vintage clothing store and the murder brought about by this 1930s Lanvin coat. Fingers crossed, I can close this book in 2-3 nights.  


Usually, I have a tbr pile to choose from. I pick books from the bookshelves, whether the plot excites me, the author engages me or the book cover simply lures me. During the course of this challenge, the book-splurging (shopping), recommendations from bookish friends and some magazines, the discovery of a very intriguing title (the plot has to be interesting, too) from an obscure author...the pile grows bigger and taller. This thing happens all the time. So I decided not to be so strict in following my tbr. These days, I choose a book based on my moody self. What is the point of reading if it does not interest you at all? 

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.  --- Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice