A FAVORITE READ

Don't you just love when you are immediately captured by the opening page? Drawn in so quickly and tightly that your forget about everything around you for a few moments. A book HAS to do that for me as my mind is too quick to jump off the pages and race way ahead of the author, thus losing me almost immediately. I don't want to use discipline, it seems, to 'stay the course'. Not when it comes to the wonderful pasttime of reading. Up and down the aisles of bookstores, head cocked to the side. Wondering why in the world have 'they' not come up with a better system than titles on spines running vertically so that we end up with a crick in the neck long before we tire of looking for the next delightful read. (Forgive me for digressing) Reaching out to select a beautiful book, hope rising as I flip to the first page, chapter one. Diving in, eager to be transported..........and then "blah!" snapping it shut and putting it back. On to the next.

Well, a few years ago, way after all the hub-bub over the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees, I come upon it again in the bookstore. I realized that I had purposely gone by this book many times just because of the hub-bub. (always the defiant. Wanting to go the opposite direction of the crowd and find something quite on my own). So this time I pick it up......loving the cover. What's not to love? Simplicity of a honey jar on a window sill with one, hovering bee. Slowly I open to the first chapter. And before beginning the chapter, above it in italics an excerpt from Man and Insects: The queen, for her part, is the unifying force of the community; if she is removed from the hive, the workers very quickly sense her absence. after a few hours, or even less, they show unmistakable signs of queenlessness. WHAMMO!!! It takes my breath away. The truth of that observation. the parallel that feels familiar; the understanding of "unmistakable signs of queenlessness" THIS book drew me in....in a nanosecond. Brilliant, rich, and filled with hope. So here I am, not ashamed to admit the "crowd" was right. This most amazing novel is not only high on my list to read, it's also on my other list. The one that says, WORTH READING AGAIN. And so, on my bedside table it waits for me with the beautiful bookmark from C.J.(A Simple Way to Pay It Forward-below) resting on page one, chapter one.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Little Rella: I so loved The Secret Life of Bees. Another wonderful read is called The Memory of Running. A fabulous story of dysfunction, change and hope. Beautifully written and it will suck you in on that first page!
Hugzzzzzzzzzzzzz,
Audra Mae

Naturegirl said...

Loved the ~secret life of bees~ everyone in our book club did also!

Dianne said...

I'm always looking for a good read. this sounds right up my alley.
I will get it and let you know..
Thanks Rella

jennifer black said...

Yes yes ... so true! It is a wonderful book. Peopled with family and friends you want to cherish forever. And what a story--beautifully told.

jb

Miss Robyn said...

I bought this book a month or so ago and loved it! I had never heard of it before Daisy told me about it.. hope all is well with you dear faery Rella xo