Friday 2 October 2015

Five on Friday.. is about my Greatest Love


When I was a child, we did not have a TV .I was brought up by a Victorian Grand mother and two maiden aunts after my mother died when I was two and my father re-married. I spent a lot of time alone and found through the local library a love of books. I read everything and went along the shelves with no guidance and lived inside which ever book I read. I didn't need to go to ballet lessons I read all about it in ‘Ballet Shoes,’ I didn't need a dog I had Timmy, George's dog in the ‘Famous Five’.. I flew aeroplanes with ‘Biggles’ and lived in the wilds with ‘North American Indians.’ Today as a much older 'child' I read more than anything else in my life, it is my greatest love!!
And having been bought a Kindle by DH, a few years ago  I have been able to supplement my library books with ebooks. And the ease of buying a book instantly has given me more and more books to read.

Some books like this one I loved so much,  that I gave away two  copies and then bought another copy for myself.


It’s the story of two young girls, Bobbie and Cynthia, who are best friends and also of their mothers. It's a book about friendship and tragedy and forgiveness and so much more besides. We live with them all through two decades and through wonderful times and terrible times and when we leave them behind at the end it's with a sigh and a tear. I didn’t want it to end and when it did I felt bereft!

My Favourite author 7 years ago was Emily Barr, ( I change favourite authors as I read more and more) But then,  I read everything she wrote, ‘Cuban Heels,’ ‘The First Wife,’  ‘Stranded,’ Backpack.’ ‘The Sisterhood.’ My love of her books was helped by the librarian of the local library loving her books too, so I was able to read all ten of them. But then in 2014, a new book was published,

 ‘The Sleeper’ A sort of mystery. What a disappointment it was, and I bought it which was another downer too, have you ever found that? You've longed for another book and you feel let down; but is it that you have changed?
I cried through ‘ A Song for Jenny.’

A mother’s story of how she and the family coped or didn’t cope when her daughter Jenny was first missing and then confirmed dead in the London 7/7 bombings (2005).. so sad. It made me feel blessed. My daughter worked in London a few years earlier and used the underground every day on her way to work.



Having thoroughly enjoyed Hosseini's former books – ‘The Kite Runner’ and ‘A Thousand Splendid Suns’ - I harboured the suspicion that he could not pull it off again. Oh what little faith I had, 'And The Mountains Echoed' is an excellent book and I am confident that anyone reading it will not be disappointed.  Set mainly in Afghanistan, the story starts with a poor farming family, barely able to feed themselves. The father's brother-in-law works for a rich couple who are unable to have children themselves. In exchange for his daughter, they will offer money so that the father is able to feed the rest of his family. He succumbs to this temptation and so starts the interweaving of the different generations and to the finale leading to a family reunion. A beautiful and very moving book that brought me to tears on several occasions, this isn't fundamentally about politics or war; it is about the unforgettable people who populate its pages - about humanity. And though there is sadness and sorrow here, there is also love and joy and a deep sense of hope.

For my 5th book, I chose… well if I just tell you of some of the stories and perhaps you can guess. It has incest, rape, homosexuality, heads cut off, daughters sold to old men, theft and crimes that will make you cringe, brothers killing brothers, sons killing fathers. Hatred and wars, lovers and passion and tender love. ....
And then a friend who betrays his greatest friend who is then killed in the most abominable way.. beaten and crucified. Have you guessed???
The greatest book ever written, the most sold book ever and translated into every language there is….

Yes it is The BIBLE!!! Would you believe it has such stories, well it does!
I am joining again with Amy for Five on Friday...and these five books are just some that I have loved. I read on average  60 to 90 books each year. I live inside which ever book I am reading at that time and when the dark evenings start, I like to retire to bed early just to read; I have even stayed awake till nearly day break, because I have to find out what happens next!



http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Five%20on%20Friday

What are your favourites, have you ever stayed awake till nearly daylight just to read, have you ever cried and cried over a book, have you ever read a book that had such a powerful effect on you, you couldn’t forget it? I can’t imagine life without books, what about you?


XX

Happy reading!!




 



22 comments:

Rosie said...

A great five - I spent many hours as a child visiting the library and reading and reading whatever I could. Nothing beats the feel of book but like you I enjoy my kindle and the ease of purchasing books and reading straight away:)

mamasmercantile said...

I too cried my way through a song for Jenny, around that time all three of my daughters were living/working in and around London. I am blessed that they are safe and have little families of their own.

Vickie said...

I too love books! I became a reader as a girl. More of an escape for me. I had a rough childhood. I have never stayed up THAT late reading! I have stayed up hours after bedtime to finish. My favorite author is Ted Dekker. I am reading a great book right now, The Story Keeper. I am also reading the Bible every day this year. I will have read it all by the end of year. This is the second time I have read it through.

Julie said...

A great post Chris.
I too love a good book. There are so many good books I have read but one that always sticks in my mind is Victoria Hislop - The Island, that was such a good book and I do like her others too, still have the latest to read.

A Colorful World said...

What a lovely book review post! I was so saddened by your very lonely childhood, but I know what a comfort books can be...and how they carry you away to wonderful lands and let you meet wonderful people and have wonderful adventures on their pages. Books have always been some of my dearest friends, and I collect them voraciously and read as much as I can!

Latane Barton said...

Chris, I am impressed at the amount of reading you do and the selections you choose. I have a book review blog site at http://springtimeinmagnolia.blogspot.com
Hope you will check it out and perhaps join our review team.

Mac n' Janet said...

I'm a reader too, so I really enjoyed looking at your 5, I'm not familiar with any of them.

Mascha said...

Oh yeah, books are my best friends!
We hadn't a tv too in my childhood...
My most beloved writer is Kontsantin Paustowskij. Reading his book is like travelling in anothe land and another time and you can smell the fragrance of the bazaar and the sea and wood fire...

Amy at love made my home said...

Wow, you read so much!!! I am up to 11 so far this year and I thought I was going really well, 60 to 90 is an amazing amount to read! Sounds as though you enjoy all kinds of things though. Thank you for joining Five On Friday. I hope that you have a great weekend! xx

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Wow! You do like to read. As a child, I devoured books. Now, I read when I can or when the mood strikes, mostly during the summer months (though over here, the weather is summerlike a good portion of the year). Have a good weekend.

Leslie: said...

I'm so glad you recommend "And the Mountains Echoed" because I read Hosseini's first 2 books and loved them. I'm ordering it now! Currently, I'm reading all about DCI Banks - great character and stories - I love mystery writers, especially the British ones - it helps me remember my visits to England and recall locations. Have a wonderful week, Chris.

September Violets said...

It was a bit sad to read the beginning of your post. I am glad that you found solace in reading as a child, and that you continue to enjoy books ... SO many books!! I love to read too, but don't always have the time to read as much as I'd like. If I read in bed I just fall asleep, so I've never made it to daybreak ;) Thanks for sharing your recent reads and thoughts on them. I'll be looking up a couple of them. Have a great weekend!
Wendy

eclectichomelife said...

Loved this post. Also loved Housennis previous books so will trot off to get this Echo mountain one now. Thank you

Unknown said...

Always looking for new reads. Thanks for sharing these!

Unknown said...

I love to read, too; though I don't get to as much as I'd like! I try to squeeze in a little time before bed, but that doesn't always happen. I love getting drawn into a book and not being able to put it down. My favorite tear-jerker of all time is James Patterson's Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas. Oh, how I cried! Thanks for your book list! Have a wonderful weekend!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Chris, Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving your 'footprint' in my comment box. Lovely to have a chance to come and visit you now. And to learn we both love God. And books. I've loved books since I was a child.

Keeping the recommended book list to just five in my post took some discipline indeed, because there are just so many wonderful books to read and share!

Wishing you a beautiful day...
Brenda


Babs in Alabama said...

This is the first time I've read your blog or even heard of Five on Friday. You read a variety of books and I love that. The library was by best friend until I reached 12 or so. I buy most of my books now and also have my kindle, but I support local libraries too.
Thank you for the heads up, Chris, on And the Mountains Echoed. I still list The Kite Runner when asked my favorite. Also enjoyed A Thousand Splendid Suns but have held back on ATME even though I bought it on it's 'coming out' day.
So enjoyed your blog and will definitely come again. Maybe I'll get mine going again.

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

Oh I love this Chris!! I have The Kite Runner - but I still haven't read it. I will though! The Butterfly House sounds so good...definitely adding to my list. Thanks for sharing.
And I love your surprise ending with the Bible. I need to read more of that book than I do. ;)
Blessings! Xoxo

Chickpea said...

I love reading and always had my head stuck in a book as a child. I have the Khaled Hosseini book but just haven't had the time to read it, I think it is packed away in the loft now after my huge pre selling house de-clutter! Must dig it out :)

Lisa from @intotheglade said...

Oh my I can't believe how many books you get through. I do love a good book though. I lived in libraries as a child too and I always wanted to know what happened next, I was often caught with the light on by my parents. A great five on Friday. I hope you have had a lovely weekend xx

Joan said...

Hi - just popped over from Justine's blog and have enjoyed having a read. I have only read one book from Emily Barr and that was the Sleeper. I thought it was fantastic and am on the lookout for more of her books. Joan at www.aviewtothefells.com

Mary - Lecoeurceltique said...

Like you Chris, I love a good book. It rarely happens but sometimes I get so engrossed in a book that when I finish it, I feel almost bereft because I have to leave the characters in the novel.