Little Books, Big Joy

I read four complete books in the last 24 hours. Unlike the usual process of reading small portions all week and then finishing them off on the weekend, this time, I left the longer ones for next week, and selected four shorter books that I’ve been meaning to get to for a while. One after the other, I read, ruminated, and then moved on.

I’ve never quite done this before, and it seems like a really bad way to appreciate books, much like wolfing down a meal instead of slowly enjoying every mouthful—a binge-and-purge kind of regard, which is to say none at all. Appearances, however, can be deceiving. I didn’t read any faster, nor skim over text. Like every other book I consume, I took notes; paused to share points of interest with loved ones, and savored well-written lines and imagery. The only difference between this and a regular book-person interaction is that instead of getting up after closing the monograph and doing something else, I picked up another one. None detracted from the other, I assure you.

The chosen four were really tasty too. A husband-wife duo, Nancy and Lawrence Goldstone, wrote the first selection entitled, Warmly Inscribed: the New England Forger and Other Book Tales. They’ve written many volumes to do with their love and search for collectible books and their adventures in the book world. All are equally pleasant to read. They have a style that makes you like them as people; the kind you invite over for tea and warm, intelligent conversation.

Nancy Pearl, in her More Book Lust: 1,000 New Reading Recommendations for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason, mentioned Mark Salzman as “too good to miss”. I trust her as a source, and so picked up the terrific Iron & Silk, a book about the author’s experiences teaching English and learning martial arts in China after finishing university. This man is smart, and diverse, and diligent, interesting and interested in just about everything and everyone. I’m glad I own this book so I can pass it on to a few people I know will love it.

The next title is one that everyone has seemingly read except me: Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, a Young Man, and Life’s Greatest Lesson. As expected, it was touching yet sad, meant to remind the reader that life is short and we control how we want to spend it. The theme of friendship resonates throughout the text, and it proves to be the most moving. This is the kind of book you hand to people when they are at a crossroads, or feeling down, or have lost perspective on themselves and their place in the scheme of things.

I went with a French children’s classic for the last selection, Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. About companionship and loneliness, this is truly a delightful tale for the kid who, like the Little Prince himself, lives in a universe where grown-ups are often nonsensical, self-centered and even worse, unimaginative. The illustrations, drawn by the author, are wonderful.

Although it was a bit much to read that many books in so short a time, it certainly was an interesting exercise (sickly, I did indulge in thinking about its possibilities… if one were to do the same every day, it would result in an astounding 1460 books read per year).

I will honestly say that I didn’t think I’d be able to achieve the four-book goal this week because of work-related business. The next seven days will be even more jam-packed, as I have two book presentations to give. We shall see. I guess there’s a reason it’s called a challenge.