Novel escapes
“Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” ~Mary Schmich, journalist
Next week, my neighborhood book club will meet to nominate and vote on our reading selections for the year. We’ll choose from a variety of novels, classics, and nonfiction titles suggested by members of the group. So I’ve spent the past couple of weeks taking a deep dive into several books, then narrowing down the best ones to nominate.
Reading has been a wonderful escape on these chilly winter afternoons. As today’s quote reminds me, reading opens a door to new worlds and ideas — just as touring a foreign country introduces the tourist to different scenery and culture.
Likewise, a good novel, biography or memoir can coax us out of our worries for a while. And if we’re stuck in a waiting room, a good book will help pass the time. Best of all, as any book club member will agree, books are wonderful conversation starters.
This month, visit your local library or book store and start browsing the shelves for your next adventure. ~CL
Cindy La Ferle
Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.
