LEAH'S READING CORNER
The books I like
I spend much of my free time reading. Before I started school, I remember being entralled by books. (One of my favorites at the time was "Go Dog Go". Remember that?)
As I progressed through school, my love for reading developed even more. I think that from junior high school on, my teachers recognized this love, and recommended to me
certain writers, some of whom I still love to this day. Do you find that some people may enjoy reading, but once they are finished with a book, they truly consider it
closed? But on the other hand, there are those that can re-read a book, sometimes 10 times or more, and enjoy it each time? Well, I'm definitely one of the latter people!
So, these are my recommendations.
My all-time favorite books
GREEN DARKNESS by Anya Seton
AVALON by Anya Seton
KATHERINE by Anya Seton
THE THORN BIRDS by Colleen McCullough
CENTENNIAL by James Michener
A TIME TO KILL by John Grisham
I will be adding to this list as I think of more. You see that Anya Seton is listed 3 times. My 7th grade english teacher (I can't remember her name, but I do remember
her walking into the classroom one day singing "Barracuda" by Heart-was a brand-new song at that time!) recommended "Green Darkness" to me, and I thought that it was the best
book ever written. (Now that I'm older, I'm more sensitive to the story's theme of reincarnation, since this is not a teaching compatable with my beliefs) However, as I read more
of Anya Seton's books, I began to see that she is one of the best historical fiction writers in the world. I certainly enjoy a good romance, but she is very believable in her writing,
not overly sentimental. In other words, she truly sticks to the main facts of history.
I began reading "The Thorn Birds" around the time that the miniseries showed on TV (I'm not sure if it was before or after). I enjoyed this book so much that I named one of my
daughters after the main character of the story.
"Centennial" happened to be a book that was given to my older brother in the mid-'70's. I found it in the top of his closet, and I still own it to this day (sans the cover!) I love
the way that James Michener interweaves history throughout the book. And the way he concentrates on one particular location to weave his story around helps me to appreciate how our
lives are all intertwined, even though we may not see it.
My husband bought "A Time To Kill" after he had read "The Firm" (early in John Grisham's career). As often happens, he bought it for himself, and I took it from him (he HATES that!). I have read
every release from John Grisham, and this is still my favorite from him. I haven't seen the movie, but I don't care to. The movies never match the books anyway!
My husband and I are fortunate that he and I both love to read. We've passed this onto our oldest daughter. Reading is very important, because it exercises the imagination. However, it's very
easy to neglect other, more important things when you are absorbed in a good story. This is something that I always try to balance; however, I sometimes don't succeed (Ask Jim!). It's so easy to get
caught up in a story that may contain material that is offensive. Even though I abhor violence and immorality in movies, I have to be careful in my choice of reading material. It's just something that
I have to remind myself of.
Let me know what you think!
Leah LeCamus-Zenut@worldnet.att.net
Go Home!
Last updated March 4, 1997