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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: The Reader (04/15/10)

TITLE: My Old Friends
By Maria Egilsson
04/15/10


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As a small child I fell in love with books. One of my earliest memories is falling asleep to the quiet murmur of my parents’ voice as they sat by my bed reading. Another memory, is sitting on my mother’s lap as we looked at big, bright picture books together. I understand what George Robert Gissing meant when he wrote, “I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.” Each book has its own distinct smell and feel. I admit it; I have a love affair with books. An old Chinese Saying states: “To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.” This is what I feel about books. They are made to be touched, handled and re-read. A good book is like a friend that you never really forget.

There is an excitement I feel when I start a new book. Reading becomes an intimate journey where I enter worlds full of adventure with captivating characters. There are some books that are so alive that it leaves me disorientated when I finally turn the last page. It’s like invisible threads wrapped around my mind and hard to shake free from its web. In the privacy of my own mind, I can conjure up visions and images as words unfold. These little sheets of paper bound together hold a power that cannot be explained.

I often savor the thought of spending time with a book at the end of the day. I know it is waiting for me, enticing me to enter another time and place. I think it was Francis Bacon that wrote “some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.” Each one has its own taste and flavor. The books on my bookshelf are like friends waiting to greet this reader at the beginning and end of each day.


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This article has been read 479 times
Member Comments
Member Date
E.J. Swanson04/22/10
Oh WOW! I love this article. You are so on the mark about books! I have a habit of just falling in love with titles...and that is what made me pick out your article to read first...but the content was very "tasty". Thank you for this article.
AnneRene' Capp 04/22/10
Excellent portrayal of what bonds us writers together from the inside out!
Gerald Shuler 04/22/10
You captured the essence of why a writer writes. It starts with a love of reading.
Kate Oliver Webb04/22/10
Oh, how well you described what I feel about reading and books! I've felt that "disorientation" as well. Just one bit of red ink: the middle sentence of the middle paragraph had a word missing, or something? "It’s like invisible threads wrapped around my mind and hard to shake free from its web." I know what you meant, but it caused me to hesitate in the reading flow. Otherwise, a wonderful piece.
angelos2 wark04/23/10
Great story.
One of my favorite places when we go to the Mall, is to venture off to Barnes & Noble and cozy in with a good book.
Every true writer will relate to this.
Charlotte Maccallum04/24/10
Graet story. I love your take on the topic.
Nanci Rubin04/24/10
Oh yes, friends indeed, and they are never too busy for us...I love to lose myself and live in the pages. One can discern who your friends are. Most enjoyable...
Jackie Wilson04/26/10
You have a wonderful feel for the flow of the writing! The content of this piece had a very personal touch, and was easy to relate to. Very, very good!
Fredrick Nicholson04/26/10
Bravo!! Such feeling and intimacy is recommended reading for every Faithwriter! Well Done!
Beth LaBuff 04/26/10
I grew up hearing "Books are our friends!" too. (and I enjoyed all your "sayings") What a treasure! Your title if perfect!
Catrina Bradley 04/26/10
This is exactly how I feel, too! You've expressed the love affair of reader and books very well. People think I'm strange because I like to smell books. Glad someone else is like me. Good job on this topic!
Maria Egilsson 04/26/10
Thank you all for your comments. I would never survive with just
an electronic kindle or other ebook reader. I do smell books and the texture has to be appealing as well. I like the way they feel in my hand and turning the pages..... I can see that you all relate. It's not only the written words but the "whole package". lol.

Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 04/27/10
Your passion for books surely shines through.

You might want to divide the paragraphs into smaller ones. Especially the ones where you quote more than one person, each quote should have its own paragraph.

I can relate to liking the way a book smells, and feeling and treasuring each page. your details were very vivid and your love of reading apparent.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 04/29/10
Congratulations in placing in the top 15 of your level. Good job!


   
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