Summer Reading Club is underway at my library and this summer, there is a blog assignment for staff each week of the program. Which means my blog has a direction again. The assignment this week: Blog about your favorite book.
I am at a loss to actually name a favorite book. There are so many that could claim that title, but then again, there are so few that actually stick with me. My favorite series is the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, of which I have treasured every one of the six volumes about Claire and Jamie Fraser, for their history, as well as the romance. I enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels because they make me laugh out loud. Hometown favorite Jennifer Crusie also makes me laugh, and well, she’s from Columbus. And the classic To Kill A Mockingbird turns 50 this year. But if I had to actually pick a book….the one that calls to me each summer is Up A Road Slowy by Irene Hunt.
Newberry Award-winning Up A Road Slowly is the story of Julie, who is raised by her spinster Aunt Cordelia, after the death of mother, during her formative teen years. As a young teen myself, I loved it, identifying with Julie, even if I didn’t quite understand all the nuances. As an adult, I see themes I didn’t see when I read it the first time, such as her bachelor uncle’s alcoholism, yet those themes enrich Julie’s story in yet another way. Something in it draws me back, be it the characters or the empathy for Julie, I’m not sure.
For those who know, but can’t quite place the name, Irene Hunt also wrote the award-winning Across Five Aprils, often required reading for students due to the Civil War theme.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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