Swift or smooth, broad as the Hudson or narrow enough to scrape your gunwales, every river is a world of its own, unique in pattern and personality. Each mile on a river will take you further from home than a hundred miles on a road.
~ Bob Marshall
The same is true for books. Every book we read is unique, full of its own story and people and worlds. Picture books, chapter books, 700 page books... they all create a new place for the reader to explore.
I cry every time I read Pink & Say or Faithful Elephants, two picture books that pack the painful punch of reality as well as any novel. I think I've been scarred for life by James Patterson's Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, yet I recommend it to everyone I know - it's beautiful and powerful and oh-so-heartwrenching.
Without fail, Janet Evanovich can make me spit my coffee. And I still laugh when I think of Rick Riordan's line about Grover "hauling goat tail" - ha ha ha!
Imagine Bob Marshall's quote like this:
I cry every time I read Pink & Say or Faithful Elephants, two picture books that pack the painful punch of reality as well as any novel. I think I've been scarred for life by James Patterson's Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, yet I recommend it to everyone I know - it's beautiful and powerful and oh-so-heartwrenching.
Without fail, Janet Evanovich can make me spit my coffee. And I still laugh when I think of Rick Riordan's line about Grover "hauling goat tail" - ha ha ha!
Imagine Bob Marshall's quote like this:
Swift or smooth, broad as the Hudson or narrow enough to scrape your gunwales, every book is a world of its own, unique in pattern and personality. Each page of a book will take you further from home than a hundred miles on a road.
Each book is a river. Enjoy the ride!
Stop by tomorrow for The Steampunk Blog Tour of The Brimstone Key. I'll have a guest post from Jon S. Lewis himself!! And, of course... PRIZES!
Stop by tomorrow for The Steampunk Blog Tour of The Brimstone Key. I'll have a guest post from Jon S. Lewis himself!! And, of course... PRIZES!
I'm sailing away right now into The Graveyard Book.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true, Shannon! And I totally agree with you about Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas and Janet Evanovich's books. I'd love to have a chat with her!
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the Smurfs!! And so true, every book does have it's on vibe. That's why each in its own right is a great escape!!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful words...This is something I talk about with my son a lot. He is 5 and just learning to read. He loves the idea of visiting new worlds, and I love going along with him!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow's post sounds great!
Michele
SouthernCityMysteries
I haven't seen a picture of the Smurfs in about a decade. I am now traumatized.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I just finished the ride of All The Pretty Horses. A bit bumpy, but the view was gorgeous! :)
Books help us become who we were meant to be.
ReplyDeleteEvery book is a river and I usually am glad to enjoy the ride. :O)
ReplyDeleteBooks are my Mississippi River, my avenue to freedom. =D
ReplyDeleteOkay, so for whatever reason, seeing a Smurfs puzzle box just made me smile and feel all nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteDo I lose my creepy thriller cred now? Or later? lol
True words. And people are a river, too!
ReplyDeleteSo very true :)
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon -
ReplyDeleteEach book is unique and appeals to its own audience. Some people like a calm ride, while others seek out the rapids.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Love your thoughts here, every book is a river, and with the 4 I'm reading right now, a foot, a hand in each one, I'm enjoying the ride all I can!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Terresa
What a cool analogy. Book's are rivers and every river is worth at LEAST a second look.
ReplyDelete....
You know you want to dip your toes in.
After I saw your pic with the Smurfs I wasn't sure it could get much better, then I read the quote. PERFECT! Thanks once again for inspiring my day!
ReplyDeleteOh to be Smurfette - if only for a day!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for Steampunk week!
Smurfs! Thanks for this lovely post...:)
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Books are pure magic!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Smurfs!! :)
hi miss shannon! wow with all those books i got for my birthday im gonna be rafting down a lot of rivers for a looooong time.
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
True analogy.
ReplyDeleteI should send you an alternative smurf picture I saw in France.
If you get a chance tomorrow, please stop by my blog. I'm hosting a Halloween Haunting!
Without a vibe there is no story...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Theresa, true analogy!
Shannon, hey stranger! Missing you, sunshine girl. The river analogy has always been a favorite of mine in many instances. Oftentimes I refer to the channel of writing, the current of writing. That is true as well of the blog world. A river is defined in a way that the ocean is not. It has sides and direction. It's on a quest, a mission, an adventure! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy! I love this...they all create a new place for the reader to explore.
ReplyDeleteSO true! Thank you for this lovely analogy.
ReplyDeletela la la la la la la la la la la
ReplyDelete(you DO remember the Smurf song don't you?)
You know, you're right, every book is unique. Even (dare I admit it) those formulaic romances that I used to read in high school. But it's the ones that are completely different that really make me fall in love!
Like the Smurf picture. Used to enjoy watching the cartoons on TV. Looks like I better get caught up on my blog reading so I can read your steampunk blog post.
ReplyDelete