Sharing the love.....

As a writer and a book lunatic enthusiast, today was what one would call a really good day. Today is the final day of our church's annual lawn fete, where one of the long standing attractions is something called Attic Treasures. It's basically a giant garage sale, and in the middle of that garage sale are hundreds of books. On top of that the cost is, $.50 for a soft cover and $1.00 for hardcovers, but the best part actually happens today. For $2 you buy a paper grocery bag and whatever books you can fit into it are yours......cue the angels singing. 

I make it a point to go each day and spend at least an hour or more going through every box. I have many goals during these searches; finding that book I've always wanted to read, adding to an author collection, and in some cases just a random book I picked up that turned out to be a great surprise. Below is a picture of this year's loot. 22 books and I believe the cost was about $6. Last year's sale netted me a couple of Anne Tyler and Anna Quindlen books, and I was able to add to that this year. Under the Tuscan Sun is something I've wanted to read ever since seeing the movie. A Thousand Splendid Suns is the sequel to the Kite Runner, so I'm sure that will be another extremely emotional read. Alice Hoffman is another author I collect, Neil Gaiman is someone I've been hearing a lot about lately, and The Fountain Head is one of those extreme books that I challenge myself to read now and then. Dave Eggers wrote one of my favorite books, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, so I jumped at this copy of What is the What. 

While I was there today I ran into some family members, also in search of a good story. One wistfully commented that they would love to have more time to read. I don't think any of us have the luxury of reading as much as we want. As I put it, I'm storing them up for the future. I will get to them all....someday. Again, I'm not kidding when I say that someday I'll need a bigger house for all these books. What can I say...I LOVE BOOKS. I get giddy just discussing books with someone. All weekend I caught myself pushing books I had read, and own, at random strangers. 

"This was a good book, but a hard story," I said pointing out Jane Hamilton's A Map of the World to a woman standing near me. She smiled politely, as I walked off to point out another book to someone else. 

Even today as I walked with my family, I was literally throwing books into their bag that I felt they should read. 

"Have you read this," I asked pointing out a copy of White Oleander by Janet Fitch.
"I did see the movie," my cousin said. "Book was so much better," I replied and pushed it toward her.

"Have you ever read this?" I asked her mom, holding up a copy of Judith Guest's, Ordinary People.
"It sounds familiar," she said and I pretty much tossed that into her bag.

"Oh my gosh, this is such a great book," I gushed, grabbing a beat up copy of Pat Conroy's Beach Music. I don't even think I gave them a choice before it went into their bag too. Incidentally, I had a conversation about this same book a couple of weeks ago with a fellow book addict enthusiast, who I met randomly at my hair salon. We had both read it years ago and we were still in awe over his ability to describe the streets of Venice down  to the smallest detail, and don't get me started on his descriptions of southern life. Seriously, go get a copy. 

So....now it's time for me to go rearrange some bookshelves and find a home for my new friends. This is the fun part too, as I'll come across a book I bought at last year's sale, but still haven't gotten to read yet and I'll get excited about it all over again. Or I'll come across one I read years ago and loved, but haven't (shudders at the idea) gotten rid of. 

Oh, and if you happen to see me at a future book sale, you may want to head the other way, unless you plan on buying A LOT OF BOOKS.

Adrienne

PS Are you like me? Do you tell random strangers about books? Which ones??