By Kimberly A. Cook (Twitter@ WarriorTales)
When we writers pack for vacation, one of the most important lists we make is which books to take. We look forward to those lazy days away from home when we can’t fix the plumbing, clean the gutters or do laundry, we only have time to explore and read. With the ease of ereaders, we can take 1,500 books with us, but definitely with a lot less weight and bulk. Recharging plug or car adaptor required.
In my house I have a keeper shelf, or a couple to be honest. Those are where the books I consider wonderful friends reside; never to end up in the sell online or donate pile. We should think about what makes those books so special and why we love them so much.Is it the dialogue, the scenery, our passion for zombies? Do we prefer the western, the romance, science fiction or biographies? Recently I’ve stocked the keeper shelves with favorite children’s books I read growing up. Rereading them helps us learn about the writers we have become and why.
One way to drive ourselves completely nuts is to create a top ten all-time favorite books list. In our minds only. While I have a top ten writing books list, I never want to put my all-time favorite book list on-screen or paper. Perhaps I don’t want to tempt the universe that I won’t find more books for the keeper shelves.
So dream a little. If you were marooned on an island for a year and could only take one book with you, what would it be?
Wow. Only one book for an entire year? That borders on “cruel and unusual punishment! Have to be Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander.”