It's Raining

I woke up this morning to raindrops hitting my bedroom window, 

 and what a glorious sound.  It looks like the rain maybe on its way out, but for now

it is the perfect morning to relax in my sunroom, with a cup of coffee and
 talk books with you.

Do you remember the stack of books I told you I have toted around this summer?

I've finished all but one...whew...
Along the way I've read a few other's as well.  

Reconnecting with my friend J has been wonderful.   We enjoy getting together for lunch or an evening glass of wine and catch-up...we've both had very busy summers.  We chat about the children and our new grand babies.  Can you believe it?  Our babies were born only a few weeks apart.  

It doesn't matter what we are doing our conversation always evolves to the question,

"What have you read lately?"

Last time we were together she was looking for something to grab her attention, but not too time consuming... something light.   She has a lot going on these days; I had the perfect book.

   

The Borrower is a book you read simply for the story.

Lucy Hull, a children's librarian (if you are a librarian, her credentials are going to bother you, be forewarned ) befriends, Ian, a young boy whose love of reading is censored by an overbearing mother.  When the mother enrolls Ian in an antigay class with a "rehabilitated" charismatic minister,  he runs away taking Lucy with him.   Wanting to believe she is taking Ian to his grandmother, and convinced she is saving him, Lucy finds herself in the roll of a kidnapper.   With Ian giving directions the two begin an across state line journey that will take them from Missouri to Vermont.  Who has kidnapped who?

Along the way the unlikely companions encounter the Russian mafia, a stalker and a crazy boyfriend, (there may be a stowaway ferret in there as well), all the while Lucy is trying to work out how she can return Ian safely home without being arrested.

I was drawn to this story, as I am passionate about children reading.  I feel strongly children should read all kind of books... the good, the bad, and the scary (age appropriate, of course).  In bookstores libraries, and on the internet I hear parents talking about not allowing children to read this or that book.  Sometimes the book challenges a belief or the parent didn't like the book as a child, it scared them.  I believe we underestimate our children when we place these limitations on them.  We live in a world full of evil happenings; how better to help children face scary things, solve moral dilemmas and not give up, than through literature.  Allow them to read, then be available to discuss the content.   I cannot imagine not having the opportunity to read Snow White, The Wizard of Oz, A Wrinkle in Time or The Giver.   One of my favorite quotations is from Coraline,

"Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

Okay, now I'll step down from my soapbox, and get back to the book.

I am not recommending this book for the writing.  There are more
than a few issues which are questionable, but it is fiction.    It was an entertaining, one day,
ride...read...

I had to find out if they survived the road trip or
would it end the way of "Thelma and Louise".

Now I have about an hour for...

You know I always love hearing about what you are reading!


The above quotation is a paraphrasing from the writings of  C. K. Chesterton.
(author of Father Brown mysteries)

Enjoy the day!