Reading Retreat

Before the holidays some ladies on The Well Trained Mind boards were discussing books to read that had a Christmas theme. I don't recall who suggested the Miss Read books: No Holly for Miss Quinn, The Christmas Mouse, and Fairacre Christmas, but I am grateful to that person beyond measure! After devouring those stories, I've requested the first three Miss Read novels from our local library. I intend to read the series, beginning to end. I found them spellbinding and transporting. Whenever I find a spare minute I escape to the English countryside and the small villages and simple lifestyle enclosed within the pages of these books. They are like a sanctuary, a retreat from the chaos of busy 21st century life with its electronic din. To lean back against a plump pillow and crack open the pages is like a breath of fresh, Fairacre air. I am hooked. My free time is no longer my own, a whole community waits on my presence!



After some research about the author, it is no wonder I find her work appealing. She states her major influence as Jane Austen and the current author who was most influenced by her is Jan Karon. I adore both of those writers' works and count them among my favorites.



Speaking of Jane Austen, be sure to watch Masterpiece Theatre on Sunday evenings at 9, beginning tonight. They will be airing a series of adaptations of her novels and a biopic of her life. View the schedule at PBS. The last two Sundays they aired an adaptation of Jane Eyre, one of my favorite novels. If you missed it you can probably catch it another time. It wasn't the first time they'd shown it, but be sure to tune in tonight for the first Jane Austin: Persuasion.







On the end table, next to one of my reading spots: Christmas at Fairacre, Home to Holly Springs (our latest Jan Karon acquisition), The Well Educated Mind (a Christmas present from my wonderful husband), a daily devotional by Billy Graham that my sister gave me for Christmas (she has her own copy and we both read it daily), and lastly, an adorable sheep made from wool from the local monastery (a Christmas present from Gretchen). What's needed here is a cup of tea with cream and I'm all set!

Did you receive or give any books for Christmas? What were they? Have you read them yet? Have you discovered any new favorite authors? Do tell.