I seem to be in a bit of book lag; I pick them up, put them down, forget where I put them, go on to another, find the first . . . the point is that I’m in one of those passages in life where I am not getting hooked in the first chapters. It is not the fault of the writers but of myself. I seem to be in a distracted spell, needing a magic wand to whisk me back to literature.
I have three library books, now overdue, that need rapid transit to the library. They have been renewed so many times that they are now non-renewable. Does that ever happen to you?
I keep meaning to start “The Light We Cannot See”; even more so now that the author, Anthony Doerr was awarded the Pulitzer Prize.
“Ironweed”, by William Kennedy, has been gathering dust along with “Spook”, by Mary Roach and a host of other books that are begging me to opening them up – and keep them open. I will. I know I will. Sometimes a book just needs to bide its time until the words resting inside become comfortable on the reader’s eyes. Like the books about me, I was biding my time.
I’ve been busy with our garden and the garden club, household chores and my many activities, life in progress. I did find time to stop in at charming gift shop in nearby Clarendon Hills. Ebenezer’s is filled with antiques and vintage items, ribbons and cards, jewelry and dolls – and a lovely collection of teacups and serving plates. I wandered around, the music of Downton Abbey floating through the air as I hobbled up the wooden staircase, admiring a table set with flow blue, old cookbooks and glassware, before returning to the main floor, whose boards squeaks in that companionable way that old floorboards have of telling their tale. I checked out the jewelry and stuffed animals, then noticed the wide array of classic, and soon-to-be classic, children’s literature.
Do you know what I found? It was a book I’ve been looking for ever since seeing a documentary last winter about children’s author/illustrator Virginia Lee Burton. Virginia Lee Burton: A Sense of Place, is wonderful production about her life, her marriage, her family and her work. Many of you know “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” and “Katy”. I’d forgotten about “Choo Choo”, which I bought for our Ezra, who love, love, loves trains and hoped to one day find “The Little House” after seeing the documentary.
“The Little House” is available online and at bookstores, but, I had it in my mind to find it, just like the great great granddaughter of the man who first built the little house finds it in Burton’s story, I needed to find “The Little House”, and I did, there in the charming shop called Ebenezer’s, late in the afternoon. It seemed to be waiting for me to come upon it, to open its covers, and to bring it home.
This is an endearing children’s story, which is really about urban development encroaching upon country life. This little house is built on a hillside looking out over the pastures and fields and up to the sun and the moonlit skies. As the pages turn, trees and farms and schools and roads, then stores and trains and skyscrapers appear until the little house is alone on a city street, sad and boarded up, no longer relevant (or so it seems), until a young woman walks by and remembers her great great grandfather’s house.
Historic preservation in a children’s book, written mid-twentieth century, “The Little House” is refereed to as Rachel Carson for kids. First published in 1942, this is a cautionary tale for adults as much as a sweet storybook for children.
I brought “The Little House” home and settled upon the rocker which Tom’s great grandfather rocked, in my own 90+ year old house. Some of the resident herd of deer were grazing on the clear cut lot next door. A hawk circled overhead, then a raucous gaggle of geese. There are remnants of an apple orchard and walnut trees stain the street with their bounty. Our soil was once tilled as farmland and old traps can be found when wandering about. It is as idyllic as it is not, bounded by a road cut off and two major highways, a railroad yard close by and sloughs as ancient as the earth itself but a few miles away. As I rocked and read my newfound book reminded me of how children’s literature can snap me out of a bit of book lag and carry me home to where I ought to be.
Then, I remembered the painting above by William James Glacken, titled Portrait of Penny. A book not yet opened, a cookie to be nibbled, and a bit of the young girl hidden within.
Sigh. I think I’m over my book lag.
Ah, Penny. What a great post! I too have found delightful children’s books to snap me out of my book lags. I had started books and put them down. (Though I recommend All the Light We Cannot See whenever you feel like tackling it.) Nothing grabbed me until a friend sent me a book I had on my wish list–The Art of Rise of the Guardians. I loved that movie and was eager to read about the design choices made in the movie. That book pulled me out of a reading slump.
Sometimes, I guess the right book just waits to be found.
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Thank you, L. Marie. The Art of Rise of the Guardians sounds very interesting. I’ll put it on my own wish list. Sometimes we seem to need to read in a different way. This sounds like “the ticket”. 🙂
Thanks for the strong recommendation of All the Light We Cannot See. A friend leant me her copy, some time ago, with a strong personal recommendation as well. I have a feeling I need a week or so of “fluff”. ha
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What a delightful story Penny, told with great charm. I love the last part where you and the book come home. I felt I was right there, sitting in a chair beside you, having a read as well. Thank you, this is the perfect start to my day.
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What a nice thing to say, Juliet. Thank you so very much. Now, I am ending my day as you are probably in the middle of yours. I hope all is well as winter creeps in there. Still cool here, but, wonderful blossoms on trees.
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It seems there is an invisible magnet that draws us to places like Ebenezer’s when we are looking for something and find it by surprise! The book sounds like a good one for those times when there’s a need for something like a Wind in the Willow fix. I will put it on my list but will trust the magnet at my used bookstores first.
I am pitiful—a fishing widow this weekend. None of the things I think I will do when he’s out of my hair sound a bit fun! Hope you have sunny skies ahead and maybe a Midnight sighting.
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Aha! There does seem to be an invisible magnet. That’s what was pulling me towards Ebenezer’s. 🙂 You’d better not go there, Marilyn; I had my hands on a most illustrious old volume of Wind in the Willows, then gently put it down when I saw the price, which was dear. The Little House was gently used and fit nicely into my hands.
I always make ambitious plans when Tom is away; then I find things to do like books to read and stores to visit and friends to meet up with and, well . . . enjoy your weekend.
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Oh, forgot. I came home the other day and noticed a bowl of milk by the door. Midnight usually comes calling when I’m home, in the kitchen or just outside. Seems Tom was the one Midnight was calling while I was out and about.
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I have this book, too. Very touching. The movie The Triplets of Belleville reminds me of it a little.
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It is such a lovely book, Nan. Now, I need to see The Triplets of Belleville.
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Oh, Penny! The Little House is a lovely treasure! So glad that this book found you at Ebenezer’s. Books often find me at Town House Books, in St. Charles. Children’s literature will always have a special place in my heart, too. So glad that your book lag is in the past. Soon you will be enjoying your favorite books outside, too! Have a delightful weekend, dear Penny! ♡
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Is Town House Books still there, Dawn? Such a charming book store.
Have you heard about or been to Prairie Path Bookstore in Wheaton? It is a located in Thoms Price, the furniture store, right on the tracks, lots of parking, and they have some interesting programs, authors, cooking. 5 women run it, Thoms Price furnishes it – sound good? I’ve digressed and failed to thank you and wish you a delightful weekend as well. 🙂
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It’s still there, with it’s charming, little cafe! Penny, you are the second person who has recently recommended the Prairie Path Bookstore, in Wheaton. I must visit this special place very soon! Thank you! Thank you!
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Thanks for letting me know, Dawn. I’m glad to hear Town House Books is still operating and that the little cafe is still there. Note to self: take trip out there, right after I get to Prairie Path Bookstore. If you google it, you can check out the website. I think you will like it. Over and out for now. 🙂
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What a wonderful post Penny. It brought back memories of reading these books to children. They are so precious. I need to make them part of my life again. Thank you
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Thank you very much, Gerlinde. I think I have always had children’s books around me – even when there were no children about. Love ’em. 🙂
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I miss my collection of children’s books … (Now residing at our daughter’s … I visit the books when we’re in Oregon). I made a couple of notes from your set aside list for my Library and / or Kindle list. Always appreciate your sharing.
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It must be fun returning to the when you visit in Oregon, Sallie. They are you collection, only they are on a long sabbatical. I’m glad to share and enjoy titles and authors you all share with me as well.
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You have me now wanting to get up out of bed to go through the bookshelves just to make sure I still have my old copy of “The Little House.” I haven’t taken notice in a long time, but surely I still have it! 🙂 I relate very closely to what you’re describing in a reading “lag.” I think that’s why at times I’m “reading” half a dozen books at one time. I read a page here or there, and eventually I sink into one, but the distractions in life so often make it hard for me to settle. I don’t think blogging has helped, quite frankly! LOL! What would I be doing right now if I weren’t on my laptop? Probably reading one of the dozen or so books sitting by my bed. Children’s books are always a great place of retreat, though, aren’t they? I loved reading your thoughts here, my friend.
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Well, I hope you stayed in bed and got your rest – and then found “The Little House” in the morning. 🙂 We do have many distractions, don’t we, Debra? I think that may be my problem right now. I agree, totally: children’s books are a place of retreat and I hope I can always go there ( and you, too).
Have a good week – and thank you.
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I did find my copy of “The Little House,” Penny, and I was relieved. Every now and then I can’t find a book and I wonder if I made a hasty decision and parted with it. My copy was a children’s book club edition that goes back to when my children were very young, so it’s probably about 35 years old. I’m so glad you called attention to it. I haven’t looked at it in a long time, and I’ve now pulled it out to share with the girls. Hope you, too, have a great week. Keep your excitement out on the road down to a minimum, will you? LOL!
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Always a good feeling when we dig up these treasures from the past. 🙂 How fun it will be to now share it with the girls. It strikes me as the kind of activity that extends the story of the little house in a very personal way.
Ha! I think I’ll stay put today to hold the excitement down, Debra.
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“The Little House” sounds like a wonderful book for a child, I wish I had known about it for my three! I have periods of book lag too, when nothing appeals. It was easier to deal with when Borders Books was nearby and a great excuse to wander for an hour or so looking for inspiration! Dawn just recommended a book that takes place during WWII that she loves and you may like called “The Nightingale” by Kristin Hannah. I downloaded the free sample to my Kindle but haven’t gotten to it yet. Love “Portrait of Penny” – you should have a print of that sitting next to your favorite reading spot!
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What a good idea, Janet. I’ll have to look for a print. Then Penny and Penny can read together. 😉
I really miss Borders. We were just talking about it the other night and how many times we would go to Borders, he would go to Borders, I would go to Borders. Then we chuckled and said it was folks like us that probably forced it to close. (Actually, I did my share of book and magazine buying there); both the Oak Brook location and then the La Grange one.
I like Kristin Hannah. I’ll put “The Nightingale on my list and maybe get the audio next time I go up North. Thanks for the recommendation.
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Oh, I know exactly what you mean, Penny! I too am having a period of book aridity and finding that children’s books are speaking to me more strongly than the pile I have waiting. I recently reread Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm for the first time in many years and then managed to find New Chronicles of Rebecca on the Gutenberg project. 🙂
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I wonder if it is just general busy-ness, or that childhood yearning that comes out in springtime, Perpetua. I’m still floundering a bit here, but now want to pick up “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”. 🙂 Isn’t the Gutenberg project wonderful?
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