We Are Readers

We have several spots around our house where I like to read, but this spot is my

favorite.  We lovingly refer to this as our "library corner".   We also like to sit

here just before dinner with a cocktail or a glass of wine and chat for a bit and

catch up on each other's day.  

I have always loved to read.  Books have been collected over the years.  Some of

these on this shelf belonged to my Daddy.  He always shared his love of world

history and archaeology with me.  

One thing you will never see in my house are book spines turned toward the back.

Sorry to all the decorators out there who have followed this trend.  I am guessing

that for them books are only accessories and the content is of no importance.

That's fine for them, but not fine for me.  

On my shelves you will find the classics, many books on philosophy and

ancient thought.  Our copy of the Book of Common Prayer is tucked away

yet referred to often.

We were so saddened when Christopher Hitchens passed away a few years

ago.  What a brilliant mind he had.  I have been very fond of Flaubert since

my college days.  Oops ~ our copy of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter was

put back on the shelf upside down.  

We have the Wall Street Journal delivered to our home.  David likes to read

all the business articles, but the paper is very complete and there are lots

of other interesting articles to read besides business.

I still have all my French books from college.  

My dear friend Sharon who lives in Houston, surprised me recently with a 

box filled with wonderful goodies and one of the goodies was this

book ~ Lunch in Paris.  I just squealed in delight when I saw it and am

looking forward to beginning it tonight.  She also sent me the most adorable

little tea set which I will use in a tablescape later this week.

I love reading books about Paris despite the fact that I am a full fledged

Anglophile.  Here is a short list of books I have read that have Paris and

or France in general as their topic.  I highly recommend all of them:

Almost French ~ by Sarah Turnbull

Into a Paris Quarter ~ by Diane Johnson
C'est La Vie ~ by Suzy Gershman
Entre Nous ~ by Debra Ollivier
A Year in Provence ~ by Peter Mayle

and of course:
Appetite for Life ~ by Noel Riley Fitch
because Julia Child is one of my favorite people.

So there you have it.  I hope that since fall is on it's way
and kids are back at school, the idea of reaching out for a good
book to expand your mind and your horizons will be on your
schedule too.

Big Texas Hugs,
Susan and Bentley