The Pillars of the Earth

Last night was book club and I hosted. The book that brought us all together was titled, "The Pillars of the Earth." You may have seen the book on my blog - it's been up for two months. It was our summer read - all 973 pages of it.

973 pages. That's a lot, even for a reader like me. It's not an easy thing to lug around to the pool, the drs. offices, the bathtub. In fact, one day I noticed the muscle between my thumb and first finger was sore and I couldn't figure out why until I realized that was where the book rested. When you are more than half way through a book that size, your thumb becomes the book rest for all ten pounds of it.

When you read a book of that size and you finish, there are strange feelings that occur. I miss the characters. (Some of them more than others.) I miss the story. I haven't read a lot of books this size but I felt the same about all of them. Wait. I didn't feel that way about Anna Karenina.

I love to read. It is one of my favorite hobbies. It is relaxing and another way to escape. I love the dimension of a book discussion, whether it is with friends, my family or people in the dentist office. Are any of you like me that when you see someone reading a book you've read, don't you just have to ask if they are liking it?

I absolutely loved my Houston book club ladies. It was my first book club. In the five years we were together, we read at least 40-50 books and had a lot of good discussions and lots of laughs. People came and went from the group, but it was the love of reading and books that brought us together.

I am finally in a group here in Denver that fits me. We had a great time last night.

Good conversation. Good food. Good books.

It just doesn't get any better than that people.

Next month: Moloka'i by Alan Brennert 379 pgs.