Words evoke emotions, memories, smells and sensations. Two words that mean a lot to me are the words, “Chapter One”. When settling down to read a book whether a hard bound book, I pod audio or book on Kindle nothing gets the arm chair traveler ready quicker to move from the present day into the world of a good book than reading the first two words, “Chapter One”. No matter what I am ready to read those two words transform me to a world that all the stress and worries of this day to day life cannot encroach upon.
Books can take you anywhere in the world or the universe. And I have found that the genre does not matter. If I am interested I travel to that distant land and find myself caught up in the murder mystery or history or science fiction. And, what a surprise when you enter the writer’s world because that is their whole purpose for writing, to bring us the reader into their world, is it not?
There have been books that have caught me off guard. For example, “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell was not expected at all. This book came in the mail and I did not order it. I asked my husband if he did and no, he did not. I kept the book curious as how I got it and why and began my travel off planet. What a surprise when I opened to “Chapter One”. It transformed me to a world of science fiction that I do not usually travel. I was transfixed by this book that took me to a distant planet and the center of the human soul where a Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sanchez leads a scientific mission. And I was so taken by this book that I decided to get the second book of Father Sanchez’s travel entitled, “The Children of God”.
Then I found myself traveling to the world of children’s fantasy. Remember the movie “The Golden Compass”? Well little did I know that Philip Pullman started this book (the movie is based on this book) as the first of a three book trilogy. The Trilogy includes; “The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Glass” as we follow more of Lyra’s adventures.
If children’s fantasy and sci-fi are not your favorite genre what about picking up a book to read about history? It sounds dry I know but if you love history as I do it doesn’t take much to get started when seeing the words, “Chapter One”. I am reading a great book now entitled, “American Lion, Andrew Jackson in the White House”. This book takes me through the life of our seventh President and how he was instrumental in shaping our nation. I find myself traveling through time when a President could come and go from his home or work without an entourage of Secret Service. And I think about names of places I pass on the highway now and where they got their name.
I think most importantly when I go back to thinking about what gets me reading, those words “Chapter One” metaphorically are what puts me in my favorite chair, snuggled in for a good read. There is just nothing like a good book to get us away from the cares of day. And it is one of those guilty pleasures we need to take advantage of. So what is your favorite book? As this day to day grind keeps us plugging along why not take a break and visit another place, it all begins with two easy invitational words, “Chapter One”.
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
I’m a wide-ranging reader too. The Sparrow sounds interesting, I’ll have to check that one out.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:46 am
[...] Gray Gaia reads Chapter 1. [...]
October 4th, 2009 at 6:09 am
[...] Gray Gaia reads Chapter 1. [...]
October 4th, 2009 at 6:25 am
[...] Gray Gaia reads Chapter 1. [...]