Are you a Bibliophile?

A small portion of my library of religious reading

I certainly am and fit the definition to a T. (Now where does that expression come from? I looked it up and the origin is murky. Now isn't life often like that?) At any rate here's the definition:

bibliophile /bĭb′lē-ə-fīl″/ noun
A lover of books.
A collector of books. 

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition 

In view of my pleasure in reading, I enjoy participating in the project of a fellow bibliophile (one of my granddaughters) who offers an annual "Book Bingo" which is great fun. Last year I read 18 of the books by category and left only five blanks. I hope to fill in all the squares this year, although I'll have to be creative to make sure I'm only reading things I really want to read.

Here are the choices:

My first choice is a category I suggested, to read a memoir or book of letters. I chose C.S. Lewis' Letters to Children. It's a delightful little book. He never talked down to children but treated them with the utmost respect and was happy to hear their suggestions about his books, often about the Narnia stories.

I'm going to be leading our next Chesterton book club meeting discussing the childlikeness of Chesterton. In fact, it's the thing that most attracts me to him. For those who think he is too difficult, start with Tremendous Trifles, a book of essays filled with the joy of childhood. How would you like to lie in bed with an enormously long piece of chalk and draw on the ceiling? Think of Bilbo Baggins when you read What I found in My Pocket although it wasn't a ring. And then there's The Toy Theatre and The Giant, two themes that would certainly attract the eye of a child. I think Tremendous Trifles will fill the square for "a book you wanted to read in 2024." I've been wanting to read it for longer than that and it will certainly be a good resource for the meeting. 

It seems a tragedy to me that surveys show that most people don't read a single book in a year. I react to that with an Ann of Green Gables quote to Marilla when Ann asked if she ever imagined things different than they are. Marilla said no and Ann replied in tragic tones, "Oh Marilla, how much you miss!" Yes indeed. How much non-readers miss. Books are like magic carpets that take you anywhere you want to go. My granddaughter's book bingo will help me get there.

Want to join the fun? I'd love to hear about what you're reading.