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If you don’t read paper books you won’t know what I’m talking about, I’m sorry. If you do read paper books you will know what I mean when I say- that old book smell.

I love that old book smell. It’s the oils, and must, and smoke of years of reading, and years of sitting on shelves in concert with their other shelf-mates. One of my favorite past-times is perusing used bookstores for my next acquisition. Well, this is usually a giant load of books. I think I spent over $1,000 last year on used books, and it was totally worth it. Have I gotten through them all? Not quite, but most of them.

There’s a goal- I want my library to smell like that. No, not like a used bookstore that smells mildewey and oddly of toilet cleaning chemicals. I mean that delicious smell of toasted cavendish, old book pages, and a nice hot cup of tea.

That’s the dream anyway, but at the very least the tea and the tobacco smell will be there. These are the kinds of intangible things that, if you sit there and absorb them all you will never be the same. I know, it may sound a bit silly, but life is very empty without silliness and fantasy. We have all of these lovely things to escape reality which, if we let it, can be oppressive and exhausting. These little things, a few of which I have mentioned, are what break up the monotony of reality and help us recharge our batteries to face it.

Of course, this leads me to my next question. How old are your books? I have a book that was published in 1887. I know it isn’t the Dead Sea Scrolls, but it’s the best I could afford. It smells of aged papers, decomposing binding, and ever so slightly of smoke and tobacco. I love it! It has a secret past and history that I’ll never know. It’s like grabbing a stone off the river floor. You don’t know how long it’s been there. Maybe it traveled down the river from higher up on the mountain; or maybe it tumbled down that mountain in an avalanche or rock slide. Perhaps it was as simple as tumbling down on its own after being slowly worked off by the rain and snow. Maybe it’s a combination of all of those things.

On a microcosm level, and I do mean micro-microcosm, these books have been through the same thing. Maybe that old book that smells so lovely was someone’s favorite growing up (see the previous week’s post). Maybe it was a book that was handed down from one generation to the next, like an old Bible. Maybe like me, you like to rescue old books from the inevitable scrap pile that comes from staying on a used bookstore’s shelf for too long. Whatever the case may be, you can be sure they have a tiny little history all of their own, and all manner of different pollen and dust on them from everywhere they’ve been.

And maybe, just maybe, that old book without a summary on the back, without any pictures in it; that book that smells musty and a bit like your grandma’s attic will be just the story you needed to get through that rough month or year that you’ve been having at work or in your personal life. If nothing else you gave it a shot and that little sense of accomplishment should help you carry on carrying on. Cheers to old books!!!!

Can you hear the sound of your child reading? It sounds like love to me. You took that child in your arms, you held them close and pulled out your favorite book. It’s the book your mom or dad read you, or maybe your grandparent read it to you. You loved that book so much, and anyone can see that. It has wear at the corners, it has pages that were accidentally torn and taped back together very carefully. It’s faded from that time when you were six and you left it on the couch in the sun. It’s covered in love from all the hands that have touched it and now your child is touching it too. Now your child is sitting curled up on the floor, in their blanket fort, digesting every bit of that story. You don’t hear much while they’re reading, but you know that what you do hear, that silence, is just that same excitement that you felt.

Can you hear them acting out the story that they love? You remember that feeling yourself. Maybe it was a handsome prince coming to save you; maybe you were that warrior; maybe you were the “fell beast” of the story or the dragon that killed the knight, or saved the day. You remember when you were the pirate or pirate queen on the high seas. Your son, daughter, child is doing that now. Yes, it can be obnoxious the 50th time. Maybe they’re being loud when you need some quiet time, but listen. Listen because you won’t remember how tired you were or the quiet you needed. You’ll remember how fun and happy you were that they loved the story that much to re-enact every picture of it, adding their own behavior to the story. They are the swashbuckling pirate, the viking shield-maiden, the adventuring horseman on a daring adventure, fighting down their opponents, getting that treasure, or slaying that treacherous beastie! They throw their small body into every action, and they do it with such gusto that it brings a smile to your face, a lightness to your heart, and maybe even a tear to your eye.

Can you hear them sharing that story with their friends? Their friends got married and they are having their first child. That child-like excitement comes into their voice and tells their friends of their favorite book growing up. You remember when that was you. Maybe it’s the same book, maybe it’s one that they love. They’re spreading the love and joy and adventures of their favorite stories; they know their friends would love it for their own children, or they hope they will.

Can you hear them reading that story out loud from the other room? You’re a grandparent now. It happened so quickly. You tear up from the other room. You hear them bustling around in the living room, or the baby’s room. They’re picking up your grandson or daughter. They’re wiping away the tears of the baby that didn’t know why it was crying except that it needed mom or dad. They say something like, “Oh, I know it’s the end of the world, but you’ll be okay.” They soothe in their own way, but the baby doesn’t stop that little half-cry that they let out wondering if you’re going to set them down and leave them again- just like when you leave your pup in the house to check the mail and they wonder if you’ll ever come back. You sit there drinking your tea and you hear those oh so familiar words of your favorite story begin. Maybe it’s “Once upon a time, there lived a daring night.” Maybe it’s “A beautiful pirate queen lived on an island deep in the Caribbean.” You close your eyes as you hear your daughter or son read their favorite story to their child for the first or 50th time, and you know that the people you love are well cared for because they had a good story to be told by a familiar voice, and a loving hand to soothe their worries. You can rest now.

There’s an excellent TV show called “Dick Van Dyke.” I grew up with said show, and it was incredible. It was funny, it was family friendly, and most importantly for any kind of media outlet, be it books or videos, it was wholesome and timeless. The husband- Rob- is a comedy writer, back when they had serial comedy shows where everything was one skit after another- think prehistoric SNL. Rob’s wife Laura is a housewife who helps Rob immensely and they both get into all sorts of trouble with their neighbors, Rob’s coworkers, and their individual families. Keep in mind this was back in the day when the couple still slept in separate beds and Laura was that shining figure of womanhood who could be classy in both a dress/skirt, or slacks- which were also a new thing to see on screen.

The reason I mention the show is not to tell you how well done and timeless it was- well, not just that- it’s to share a perspective. During the course of the show, and bear in mind this was a show not long after the advent of the living room TV, Rob has a brilliant idea to bring together a handful of old Radio actors to star on the show and do “Radio on TV.” It was an excellent episode, but it also demonstrated many qualities that so many of us need these days, not the least of which is perseverance. As you can imagine, getting an older radio actor with a bad case of nerves to get on stage would take some perseverance. Rob pulls through and he manages to get Edwin Carp on stage for a thrilling performance.

As I’ve pointed out, I loved Dick Van Dyke, the show and the actor. I’m sure someone could find many things wrong with it now, but it is and was all in good fun and meant to poke fun of everyone. An equal opportunity fun poking show, and poor Melvin Cooley gets the brunt of that with the bald and fat man jokes, which never get old.

One of our founding fathers, John Quincy Adams, said this in regard to perseverance- “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” Perhaps this was his secret to success in becoming America’s 6th president. Still, back then there was more incentive because you were doing it for liberty and the good of the country, and not for the money of which there was very little for politicians and they didn’t get “retirement” when their terms of office were up.

I’m not a very patient person. Oh, I put on a good show and try to force down my impatience because I hate myself when I lose my patience. Where I have it going for me is that I’m stubborn. I think this is one of those “lawful neutral” scenarios. Stubbornness can be a virtue or it can be a fault. It’s a virtue only when you persevere for the right reasons and a fault if not. I think the same could be said for perseverance. Trying to persevere in getting into a chemical plant where you’ll surely get cancer and not the super powers you were hoping for would not be a virtue. On the other hand if you persevere in medical or nursing or engineering school, then yes, that is a virtue.

The interesting thing about perseverance is that it’s not a virtue. A virtue is something inherently good. This is me, by the way, trying to justify my stubbornness and doing a slipshod job of it.

I persevered in nursing school and it was fantastic. I’m persevering in this writing endeavor in which I’m very passionate about. I also pray for the grace to persevere in my religion every day, because nothing else can compare in essentials next to God.

Perseverance is that very loud and obnoxious voice in your head telling you to be brave, to “have courage son,” to go on especially when you’re scared. It will make you stronger by pushing your limits. Oh, it’s going to be tough, and sometimes I wish I didn’t know that by my experience, but by being tough it will also make you tough, but only if you persevere in virtuous things.

It doesn’t make you tough, brave, courageous, or virtuous to be a coward, a thief, a murderer. You’re not a better person today than you were yesterday because you persevered in beating your spouse or child, or persevered in your drug habit when you should have had the humility to go seek help. AA and NA are great programs and can help you, they’re the only ones that can.

Doing the right thing all the time and persevering in it is heroic. I think of that mother who’s child has cholic, and not even her. Think of the mother who just gets up makes her child breakfast, cleans the house, plays with her child, guides that child’s mind, helps them learn all the wonderful things about life and helps them choose a path in life. That’s heroic and tough. Or maybe it’s that dad that perseveres in bidding jobs and working during the week and sometimes the nights and weekends. Maybe he doesn’t have time to play with his children, but they’re fed and healthy and have a roof over their head.

That’s heroic perseverance, and that’s when it’s virtuous. But remember, perseverance isn’t a virtue- selflessness, charity, duty, honor- those are virtues that perseverance springs out of. No matter what you are doing, be mindful of what motives your perseverance comes from so you can appreciate it. If you don’t know, maybe say a few prayers; maybe you should do some soul searching or get in touch with you children and spouse to find out what you’re persevering in your current avenue for. It might make the work easier, lighter, and more satisfying. And, hey, if it didn’t, you’re not out anything, but a little alone time and mental effort. Sounds like a fair trade.

My now fiance and I frequently read to one another (see previous posts), and one of the things I frequently comment to her on is the tempo of the story. We attempted to read a book by Connie Wills called Blackout regarding time travelers in the future and their attempts to curb problems with history in the past while not interfering in the general course of events. Sounds cool right? Who wouldn’t want to write objective history, watching it as it’s happening and guiding some other events for the future without any negative bias from writers of the time? We didn’t finish it.

The tempo was rough. I wouldn’t go so far to say it was a rubbish book. It’s a Pulitzer prize winner so it must be at least decent, and we may try to read it all the way through later. The fact of the matter is, one shouldn’t waste time reading books that are either: no good, not your style, or that have poor tempo. I’m going to give Ms. Willis the benefit of the doubt and say that it was a bad time for my fiance and myself to read this particular book.

Story tempo can ruin a book. I read pretty fast, but my comprehension is also very good I think. My fiance says I read very fast and she’s impressed by that fact. But one shouldn’t feel bad if they read slow, it just means that you are enjoying it, or that your comprehension is different/slower than other people. Does this affect your ability to enjoy what you’re reading if you’re faster or slower? That’s all that really matters.

Personal tempo is one thing, but all stories have tempos too, and Ms. Willis’ book may be at fault for having a slow story. Again, I will give her the benefit of the doubt because I haven’t gotten through it yet. I am currently enjoying Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley and his tempo is steady, almost rhythmic, and quite enjoyable. The tempo is also dictated largely by the story itself and how cohesively its told, but sometimes a story is just stinkin’ slow.

This is definitely a writer’s goal: to make a story cohesive and with a good tempo for the audience. It can make or break a story (unless you’re Dickens I suppose).

What do you need to know as a reader? That’s all the really matters, right? Well, my suggestion (which was a learned behavior) is to read the first couple chapters and see if you can find the tempo of the story. Once you learn the tempo you should easily fall into that groove and be able to glean the same from the story and enjoy it just as much while at the same time making better progress. Regardless of whether you’re a fast or slow reader, finding the tempo will help with the comprehension, which will in turn help the story progress faster. It’s like cars going down the road. A car at 40 miles an hour on a flat road will make better progress than a car going 60 on a road with speed bumps or ruts which make the driver slow down. Mind the gap and find your tempo.

I haven’t put much thought into this- I’ll be honest- this is me shooting from the hip. I recently finished an excellent adventure story by John C. Wright titled The Terrors of Pangaea, and let me tell you it was gripping. Thanks Greg for that awesome birthday gift. It wasn’t your typical adventure tale, it was very much a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Star Wars (the original series, not this crap that Disney is peddling now- yes, I know, it’s clear where I sit on that issue).

If you haven’t discovered John C. Wright you should go check out his website, he has a very stellar post on the subjectivity and objectivity and the responsibility we as individuals have to own our opinions as just that and to correct our errors, i.e. what we hold as truth subjectively which is not truth if it’s subjective. I like to think however, that it’s still truth even if it’s subjective if it’s also objective, but that’s a conversation that requires a nice bowl of tobacco and a very large glass of beer.

Besides, I’m digressing from the conversation here. He wrote an incredibly good sci-fi novel with Terrors. I’m eager to get the other two books to see how he wrapped up the tale, which I won’t spoil. The character reveal (I hesitate to use development since the protagonist is a full grown man), is exceedingly well done as is the reveal of the mysteries of this world that we find our hero in. There’s a natural subtlety to the story. It’s at sometimes predictable and at other surprising, and yet the story is always refreshing.

As I was reading the book I was thinking about the first time I read the Lord of the Rings, or the first time I read The Lord of the Flies for that matter. It was fascinating. Writing a good story has that real world fascination. Are some things fantastical and unrealistic? Sure, but the characters and circumstances are at least relatable to some degree. Can magic rings make you disappear? No, but trinkets can hold an overwhelming control over our lives and our lives can turn into a worship of material things. It’s hard to define what writing a good story is, but we all know it when we see it and read it.

While writing a good story is difficult and seems to be the Golden Fleece of all authors, reading a good story is something entirely different and achievable that we should all strive for.

I like to read aloud at times to provide the auditory stimulus necessary to express certain parts of a story, or even just to remember parts of a story. People tell me that I am a fast reader, and it’s true, but I don’t consider that a virtue, personally. It’s only an acceptable thing if you can remember and sometimes decipher the meaning of the story and its key parts. It’s like knowing the power of King Caspian’s sword. It wasn’t just the sword, but the fact that it was the king’s sword that made it so important in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

When an author paints a picture he is giving you an insight into his mind’s eye, but that’s not the gift. The gift is the power to be able to construct the author’s world with your own imagination. I hardly pictured Sean Bean when I first read Tolkien’s description of Boromir, nor did I picture Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, or Cate Blanchett in their respective roles. Oddly enough, my image of Samwise was not far off, but I had watched a fair number of Sean Astin films growing up.

While an author does need to paint a good picture for you with his or her words, anyone can take the slightest bit of information and draw an incredible picture with their mind. Reading a good story, thinking about the different elements of a story, and developing your reading mind is not a difficult thing to do, but it does take conscious effort. I need to slow myself down to not read as fast so I remember details, my imagination is just fine. For other people, maybe they have other things on their mind- take a few deep breaths before you start a story.

As an budding author, I’m beginning to understand how important it is to provide my readers with a good story. Think about your responsibility to yourself as a reader. This isn’t adding pressure, if anything I’m attempting to encourage you to clear your mind, slow your thinking, refocus you distracted thoughts and find a good book to read and to stimulate your imagination. When I was in my MS program a few years ago I had to read because it was relaxing and stress relieving. It can and should be that for all of us.

This poor attempt at encouragement is my way of saying, you owe it to yourself, to your stress, to your mind, and your heart to slow down, read more and let that imagination run wild in a good book. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself.

Out of curiosity I looked up “this day in history.” The biggest thing that stuck out to me was that the USA, during WWII, instituted rationing of meat, cheeses, and oil. First off, that sounds like a great diet to me, but secondly- books; yes, rationing books, but still books. It’s amazing how handy they are.

Books also have a sad history in recent times. Not only did people like Huxley and Orwell use books to predict what they thought the future looked like, they also showed us that those words could most definitely be detrimental or beneficial to a society. Nazi Germany saw the danger of freedom of thinking and the power it encouraged in its citizens and it banned certain books and burned others. Zusak did an excellent job of portraying the power of books and of the written word.

Of all the inventions in time books are the most influential. When papyrus was used it would decay over time; animal skin was also used as a writing medium; finally printing presses came into being. Prior to that monks and Jewish scribes, primarily, would devote their lives to transcribing Bible, and other societies had their own scribes to transcribe other books, to keep the written word alive. Without them we might not have the wonderful insights of the battles of Thermopylae or the Punic Wars, or the political and tactical insights of Plato or Marcus Aurelius.

Yes, books really are remarkable things. They can take a sad mood and turn it upside down. They can get you so invested in a character and a story that you are just lost to everything else in the world. At a time like this (and other times for some of us) this is sorely needed.

The hamster in my head is really running hard on his wheel right now as I’m looking at some of my past experiences, and what a wonderful break it is to be able to sit and write, or get lost in a book. My go to right now is mystery, but I have some fabulous older (and newer) Sci-fi that I can’t wait to sink my mental teeth into. I hope you too are filling your free time with some good books; appreciating the past and history of them; enjoying the present, and looking forward to the future of books and stories.

I recently had the pleasure of caring for a patient who encouraged his children to read, and they read to him in the hospital. It was beautiful.

Being an “essential” personnel is stressful, but it’s also what I signed up for and what I love doing. Sure I’m at risk for all of these diseases (and trust me, I’m more worried about the patient that has tuberculosis and hasn’t been on isolation for 3 days than I am about the patient with COVID), but it’s wonderful and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

The thing I love so much about right now is to see the wonderful outpouring of goodness. I’m currently on a travel nursing assignment in Tulsa, OK. It’s nothing like the majesty of the rockies that I’m used to, but it’s still my home nation, and the local outpouring for the front-line is wonderful to see and experience. Kilkenny’s here in town is offering 20% off for healthcare workers, trust me, it makes the isolation on my days off well worth it to have good food in my belly.

As I sit here contemplating bangers and mash for dinner, taking a much needed break from my novel (which will hopefully be done soon, but that’s the writer’s curse it seems), I’m grateful, and humbled by the fact that if I hadn’t made the decision to choose this career 14 years ago (I’ve been a nurse now for 10), I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to help in this way in this time of need. I also might not have thought up these ideas for my books, not to mention potentially missing out on some delicious food!

Stay safe, and stay healthy out there folks, maybe, I don’t know, get a new book and explore a new world that you haven’t visited before. But if you do get sick, especially if you’re not hospitalized, stay home. It might be the common cold, but it might also be a less severe case of COVID, and we don’t want to spread it. Oh, also- hydrate and keep moving, that goes for all of us!