Leading an Extra Life

I often feel sorry for people who don't read good books;
they are missing a chance to lead an extra life.
~ Scott Corbett ~

I just finished one of those books you race through because it’s so good and then you’re sad because it’s over.

In A Gentle Rain, the main character describes the accepting attitude of the folks that make up his staff of ranch hands, all of whom had disabilities. Ben said , “Most people look at a leaky soul and see nothing but trickles of good intentions falling on bone-dry earth. But these folks? They see a gentle rain."

I’ll be seeking more books by Deborah Smith right away. Gentle Rain was especially meaningful to me as a Florida cracker. This story brought my ancestral history and my imagination to life with stories of the “real Florida”; cattle ranching, Seninole Indians, palmetto scrub, alligators and rodeos. I’m told my ancestors were called crackers because of the sound of the bullwhips popping. My husband has his great grandfather’s bullwhip - a neat piece of history.

Another recent read was John Grisham’s recent release, The Appeal. As usual, I applaud Grisham for his strong characterizations and gripping plot. However, I found this book rather depressing; way too close to the evening news to be entertaining. Greed, corruption, buying candidates, manipulating elections - blech.

I’ll leave you with the name of the best business book I’ve read in ages. Check out Michael Pink’s The Rainforest Strategy for fresh insights and inspiration for business success in tough times. You can get his book for the cost of postage HERE. I also enjoy Michaels’ blog.

In my early morning reading time, I’ve been camped out in Ephesians for the last month. I’m continually amazed that the Word of God is living… no matter how many times you read it, it always speaks something new.

Books are like friends- you can't have too many! What's on your nightstand?