“East of Eden” by Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck is a journal about several families and two in particular that become close in a dark way. One of the families, the Trasks, is similar to the Biblical story of Cain and Abel. Steinbeck’s characters are fascinating in many realms, such as love, mystery and murder.
Most people have read this book. If you haven’t I recommend that you do. It has entertained readers for over half a century.
I remember when my mother at about my age talked about time being on “fast forward.” That was during the days of cassette tapes and when she said that I could picture time chugging ahead at full speed. I agreed with her that time was flying by. Sadly when she was a few years older and living in an extended care facility she said that time was passing so slowly, the days and nights were very long.
It seems we just celebrated the various holidays of December, yet we are into the second month of the new year, the new decade. To me, time is flying, yet some days seem long. Time is a mystery.
I am so honored to have been nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award! Thank you to Sharvi who nominated me. Please check out her blog “Tips from Sharvi.” It will make your life easier. https://tipsfromsharvi.com/about/
Here are my answers to Sharvi’s questions to me:
1. What motivates you to blog? Exchanging thoughts and experiences with others.
2. Do you actually follow your set blogging schedule? I do not have a schedule. That would make it seem like work.
3. Who inspires you the most? Other bloggers and people of courage who I learn about inspire me, but most of all I must say are my readers.
4. Which is your favourite vacation destination? Anywhere in nature, but especially the ocean.
5. Funny one… Honestly, can you sneeze with your eyes wide open? First, try it out to see. If you can, then teach me how to! I can say with certainty that it cannot be done!
The Mystery Award was created by Okoto Enigma who has a delightful blog about “Lifestyle, Beauty and Fashion.” Check it out and learn more about her and this special award. https://www.okotoenigmasblog.com
My readers are smart and always quick with comments so I’m sure I’ll get the help that I need to solve this mystery. I just want to know why all my tee shirts get one tiny hole in the same place, lower front. I don’t even care about prevention, I just need the answer as to how it happens. It has been on my mind for years now!
Yes, I do realize there are more important things to worry about, so don’t bother to throw that out, okay? I also care about nuclear weapons, water pollution and the hole in the ozone.
“Don’t become a mere recorder of facts but try to penetrate the mystery of their origin.” Ivan Pavlov
So many of us remember our reader, Dick and Jane from first grade! Nancy Drew mysteries are another favorite among Crooked Creek readers. This chart lists your first memories and your favorites according to comments made regarding the past three posts:
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1st Book Memory |
“A Tree for Peter” by Kate Seredy |
Dick & Jane (elementary school book) |
Nancy Drew books by Carolyn Keene |
“Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott |
|
|
Favorite Books |
“A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith |
“The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck |
Scriptures from the “Good Book” |
Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner |
Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross |
|
Favorite Authors |
Mary Higgins Clark |
Harland Coban |
Shakespeare |
Nickolas Sparks |
Jodi Picoult |
|
James Patterson |
Francine Rivers |
Dean Koontz |
Stephen King |
Lisa Gardner |
Most of you indicated that you love books today even though many of you did not have books readily available in your family growing up. Some obtained books from the library or a “Bookmobile” operated in rural areas. I, too, remember those visiting libraries, but I do not if they still exist. An interesting concept today for urban readers, according to one of you is the placement of small repositories where books may be borrowed or added.
You are a generous group, mostly passing your books on to others or donating them. Some of you resale at Half-Price Bookstores. And, it seems that there are always books with which we cannot part. Only one person shared how their books are arranged and that was by alphabetical order. Readers were about 50 to 50% in preference of paper books versus electronic or audio books.
Whether you are reading for self-improvement, to learn new skills, to broaden your mind with history or poetry or simply to be entertained or thrilled you are engaging in an activity that will forever be a part of your life. Even if, like one reader, we need to keep a list of the books read so that we don’t buy them a second time, there are passages that affect us in ways of which we are unaware.
I am honored that this blog is one of the things that you read!
“Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen; the more select, the more enjoyable.” Louisa May Alcott
Crooked Creek by Sue Mattingly 