So it’s world book day tomorrow, a big deal in my household. I love a sense of occasion, so here is how I celebrate this day and my #1 passion Books and reading.
In these difficult times with 24 hour news showing depressing horrible news. I have further sought the healing and respite of books and great fiction specifically. The book I am reading for world book day is ‘True grit’ by Charles Portis. I read it as a young man but having more than 20 years of life experience between reading it the first time so i look forward to reading it again tomorrow.
If you do get a moment to read it, or reread it I highly recommend it. The main protagonist ‘Mattie’ seems the literary ancestor of ‘Huck Finn’ and ‘Holden Caulfield’ in catcher in the rye. True grit is a monologue like Huck Finn and catcher in the rye and so you return again and again to her voice. I have never read another author who better captures the spoken idioms of ‘the south’. The protagonist is didactic, hot headed and lacking in any self consciousness whatsoever all of which make her jump further from the page.
Roald Dhal said it was the best novel he had read and I have to agree was quite simply a joy to read and look forward to doing so again tomorrow.
If you have read it already and it’s been a while I implore you to read it again. If you think differently let me know.
My World Book Day Routine (2022 Update)
- I block out that evening to read a classic in literature, it is always a book I go to again and again but I get something new from every time I read it.
- I also select weeks in advance a music playlist Linked to the book or theme, which I play whilst reading it
- I choose an expensive but small bar of Chocolate to enjoy with a cup of tea or pot of tea, it depends on the how big the book is
- I put up the heating in my reading nook, ready for a lovely evening, with the rain beating on the window
- I turn off the phone
- I think about the first line for about 10 minutes, why its so important, why the author chose those words specifically. Then read it cover to cover if possible (with no distractions)
This year is a first person wester narrative this year
- True Grit, Charles Portis
- The music I will listen to will be: 100 great western themes, City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
- Lindt Excellence Chocolate Bar Dark Chilli 100g
- Heating in the reading nook is set to go up at 6pm tonight
- No Calls, No interruptions
- Just Mattie, the Rooster and me as we pursue Tom Chaney. Its just 143 pages so a perfect evening read
My kids tell me I am a little extra, I think which is millennial phrase for focussed and determined (at least that is the way I am taking it)
What books will you read tomorrow or this week?
Hearty handshakes from me to you we live in a time where true grit is definitely needed and as I write this some people on the news are showing tremendous courage
Sea's The Day 