on books and such

i have written many times, that books saved my life. and still, today, i believe this to be true.
my memories easily take me, to the neighborhood i grew up in. an upstairs flat, where my family lived. a bedroom of my own, with pale colored walls, and a window that faced the street. this window, where cold air seeped through, it's raggedy ass shade, that swung back and forth, to the tune of the wind. to me this little corner, was my castle, high in the sky, piled with blankets.
and surely, i had to be the princess, of this castle ; )

outside this window, the ghetto and it's street life, grew strong. education or a way through these streets, grew weak. somewhere along the way, i had to find my weapon of choice. books helped me find my way, they allowed me to travel, anywhere in the world.
i'd sit for hours in this corner of mine, and read. it's where great books like nancy drew, and the box car children, could hold me, for only so long. i longed to sneak through pages, with a flash light and find out...
why a caged bird sings
who this native son was
i remember the night i cried myself to sleep, in my castle, while following malcolm x, on his pilgrimage and reading his words-

"in my 39 years on this earth The Holy City Of Mecca had been the first time i stood in front of The Holy Creator Of All and felt like a human being."


just a few books that i love~

to kill mocking bird by harper lee
down these mean streets - piri thomas
fall on your knees by anne- marie mcdonald
in the time of butterflies- julia alverez
einstein's dreams- alan lightman
the prisoners wife - asha bandele
a hungry heart - gordon parks
bird by bird - anne lamott
the autobiography of malcolm x- alex haley
the red tent - diane diamont
the giver - lowis lowry
boricuas: influential puerto rican writings- roberto santiago
the brooklyn follies - paul auster
through painted deserts - donald miller
catcher in the rye - j.d. salinger *
pride and prejudist - jane austen *
jayne eyre - charlotte bronte *
the boxcar children - gurtrude chandler warner
gift of the sea - anne morrow lindbergh
invisible man- ralph ellison
wind, sand and stars- antoine de saint exupury
the crying heart tatoo- david martin

reeve lindbergh once wrote, of her mother, anne morrow lindbergh's book-

"at whatever point one opens gift from the sea, to any chapter or page, the author's words offer a chance to breathe and live more slowly. the book makes it possible to quiet down and rest in the present, no matter what the circumstances may be. just to read it- a little bit of it or in it's entirety- it is to exist for a while in a different and more peaceful tempo."

xo

happy days my friends. i am enjoying a bit of a spring break, with the kiddos. shuffling around the house, enjoying the moments.
you are loved~

* books the sweetest boy in the world, gave me as a young girl. i am so glad i grew up and married this sweetheart. ; )