I was very young when I first discovered the power of the written word to transport me to new places (both real and imagined), to stir powerful emotions in my soul, or to challenge my thinking.
More recently, I discovered the power of the written word in bringing people together.
My sisters and I started our own virtual book group, Shelf Sisters, in 2019. It all started with a little book called, My Family and Other Animals, written by Gerald Durrell.
It was completely appropriate that our first book would be the humorous memoirs of a perfectly quirky family. It felt as if the book gave us permission to laugh at our own individual eccentricities and collective family oddities.
I recommend reading the My Family and Other Animals, first for the simple pleasure and clever quips, then read it again – and maybe again – to discover deeper insights into family dynamics and human nature.
Our little book group consists of four sisters scattered all over the United States. Our thoughts and interests also seem scattered when you look at the list of books and genres we’ve chosen in turn.
We have read everything from biographies to mysteries, poetry, juvenile fiction, and even business non-fiction. We have laughed and cried and disagreed.
No matter what we read, the most important and wonderful part is that we come together. Distance and time disappear. We are just books and sisters.
Laurie's Leaves 