A favourite book

This weeks Friday Club carnival from Ella at Notes from home is your favourite book.

This is really hard as I believe that different books have more relevance to you at different times of your life, and what was a favourite 10 years ago, wouldn’t have the same impact on me these days.

I treasure books though, I see them as an indulgence and escapism. I have never had such a busy life, with a part time job(employed), my own business, 3 children, a dog, oh and a husband too, but… Books just keep me sane, make me feel like I have achieved something when I have finished one. They give me something to discuss with others, share recommendations and debate when views differ. I attend two actual book groups and one virtual book group a month so they also give me a couple of nights out each month.

To pin down a favourite from the past few years, I would have to give the same answer as when Claudia Winkleman (yes I know, get me name dropping) asked me the same question. A Thousand Splendid Sunsby Khaled Hosseini. It was a book that did make me cry, it was such a tragic plight of two women, who against all odds became each others saviours. I find it amazing that a man could write the parts of these women with such heartfelt emotion and really give an understanding of how difficult surviving in a war torn country as second class citizens is. In contrast to their struggles though, it portrays such warmth and love to between Mariam and Laila.

You may have read Kite Runner by the same author? In my opinion this was even better and that was a hard act to follow. It is a book that I judge others by, have they read it, did they enjoy it, striking them off my Christmas card list if I don’t get the right answer. It is also a book that I remember so distinctly years after I first read it, which for me is the sign of a classic.  So, have you read it, what did you think?

The only other book I’ve read recently that has come close was Chris Cleave’s  The Other HandI mentioned this in my last Yarn Along post after finishing his other novel Incendiary.

Here are the other entries in this Book Carnival:

Jax from Making It Up reviews ten favourite books she loves to read with her children in My favourite books. Kelly from Domestic Goddesque posts about the book that gave her back the joy of losing yourself in a book in I read books once. Now I have small children. Jenny from GingerBread House reviews her favourite book: Orla Kiely – Pattern. Nova from Cherished By Me posts about the books that fuelled her passion for reading in My favourite book. Not So Single Mum from Diary of a (not so) Single Mum reviews The Lady in the Tower. Becky from Book Reviews for Mums reviews the book that opened her up to her responsibilities and the choices she makes in life in My Favourite Book. Helen from Cheeky Wipes reviews her favourite books in From Riders to The God Delusion – my favourite books. Cass from The Diary of a Frugal Family reviews her first and favourite cookbook in Where It All Began.  Maggy from Red Ted Art reviews a recent gift, a Pop-up, Pull-out, Picture Atlas. Ella from Notes From Home reviews Sad Book.