The Nirvana of Reading

I can think of few things that I like better (or that make me happier) than to curl up in my bed with a good book...it is absolute nirvana for me. Getting lost in a wonderfully written book is like arriving in paradise...at least my version of it.

I have been voraciously reading since I was a little girl; first pouring over my Girl Scout Handbook, Nancy Drew Mysteries, anything about Helen Keller, even cereal boxes. I graduated rather quickly to 500 page books, mostly novels but some non-fiction, that I borrowed from my mother who was also constantly reading. To this day my night stand is always stacked high with books that I am reading or want to be reading in the near future.

My favorite story about reading is this one...I was about 15 years old. It was an early Sunday afternoon and I was still in my pajamas. Since I was in the middle of an amazing book (though I can't remember which one it was!) I settled myself onto the living room couch knowing I'd be there for hours and hours. Sunlight streamed in through the ceiling high picture windows. The view of the San Fernando Valley below was crisp and clean, a rarity for usually smog laden Los Angeles.

At some point several hours later I had a vague feeling of something going on around me...but it was only a vague feeling. Though this feeling came and went all afternoon it didn't at all distract me from my book. I just kept reading determined to finish my mesmerizing book by the end of the day.

When I finally finished the book as the sun was setting around 6pm I began to sit up. To my utter surprise I realized that my precious cat had been literally sitting on top of my head all afternoon and that that vague feeling I'd been having was her kneading my head and hair. I laughed out loud at the spectacle of it...6 straight hours of reading a book with a cat on top of my head digging her claws into my hair and skull...and I had not a clue. Now, that's a good book!

There is no way I could ever make a comprehensive list of great books to read (I certainly am no scholar) but here are a few (recent and old in no particular order) that have left an impression on my heart and/or soul...I hope that they may do the same for you...

1.  No Language But a Cry...by Richard d'Ambrosio
2.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks...by Rebecca Skloot
3.  Bad Mother...by Ayelet Wladman
4.  Inside, Outside...by Herman Wouk
5. The Drama of the Gifted Child...by Alice Miller
6.  The Alchemist...by Paolo Coelho
7. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius...by Dave Eggers
8.  Angela's Ashes...by Frank McCourt
9.  The World According to Garp and Cider House Rules...by John Irving
10. The Color of Water...by James McBride
11. Stones from the River...by Ursula Hegi
12. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and Shanghai Girls...by Lisa See

Nanci's Nirvana Bars

A suggestion before you start...bake yourself a little treat so you are fortified for your literary journey. And I may be bold here but I am going to recommend my new creation, Nanci's Nirvana Bars. I adapted these sinfully rich and delicious bars from a well known San Diego bakery, Bread & Cie, recipe...and it is nirvana. Combine a bar with a cup of coffee or tea and you will be good to go as they say...

Happy Reading! Happy Eating!

xoxo Nanci

P.S. I will post the recipe on the website within a week or so...be patient...it will be well worth it!