Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Key for me is reading

I had a really awful day yesterday. 

Wasn't any one thing.  Or it could just be the fact that I am female and hormonal.  Who knows.  

Plus it has been raining for five days straight.  Not raining a little bit but a steady rain that at first was cleansing and rejuvenating but has since become annoying and tiresome.

Anyway, after a long day where I didn't get any one thing accomplished but a lot of things started, I ended up wandering home later than my normal time.  Since I was tired of looking at the computer screen I decided to read and since most of my reading today is done either on my kindle or my iPad (Karla, you should know by now any chance I get to rub that in, I am taking it) and I was over the computer thing, I decided to go old school.  

I know a real honest to goodness book

Which means I was reading something that I had already read.  Actually I got that idea from my buddy Elizabeth Ryann from an email she sent where she had mentioned she was going back and rereading some of her favorite books.  

So last night I snuggled into my book room to read.  I decided to go with Nora Roberts because her books are some of my favorites.  I picked up Key of Valor which is the final installment in her Key trilogy.  

Can I just say this is some serious chicken soup for me.

Her stories take me completely out of myself.  I was lost in the tale of the Gods and Goddess relying on these three mortal women to help them unlock the box of souls and the romance between Zoe and Brad.  Her characters always ring so true for me.  I finished the book last night and although I had read it before I was still sucker punched by the ending where Zoe asks in a very unselfish act that Rowena and Pitte be allowed to return home.  

Thank you Nora Roberts.   It took me about three hours to rush through it, but I swear I felt better, lighter and more relaxed when I finished that book.  Even a reread can help put you in the right frame of mind.  Plus I really like when I learn something about myself from a character in a book.

Anyway, the point of today's post is this.  If you are having a bad day, read.  Leave it behind.  Take a moment to step out of it, even if only for a moment.  Because when you do and you come back to it, those things that seemed so big,  look at little less so.

By the way have you guys read the Key Trilogy?  If so what did you think?  If not, read it.  But if you haven't tell me what is your favorite Nora Roberts book or if you even have one.

9 comments:

Candyland said...

Aww. I hope you have a better day today. I whip out New Meds and instantly feel better:)

Unknown said...

Kelly, This is me to the ground. When I need to decompress, I find a book. I turn off all the noise in my head and lose myself in the characters. Glad Nora helped you feel better. She's definitely one of my drugs of choice. Hope you have a better day today.

Linda G. said...

Aw, sorry you were having a bad day. Hope today is better for you. :)

I haven't read the Key trilogy--I'll definitely have to check it out. For my "comfort rereads," I usually pick up one of my Diana Gabaldon Outlander books. They always take me away from it all.

abby mumford said...

today's another day and hopefully, a better one. *hugs*

i haven't read the key trilogy, but i'm pretty sure you just told me the ending, so maybe i'll start with a different nora roberts book. :)

and for me, reading is key whenever i'm sad or happy. i read every day. i feel lost if i finish one book and don't have another one waiting. the problem is, i should read more of my own work more often instead of getting lost in someone else's words. but you are right, when sad, there's nothing like a book to transport you out of your own life and troubles and plop you into a sweeping new tale... ah, bliss.

Michele Shaw said...

Books=meds for the soul. Great post!Hope you have a great day.

Jessica Lemmon said...

This is so true. When I discovered Twilight (don't judge me) I read all four of those massive tomes in 7 days. I was inspired, bleary-eyed and a world of possibilities opened up to me.

"I am going to be a writer."

I told everyone it was like a vacation. I went to Forks, WA from my sofa for an entire week. ;)

Unknown said...

No, I haven't read the KEY trilogy. The only Nora Roberts I actually have read are by her alter-ego JD Robb. And, I too turn to books when the going gets rough :)

PS...Don't think I didn't notice the iPad jab *shakes fist*

Patty Blount said...

I also had a horrid day yesterday and I turned to a book for comfort. Jeff Somers' Avery Cates.

I sure hope today is a better day!

I adore Nora Roberts. I read the Key trilogy, I think. Is this where the three female characters open a shop together?

My favorite of her trilogies is the Circle trilogy. Best vampire story out there.

But you gave the best advice: "Leave it behind."

Elizabeth Ryann said...

Oh, I'm so glad I could help! Rereading has been seriously therapeutic for me this week. I totally needed it. And I love the Key trilogy! And the Circle trilogy. And I really love the Ireland/Jewels trilogy--I reread Tears of the Moon all the time. But seriously, I really just love Nora. She's an excellently comfortable reread, which may not sound like the highest of praises, but it really really is.