It was a Thanksgiving miracle! I was actually able to read during the holiday this year.
Now, like most adults holidays are a busy time. I find myself doing adult things during the long Thanksgiving weekend, such as cooking, having conversation, hosting, decorating, encouraging my children to do something else, prepping for the coming month, etc. This year, due to unforeseen circumstances and some last minute changes in schedule, I ended up having nothing “planned” on Black Friday and I guess what I did?
I READ! and
It was amazing!
I was reminded of how as a teenager, I always looked forward to those extra vacation days around Thanksgiving and Christmas because I could curl up with a good/new book under a warm blanket just about anywhere and read, read, READ! It’s been a lot of years since I indulged in my love of reading in such a way…or even remembered that part of holiday life growing up.
There is always nostalgia around the holidays, for good and bad, but this year the nostalgia brought back warm and happy memories. I experienced an overwhelming joy in the unexpected chance to sit and read this Black Friday for which I am deeply grateful. I was able to finish a great book I had picked up in a Philadelphia used book store during my trip to England called The Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon. If you enjoy speculative fiction at all, this is a book to add to your 2020 reading list. I also finished a couple graphic novels that have been sitting unread from my sister-in-law: They Called Us Enemy by George Takei and Illegal by Eoin Colfer. None of these books were holiday reads in the sense that they were light or easy, but they were all honest tales of humanity’s ability to fiercely claim and cling to dignity, love, connection and family even under the oppression of others who ignore, disregard and try to utterly erase you. I would commend all of these books to you…
Now, I am 100% sure Christmas will not allow for any such reading opportunity, so this was most definitely a Thanksgiving fluke but it was a delightful fluke and it started my holiday season out on the perfect footing. So for all of you Book War readers out there, I hope you are able to find some time this holiday season to revel in your love of reading.
Happy Holiday Reading Everyone!
Hannah
