Everyone has their own favorite way to enter new worlds. Some people like going to the movies and falling into the land of superheroes or sea monsters, and others prefer kicking back on their couch with the latest TV crime drama. For others, the best way to lose yourself in a new world is slipping between the pages of a book-- and that’s what National Book Lover’s Day is all about.
For years, National Book Lover’s Day has been a special day for bibliophiles to turn off the TV and the smartphone, and celebrate their love for all things literary. Williamson Forward asked some of our favorite book lovers about their old favorites and current reads, and got some great recommendations.
Current Reads and All-Time Favorites
Chelsea Reynolds, the owner of our town’s newest business, Sippin on 2nd, can’t get enough of one favorite genre. “I love books! All I read are psychological thrillers,” She says. Her suggestions include. “The Couple Next Door, An Unwanted Guest, and A Stranger in the House by Shari Lepena, Silent Lies by Kathryn Croft, and Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson.”
Local Photographer and Executive Director of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce Randall Sanger had a cheeky response when asked about his favorite book. “Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia by Randall Sanger is my favorite,” He says. “I’m currently reading Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight Against the Drug Companies that Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre.”
Amy Dearfield Hannah with Williamson Health and Wellness Center is currently reading a novel by a dear friend of hers. “My current read is Picking Up the Pieces by Yolanda Roary,” She says. “A friend of mine from South Carolina is the author. She shares the story of how she healed herself from unhealthy relationships as a child, and infidelity from her husband. She examines herself, acknowledges her own mistakes, and shares how she allowed God to restore her joy.”
Debbie Carlin, owner of Debbie’s Dance Studio, has a favorite title by her favorite author. “Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler is my favorite book, and she is my favorite author,” She says. “Although written years ago, it stands the test of time. You fall into the story and you do not want to leave. You understand and empathize with so much, even though you may not have experienced it yourself. I remember reading it before I had children , yet everything described felt so familiar to me. She is an amazing writer. The story will touch you on many levels. Anne has a way of making you feel like you know her characters personally, or have met them before in your past. After finishing that book, then pick up Breathing Lessons. You will not be disappointed.
Williamson Forward Local Coordinator Chris Dotson found it pretty tough to pick a favorite. “It’s difficult to pick a favorite because I have lots of books I love, but my favorite book is probably The Great Gatsby. A more current book I enjoyed reading was Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey.”
Zoe Yates, content writer with Williamson Forward, also found it tough to pick just one. “My most recent favorites are The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Ammonite by Nicola Griffith. I just found these two impossible to put down or forget about,” She says. “My all-time favorite is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters. It’s a crime novel and thriller set in Victorian England. The writing is gorgeous, and it manages to be spine-tingling and heart-wrenching at the same time. Totally unforgettable.”
National Book Lover’s Day is August 9th. Whether you celebrate with an old favorite, or grab one of these great recommendations, we hope you enjoy a great book today!