Well, the Lord of the Rings trilogy knocks out three in one fell swoop.

Catch 22, is one that had a long lasting impact on me.

Read a lot when I was a kid. I was a voracious reader, couldn’t get enough. My neighbors were an old couple, and the woman had a huge collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs books. I was able to borrow them 3-4 at a time and I read through them like a wildfire through dry tinder. Tarzan, Pellucidar, John Carter of Mars (all of these are series of books, not just one,) and many more. I read through them all, probably three times at least.

Read a lot of Stephen King, and Koontz books too. So many…

Last, but not least, for lack of anything new within my grasp to read, I read the Bible. If there’s anything in this world, that can change the lives of many people, it is this book. Nope, I didn’t become a slobbering, delusional, believer. This book made me realize, it’s all bullshit. For the book when you read it, differs greatly from the stories you hear at the pulpit. It’s an excellent sleight of hand, the way a preacher can take vile acts of rape, murder of innocents and children, incest, demands of obedience or else, mass killings on a global scale, an idiotic timeline of creation, the horrid tale of Job among other things, and then mangle it all into some sweet syrupy, children’s tale of love and happiness? And, oh by the way, “we need money!” Take all of that, then add it to the “what they say vs. what they actually do,” pile. (Yeah, you know what I’m talking about,) things start adding up in a negative way. Pay attention. Do the math. Take your time.

I don’t read as much anymore. Life changes when you have adulting to do. Long weary days of work, and the often unwilling indulgence, in many daily necessities, doesn’t exactly induce a huge desire to read at the end of the day. But I do remember being lost in so many books, with great appreciation.

I hope you do too.