The Book Girl

I'm a book girl. I love everything about books—the stories, the feel, even the scent of their pages.

This love affair I have with books began at a very early age. I don't remember exactly when I started reading on my own, but my mother was reading to me long before then—likely when I was just a toddler.

Reading was crucial to my mother. She read to us—her five children—from her favorite poems and prose while we were still young enough to gather at her knee. With five children born within seven years, getting us to sit still and listen was no small feat. Yet, she read to us from books filled with selections from her favorite authors.

But sit we did. And I soaked in every word. I still remember why there was "no joy in Mudville"...the mighty Casey had struck out. If you've never read 'Casey at the Bat' by Ernest Thayer, look it up and read it to your kids. Talk about it. It might make for an interesting conversation.

And who can forget Poe's haunting words from 'The Raven' "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary..."? This sparked my love of tales filled with mystery and suspense. As did many other readings from my mother's book, The Collected Tales and Poems of Edgar Allen Poe that remained on our family bookshelf for many years. Oh, how I loved to read from that collection.

Our home library was filled with books. and from the many books my mother read to us, some became lifelong favorites. Some of those books became more than just stories to me—they became part of my childhood, shaping the way I saw the world. Here are a few that left the deepest impressions on me...

Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses—a collection so deeply ingrained in my memory that if you started quoting a poem today, I could likely finish it for you. 

We had an entire shelf filled with Nancy Drew mysteries, and I eagerly devoured every single one. Though I’m not sure what became of that collection, I’ve recently taken to scouring used bookstores, searching for editions from those same years—this time, to build a special collection for my granddaughter.

L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz—a story that not only captivated me in print but also became a beloved film, watched year after year for decades.

Lewis Carroll's (pen name) Alice in Wonderland...Through the Looking Glass. 

Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book. I will forever cherish the memory of my mother reading Rikki-Tikki-Tavi to us—a favorite, to be sure. 

As my love for books grew, I discovered authors whose stories not only entertained but also left a lasting impression. As I got older, I expanded my interests. In my early teens, I began reading the clean romance novels on the shelf in our hallway—thanks to Mama. That’s when I found Grace Livingston Hill and Emilie Loring, two writers whose novels captured my heart with their timeless tales of love, honor, and perseverance.

Hill’s stories, deeply rooted in Christian faith, followed strong heroines who faced adversity with unwavering courage and conviction. Loring, on the other hand, wove sweet romance with elements of adventure and intrigue, crafting love stories set against vivid backdrops of mystery and excitement. Their books became treasured favorites, offering not just romance, but inspiration and an enduring sense of hope.

Then came my gothic suspense romance phase. I’m pretty sure I have read every book by Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and Phyllis A. Whitney. These authors masterfully blended romance with intrigue, transporting readers to windswept estates, shadowy castles, and exotic locales filled with secrets. Stewart’s novels often featured intelligent, independent heroines caught in suspenseful, atmospheric adventures. Holt, known as the queen of gothic romance, wove tales of love and danger, often set in brooding mansions with dark family secrets. Whitney, a pioneer of romantic suspense, created stories brimming with mystery, danger, and strong-willed heroines determined to uncover the truth. Their books kept me turning pages late into the night, my heart pounding with each twist and revelation.

My love for historical fiction novels began in the eighth grade, thanks to my Georgia History teacher, Mr. Ted Key. He introduced our class to The Lighthouse by Eugenia Price, a novel that brought history to life in a way I had never experienced before. Years later, I picked up The Lighthouse again and fell in love with it all over. That rekindled my passion for Price’s storytelling, leading me to read nearly all her Georgia historical novels.

Eugenia Price was a master of weaving rich historical detail with compelling fiction. Known for her meticulously researched novels set in the American South, she brought the past to life through vivid characters, sweeping landscapes, and intricate family sagas. Her St. Simons Trilogy, which includes The Lighthouse, New Moon Rising, and The Beloved Invader, paints a captivating portrait of Georgia’s coastal history, blending real-life figures with deeply human stories of love, faith, and perseverance. Through her books, I not only traveled back in time but also developed a deeper appreciation for the history of my home state. And, a side note, I absolutely love visiting St Simons Island!

In high school, a dear friend introduced me to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, along with the writings of C.S. Lewis, and George MacDonald, and the allegorical poems of Calvin Miller. That introduction sparked a deep love for Tolkien’s world, and to this day, I’ve read through The Lord of the Rings more than five times. What can I say? Some books are simply meant to be revisited.

In college, my love affair with reading only deepened. Though I began as a Vocal Music major—my voice scholarship helping to pave the way—I found myself drawn to courses that required reading more literature. English Lit, Modern Lit, and even a Shakespeare course that I absolutely adored kept me immersed in the written word, proving that my passion for books would always find its way into my life, no matter my academic path.

All of these books—and so many others I’ve read, too many to name—have left a deep imprint on my soul, creating an insatiable hunger for more. To say I love books might be an understatement. As Louisa May Alcott famously wrote, "She is too fond of books; it has turned her brain".   

 I can totally relate to that quote! Books like Little Women challenge us to pause and reflect on how we see ourselves and the world around us.  Books have shaped my sense of right and wrong, carried me on thrilling adventures to far-off lands, and broadened my perspective by revealing ways of thinking vastly different from my own. Through their pages, I have encountered characters who embody valor, courage, and chivalry—qualities that have inspired me in my own life.

Books have been my lifelong companions—faithful friends that have shaped my imagination, challenged my thinking, and deepened my love for storytelling. The characters I've met and the worlds I've explored within their pages have left lasting imprints on my heart. Even now, as I turn the crisp pages of a well-loved book or breathe in that familiar scent of ink and paper, I am reminded that my love affair with books is far from over. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

And yet, of all the books I have ever read, there is one that I cherish more than all others—the Bible. More than just a book, God's word is living, powerful, and life-transforming. His word has shaped my heart in ways no other words ever could. It has revealed truth, given wisdom, and drawn me closer to His heart.

So, if you’re looking for your next great read, I challenge you to open the pages of God’s Word. Whether you start with the Psalms, the Gospels, or a single verse to ponder, I promise it is a book that will never leave you the same. And who knows? You just might find yourself completely captivated—heart and soul—by the One who wrote the greatest love story of all.

"Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." ~Psalm 119:105