Continuing the exploration of my favorite books, inspired by National Book Lovers Day on August 9, I simply must highlight A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It’s in my top 3 books of all time (as is Peace Like a River, from last post), and one of the few that I actually re-read. Because the experience of reading this book is nothing short of sublime.

Do you ever consider where you were when you read a certain book? Or who gave you the book? Who recommended it?

To be fair, I didn't even know it existed until a friend pointed it out while we were in Brooklyn. And, further, I wouldn't even have been in Brooklyn had I not been patronizing Mast Brothers Chocolates for the second time in less than a week.

It's like this. Billy Collins is my favorite poet. Although I'm in an eternal argument with my parents around whether his work really constitutes poetry, I find it delightful no matter the classification.