Today I am delighted to welcome author Glynis Astie to the blog for a guest post! She is the author of the recently released Romantic Comedy: Gamer Girl as well as the French Twist series. Below she shares a wonderful article about life lessons you can find in books.
The Wisdom of Books
Do you remember the poem All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum? It was published over twenty-five years ago and spawned a whole movement of copycats and parodies (as well as a wonderful book by the author himself), but his original idea always stuck with me. Many important life lessons are so simple and can be taken to heart at a very early age. In my case, I have drawn my most valuable lessons from the pages of some truly incredible books—books which were given to me by my most insightful mother.
Though I lost my mother ten years ago, I still have the original books she gave me in my youth. When I’m having a hard time figuring out how the world works, I pick up one of these amazing tomes, read the inscription she wrote to me and cast my mind back to the lively discussions we used to have about the title at hand.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Besides learning about good old-fashioned romance, there are deeper teachings at play. We all know the importance of pride—taking pride in your work, in your appearance, in yourself as a whole—but we often forget how easily pride can go awry. Not to mention the danger of prejudice. How easy is it to take our preconceived ideas and believe them to be true, when there is actually no basis in fact? (I think of it as a misguided mental shortcut. We have so much thinking to do, it’s natural to want to cut corners somewhere.) Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth were both rather impressive—and amusing—in their delivery of these faults, but thankfully they found some sense in the end.
(That’s my mom as a little girl!)
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
My mother introduced me to Anne’s adventures at an early age. I was mesmerized by her bravery, her dedication and her cherished belief that each day brought a fresh start. (Fun fact: I used to think I needed red hair to evince these characteristics. For nearly the entirety of the eight book series, if you must know.) I was pretty shy as a kid, so when I was faced with tackling an obstacle, I would do my best to channel my inner Anne. I may not have reached new heights in terms of being fearless, but I was able to explore many things outside of my comfort zone—which was good enough for me. Thank you, Anne!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
When I first read this brilliant work, I thought my mother had lost her mind. Why would she give me a story filled with so much pain and emotional turmoil? What was the lesson in all this chaos? I may have needed a little guidance to understand her reasoning, but in the end, I was able to appreciate the endurance Jane exhibited throughout her challenging life. To have gone through so much difficulty with such strength and grace is something to be celebrated. And definitely something to aspire to in your own life.
Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
My mother fell in love with San Francisco the late 60s, when she was lucky enough to spend a few years soaking up the sunshine and the beautiful scenery. After stumbling upon the start of Armistead Maupin’s famed series, she was instantly drawn to the world of Michael Tolliver and Mary Ann Singleton—laughing as Michael tried to guide Mary Ann out of her closely-guarded shell and as Mary Ann tried to keep Michael from eradicating his completely. She always had an appreciation for different cultures, beliefs and lifestyles and she reveled in the idea that everyone could get along, teaching each other as they went. Our shared love of this series left me with a courageous heart, an open mind and the will to chase my own dreams to California.
Oh the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
I have always been a big fan of Dr. Seuss—the rhyming, the addictive rhythm of the words, the delightful illustrations and the heartfelt messages. This book is a pure work of genius in my opinion. How scary can a journey be if Dr. Seuss is giving you a pep talk along the way? All the basics are outlined nicely—you’ll have a lot of choices, you’ll have to work hard, you might get scared, but think of all the amazing things you can do! And most importantly: don’t give up. I’m sure it won’t shock you to learn that I still pull out my battered copy and read through it when I’m thinking of doing something which just happens to scare the crap out of me. Guess what? After my heart-to-heart with the good doctor, I’m all set. Every. Single. Time. (Incidentally, my book seems to have had places to go itself, since I couldn’t locate it for the photo shoot.)
I could go on and on (and on!) about lessons I have learned from a collection of truly exceptional books, but I thought you might appreciate the condensed version—after all, you have your own places to go. (Ha!) Plus, I would really like to hear about your life lessons, straight from the pages of your favorite books. Please fill me in below!
Thank you for joining us today Glynis Astie! You've definitely given me a new appreciation for these wonderful books.
Books by Glynis Astie:
These books are free with Kindle Unlimited!
Click the images to find out more about them on Amazon.
French Twist (Book 1 of the French Twist Series) Only $0.99 or free with Kindle Unlimited. Description off Amazon:
Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love.
Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist...
I will be reading Gamer Girl for review! Check out the synopsis:
Struck by tragedy at an early age, Meri Palmer escaped into the only world she understood. Within the virtual realm of online gaming, she lived a life filled with mythical creatures and thrilling adventures, where she was strong, powerful, clever, and beautiful—everything she believed she wasn't in real life. As the years went by, her desire to cling to her cherished fantasyland only grew stronger.
But when Meri meets Morgan, equal parts gorgeous and goofball, she begins to wonder if the time has finally come to rejoin the so-called real world. Channeling the bravery of her fairy warrior alter ego, Meri slowly lets Morgan beyond the protective walls she’s built around her heart. Just as she finds a comfortable groove in an uncertain world, Morgan succumbs to insecurities of his own, leaving her lost and confused. Through her battle to regain her equilibrium, Meri will discover that even in reality, things aren’t always what they seem.
Will Meri win the battle raging in her heart and summon the will to rescue her knight in shining armor? Or will she give in to the fear and find her game over?
Struck by tragedy at an early age, Meri Palmer escaped into the only world she understood. Within the virtual realm of online gaming, she lived a life filled with mythical creatures and thrilling adventures, where she was strong, powerful, clever, and beautiful—everything she believed she wasn't in real life. As the years went by, her desire to cling to her cherished fantasyland only grew stronger.
