Some books are like old friends, and some authors feel like kindred spirits. We revisit them throughout our lives and each time we read them, they do not disappoint. Humans are drawn to stories, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. Maybe you have a ritual of going to the library to check out a certain novel every couple of years, or maybe you have decided to buy certain books so you can have your own cherished copy. The books on my personal bookshelf, books I have felt the need to own, probably differ from what is on your shelf. Maybe we'd laugh if we compared bookshelves - at the shocking similarities or the vast differences. But why do some books end up finding a permanent place in our homes and hearts, while some we never pick up again? Why do the words of some authors, whom we have never even met, touch us more deeply than many people we know in "real" life? I suspect that though our individual tastes may differ, the reasons we love the stories are the same. So, what do they have in common? I'm certain there are many answers. But these come to mind for me.
1. The books we love have stories with rich characters. The author cares deeply about the characters and develops them skillfully and with loving care. The characters feel real, and we, in turn, care about them too. We also care about these characters because we recognize them. We recognize them because we see ourselves, and people we know, in them. This doesn't always mean that the characters seem much like us, but rich characters give us insight into human nature, and that relates to us in one way or another. We may not always realize it, but stories we love help us understand ourselves and others better. We may also find that the characters we most identify with change over the years as we re-read our favorite stories. Perhaps when I read Pride and Prejudice at age twenty I related with Jane Austen's witty and charming Elizabeth Bennett, but upon re-reading it now that I am older and a mother, to my shock and dismay, I find myself beginning to relate with fretful Mrs. Bennett and her "poor nerves." (Gasp!) I could even find myself sympathizing with her! Maybe.
2. The author uses rich language, whether it is crafted with old-fashioned or contemporary vernacular. The words they use were turned over and considered carefully. Whether we analyze them or not, our favorite author's word choices were selected on purpose and are often infused with depth of meaning and subtlety. Some authors are just downright clever and make us laugh each time we read them! They are really good with words.
3. Stories we love have rich commentary on the things in life that will always be relevant. Plot details may be dated, but the underlying issues remain true to our lives today. There may be bigger, universal issues that the author is ruminating on through the plot and the particular problems the characters face. Stories may comment on societal issues, history, or allude to other well-known stories. They can be reflections on spiritual things, philosophical questions, or lighter things, but they are there nonetheless. Rich commentary touches on parts of life we can all relate to eventually. Sometimes an author may even put the plot on hold for a minute and philosophize a bit to the reader, and sometimes the commentary is waiting there for us whether or not the author meant to put it there. Either way, stories we love connect with us on a more profound level because they speak to our own questions, beliefs, fears, hopes, experiences, and journeys.
4. This deeper commentary offers us something we all need and long for through rich themes like redemption and hope. Hardships are worked through and problems faced. Even if the plot is fantastical, we relate with the adversity, or at least with the journey through the problem. They draw our attention to what is good in life: what to hold on to and what to let go of. Not all stories we love seem to be stories of redemption - maybe they appear devoid of hope, or maybe they appear to be nothing more than a fun romance. But I suspect that we still love these stories because somehow they speak to our deepest longings. Consider the vast array of books and authors you have read. From Tolstoy to Tolkien, Dickens to Maya Angelou, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez to Beverly Cleary, rich stories remind us of what matters and of the truest parts of ourselves.
The stories we love age like fine wine. As we experience more of life, with its joys and difficulties, and as we mature, the stories' flavors develop and expand along with us. I am so grateful for all of the stories that have touched my life and for their authors - young, old, modern and ancient - who have opened up their hearts and imaginations, developed their craft, and put pen to paper.