23. A picture of your favorite book

I couldn't choose one favorite. I never can.

The Dictionary of Imaginary Places was given to me on my 9th or 10th birthday by my Grandpa. I was a very avid reader as a child and he thought it would introduce me to a whole world of classic fantasy literature. He was right, of course, though many of the books referenced in the Dictionary I have not read, satisfied with the small synopsis I did read. It goes into great detail about the backgrounds of many familiar imaginary places, like Oz, Middle Earth, Brigadoon, and Wonderland, but my favorite place was the much more obscure iDeath, "a small rural community somewhere in the United States," from In Watermelon Sugar, by Richard Brautigan, which I admit is still on the long list of books on my list to read. In iDeath, everyone eats together and there is only one industry in the town. The sun and watermelons vary in color every day and everything is made from the watermelon sugar - different colors for different types of things. It sounds like my kind of place. Anyway, I replaced my old paperback with a new edition, which includes Hogwarts from the Harry Potter series. The pages were literally falling out of the old one.

Siddartha was the first book I read with any spiritual undertones (perhaps undertones is an understatement) besides maybe parts of the Bible. It's a fictional account of a Buddha-like figure and his journey, both physical and spiritual. I am not sure why it drew me in at such a young age (I think I read it at 14 maybe) but it still holds a lot for me.

The I'd like to Teach the World to Sing coloring book from Unicef was my favorite growing up. My mom was an excellent color-er (she still is I bet) and we filled in the images with these fine felt tip pens I had. Most of the book is still uncolored, I'm not sure why, probably because I lost the pens along the way. Reading the song lyrics printed at the top of each page, I am thinking it shaped me as a human, and I can still consider it my theme song.



I'd like to build the world a home
and furnish it with love
grow apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
and keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
all standing hand in hand
and hear them echo through the hills
for peace throuout the land

thats the song I hear
Let the world sing today
a song of peace
that echoes on
and never goes away

I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony

I'd like to build the world a home
and funish it with love
grow apple trees and honey bees
and snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
in perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
and keep it company