I'm doing something I've never done before in my life..........reading a book for the second time.  As much as I've loved a great many books, I've just never read the same one twice.  But after meeting Barbara Taylor Bradford in person recently and purchasing the thirtieth anniversary edition of A Woman of Substance, I decided the other evening to read it again. 

Look at the difference in the covers thirty years later!  The one on the right is my original from 1979......actually it has my Mom's name inside the cover.  As soon as she read it, she gave it to me to read.  I think I was supposed to give it back to her..............however, that book made such an impression on me that I could never part with it.

And look at my new copy of the thirtieth anniversary edition..........believe me, it's something I'll treasure forever.

And here's what Barbara autographed in her latest novel that I also purchased...........yes, another treasure for me.

And so..............I'm on about page 60 of A Woman of Substance and I'm discovering many things.  It's almost like walking back into my past.  For one thing, I was only 33 years old when I read it the first time.  It was the year before I even returned to college to become an RN. 

I do think that book made quite an impression on me based on the main character of Emma Harte.  I'm not saying this novel was totally responsible for the transformation I've experienced over the years, but I do think reading about a woman that was strong, independant, knew what she wanted and what she needed to do to get there all contributed to the person I am thirty years later.  So I guess it's no wonder that the book is calling to me again because yes, it had that much of a profound affect on me.

One thing that struck me as I was reading this morning was that in the book Emma is walking through the food halls of her huge department store.  The author describes it all so perfectly, but................In 1979 I had never been to England or France or any place in Europe where I might have been able to relate what I'd seen to what the author was describing.

However.............this morning I wondered what I visualized in my mind in 1979 while reading that passage, but I can't recall.  But now..........I've BEEN to Marks and Spencer and Harrods in London.  I've been to BHV and Bon Marche in Paris and I could so very easily picture (and probably appreciate even more) what the author was describing.

One thing I do still recall from reading this book in 1979...........I desperately wanted to visit England and France.  I wanted to see first-hand some of the things and places mentioned in the book.  And beginning in 1985,  my travels to Europe have surpassed anything I could have imagined.

Yes........I guess this book will always be extremely special to me and thirty years later I'm loving it just as much as the first time.  Maybe even more so..............with thirty years of life experience now behind me.

And how about you?  Have you ever read a book twice?  If so, which one was it and was there a particular reason why you did so?  Leave a comment here and let us know.

See you here next time.......................