The Power of Books: "Tolstoy and the Purple Chair," by Nina Sankovitch

Among the many things books can do is to heal their readers. Nina Sankovitch’s book, “Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading” (Harper, 2011) tells of the author’s decision to try to heal her pain and grief over her sister Anne-Marie’s death by reading a book a day for a year. (Note the echo of Joan Didion's book title, "The Year of Magical Thinking," about her own grief when her husband died suddenly.) Books had always been important to the author, her sister, and her family, and so this decision made sense to her and to those who knew her. I imagine it would not make sense to everyone, but it does to me. This book describes the author’s relationship with her sister, the time she spent with her sister during her last months and days, and the sustenance she received from reading. Although I understand the motivation, and share the belief Sankovitch has in the power of books, reading a book a day is a challenge. I read an average of two books a week myself, and although I read quickly, this is a substantial commitment of time, especially for one who works full time, so it is hard for me to imagine being able to read a book a day. A former practicing attorney, Sankovitch did not work outside the home during the time period covered by the book, but did -- along with her husband -- take care of a family of four boys. Her family seems to have been remarkably supportive and accommodating of her "year of books." The important point here is that the author’s prescription for herself actually worked. She learned, she thought, she was reminded of memories, she was stimulated, she was entertained, she was awed, she was encouraged, she was comforted and supported by, and yes, healed by, the books. Of course she did not “get over” her sadness, but she felt connected to her sister and to the wider world through times and places near and far, and felt the universality of human experiences: birth, love, family, work, nature, the arts, war, illness, and death, among others. Although the book is only competently written, I loved it because of its obvious passion and because of the author’s absolute belief in the power of books. As I read, I marked many pages, and found many quotations that resonated with me. I offer just a small sampling below.
1. “Everywhere I have sought rest and not found it, except sitting in a corner by myself with a little book.” (Thomas A Kempis)
2. “Words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living.” (Cyril Connolly)
3. “The lives in the books are breathing life into me, new life. And helping me learn how to keep her [the author’s sister] alive. In me.” (Sankovitch)
4. The last sentences in this book: “My hiatus is over, my soul and my body are healed, but I will never leave the purple chair [where she often read] for long. So many books waiting to be read, so much happiness to be found, so much wonder to be revealed.” (Sankovitch)

NOTE: On another topic: this is my 500th post on this blog! It is a great pleasure for me to share my thoughts and feelings on books and on reading-related experiences in this way. Thank you, Mary, for suggesting I start this blog, and thank you to the readers of the blog.