books

My mother likes to say that I inherited my love of books from her, partly because she worked at the Denver Public Library until shortly before I was born.

I think my love of books does come from my mom — not so much because she worked at the DPL, but because she taught me to value the books and the riches that they hold.

Just finished reading President-elect Barack Obama's "The Audacity of Hope," which mixes autobiographical passages with his ideas for making America a better and stronger country. Obama writes fluid, graceful prose that generally steers clear of self-indulgence, even in the autobiographical sections, and he makes strong arguments for his ideas without being strident. If you followed his presidential campaign and are wondering how he'll perform as president, this book is a good place to start.

When I was growing up, one of my favorite activities was going down to the local bookshop and spending hours browsing through its selection. I found endless treasures there, from Anne Lamott's novel "Rosie" to my first copy of Tennessee Williams' classic play "A Streetcar Named Desire." I spent way too much money there, but I usually came away with food for my mind and -- if I was especially lucky -- my soul.