Authors, Readers, and Boomers, Oh, My!

Thanks to turning back the clocks on November 1, along with the traditional change of season that accompanies Autumn, November is the month when outdoor activities are hit-or-miss, nighttime arrives earlier each day, and we begin to look for things we can enjoy doing inside our homes.

Perhaps that is why November celebrations include National Author’s Day (November 1), National Book Lover’s Day (November 7), and Young Readers Day (the second Tuesday in November).

Books are the perfect accompaniment to a crackling fire and a glass of wine (or coffee, depending on what time of day you are indulging), for when the weather turns chilly and daylight seems scarce. In earlier times, gathering around a fire for the evening meal was only part of the appeal, as community storytellers would regale listeners with tales true, embellished, or completely contrived, enriching their lives and making the long nights more bearable.

National Author’s Day is a great day to re-read some of the classics by American authors including John Steinbeck, Jack Kerouac, Alice Walker, or Harper Lee; or discover some of our country’s best contemporary authors, including Erik Larson, Barbara Kingsolver, Sue Monk Kidd, and Brian Panowich. And that’s just authors of fiction! If you enjoy non-fiction, your local bookseller has a host of fabulous non-fiction titles, as well.

Book Lover’s Day provides a great excuse to wander through the local library or bookstore, peruse the shelves, and get lost in a story that can make you forget the world outside. This “holiday” is celebrated on several dates throughout the year (including one in August, to help beat the heat), and touts the benefits of reading. (Did you know that people who read regularly are considered both smarter and happier? It’s true! I read about it!)

Young Reader’s Day encourages children and teens to enjoy reading a book, and helps them develop a practice that is beneficial in many areas throughout their lives. Did you know, for example, that employers often ask if applicants read, or which books have influenced them? Reading a book requires a commitment to a task, which is an important skill for most kinds of work. And introducing grandchildren to reading is a wonderful way to share an interest that spans generations.

Each Windsong home is designed with comfortable, flexible spaces, with plenty of storage for books, art supplies, games, and more (by the way, Games and Puzzles Week begins November 16!), encouraging Active Adults to pursue the hobbies they’ve always wanted to try, or rekindle those they’ve only dabbled in during the years when raising a family and building their career dominated their focus.

Welcome to Windsong – Where Life’s A Breeze!