Books that Start Conversations with Strangers

[L.B.]

The Shadow of the Wind

On the train.

A perfect stranger told me " that book will change your life!" Then he got off without telling me anything more!

It didn't change my life. But it was an AMAZING book. Loved every minute and I have never forgotten it.

[Daniel]

100 Love Sonnets

During a flight delay, recently, I was sitting at the airport terminal, a woman walked up to me and said, "Excuse me, I saw you are reading Neruda. I love Neruda."

We struck a conversation and talked about Neruda and my favorite book, and hers Love in the Time of Cholera.
It turned out she is a corporate attorney but had received her undergraduate degree in Latin American Literature. I could see the longing in her face for a time when she might have read more than legal briefs and contracts. Our flight started to board and we parted ways.

Hopefully, she picked up her Neruda again, remembering....

"You will remember that leaping stream
where sweet aromas rose and trembled,
and sometimes a bird, wearing water
and slowness, its winter feathers."

You Will Remember,
-Pablo Neruda

[Daniel]

Leigh wrote: "That's a lovely story, Daniel. :^) I still remember my friend from the queue also."

Thanks!

How long ago was this?

[Daniel]

Oh, pretty cool.

[Daniel]

I usually have more than one copy of love in the time of cholera so I can give one away. I realized a couple of weeks ago that I must've given away my last copy.

[Daniel]

We can always do that!

[Brendan]

Leigh wrote: "Market researchers claim that if you have one of the 9 books below in your hands in public, you’re likely going to be approached by someone to chat about what you’re reading.

Has any stranger sta..."

I'm calling shenanigans on these market researchers. I've only heard of one of those books, and it's supposedly YA so I have no plans to read it or discuss it with random strangers.

Also, he's talking to her because she's a somewhat attractive female. It has nothing to do with her book.

[Daniel]

Great story, Leigh.

[Daniel]

Yes, and a book gives you a glimpse into the person reading it and sometimes creates a tether between the two of you.

[Georgia]

Some years ago I was standing in line to board an airplane and was reading . A man walked up to me and said "that's a really good book"

[Georgia]

I better put the link up as it is hard to see the cover of book I mentioned above Outlander by Dianne Galbadon I just received her new book.Written in My Own Heart's Blood

[Georgia]

L.b. wrote: "The Shadow of the Wind

On the train.

A perfect stranger told me " that book will change your life!" Then he got off without telling me anything more!

It didn't change my life. But i..." I loved that book and lent my copy to many of my friends. I want to go to the library of Lost Books!!!

[Georgia]

Leigh, you have to read the book as the boy worked in the library of lost or forgotten books, it's been at least 4 or 5 years since I read it.

[Daniel]

Right now I have between 40 to 50 books in the backseat of my car. So, I think that my car is the library of lost books. :-/

[Susan]

It is hard to explain Gabaldon. She writes historical romance but not like romance novels. Claire, the lead character, was a nurse after WWII and while visiting in Scotland goes into a circle of stones and is transported to a battle in the 1700's. There she meets the dynamic, Jamie. There's a lot of history, botany and romance. It's time travel too. It's the mutt of fiction with a very large group of fans.

[Susan]

Leigh, she is so much more than pure romances.

[W.]

I was reading Stranger In a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein at a pizzeria a few years ago. The guy behind the counter started raving about it and I ended up with a free meal. These cult favorites have some dedicated fans...