Loved...and Lost by Jodi Moore

Aw, the subject of having loved and lost. Romantic. Angsty. Life-changing.

Wait…you thought I was talking about relationships with people? Nah. I was talking about our sweet relationships with books.

When I read a book that I love, I tend to be a raving fan. Recommending it isn’t usually enough. If I love it, I want to share it with the world. Sometimes even in hard copy.

At the risk of sounding obvious, I suppose I could blame this tendency on the book Raving Fans, A Revolutionary Approach by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles. 

I used to write for the hospitality industry, and this book spoke to me. Ken and Sheldon propose that it’s not enough to have satisfied customers, you need to create “raving fans”. And isn’t that what we all want, no matter what our industry, chosen career or dream?  We want to inspire our people (whether customers, clients, guests, fans or readers) to have such an amazing experience, they can’t stop talking about it to anyone who will listen.

(Excuse me for paraphrasing here…I seemed to have “loved and lost” this book many times over.)

Of course, I may have taken this a step further. When I love a book, I’ll not only rave about it, I’ll often press it into the hands of the person I’m talking to. “You must read this,” I’ll say, my eyes shining, dancing or tearing up.

And off it will go.

Sometimes it will come back. Other times, it will appear to have wandered off and gotten “lost” (admittedly, I usually forget to whom I’ve lent books as soon as they’re out of my hands.) When the latter occurs, I usually go out and buy it again.

And then I’ll rave about it to someone…and before long…well, you know.

One such book that I purchased countless times is The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I loved and lost it so many times I started giving it as a gift (along with a box of tissues.)

 

 Seriously, it’s that emotional. It’s that perfect. I mean, it’s life-changing…it’s a love story about this dog, and his person, and the dog is old, but his person isn’t ready to let him go, and...

*sniff*

*grabs a handful of Puffs Plus*

 YOU MUST READ THIS!

I have a copy I can lend you…it’s here somewhere…ARGH! I must have lost it.

But what is it they say? If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it’s yours. If it doesn’t, buy it again. The author will thank you.

What favorites have you loved and lost?