Books that saved my life

Books have saved my life time and time again. There are those that brought a measure of calmness and sanity when I needed a distraction from life's hectic schedules and demands. There are those that made me laugh when I otherwise wanted to cry. There are those that taught me words and phrases that I use to season my writing. Then there are those books that literally, downright, outright saved my life. The first such book was 'The Value In The Valley' by my mentor, teacher, adviser and friend, Iyanla Vanzant.

Now I call Iyanla my friend because I have become so close to her through her writing, and she's done so much for me because of her books, that she can be nothing less to me.

I acquired 'The Value In The Valley' in much the same way that I acquired any other book that helped turn my life around. A past co-worker was reading it and I kept looking over at her as she was so engrossed in it. She eventually asked if I wanted to take a peek at it and I did. From that small peek I realised that this was a book that I needed to own. There were none in Trinidad at the time though - this was in 1999 or 2000. So, how was I to get one? Providence stepped right in. A friend of mine was traveling to New York around that time and I asked him to get me a copy. Well, the drama continued. He and his New York host searched all the well-known bookstores in the area and couldn't find a copy, so the New York host took my friend to this little obscure bookstore as a last hope, and will you know, they found it? Way down in the back of the store - and it was the last copy! (Now I'm selling the story as it was sold to me), and I have no reason to doubt it. Stranger things have happened in my life.

So, that is how Iyanla became my friend. Then, in 2007 she visited Trinidad to do a lecture series. I couldn't afford to go to the seminars (my heart was so sad), but I did make it to the book signing she had at a polular bookstore. And, Iyanla signed my copy of 'The Value In The Valley', and she gave me a hug (awwww). When she signed the book she said something like "Child, this book is your bible huh, look at it, you could tell it's been well used." Hum, if she only knew.

That evening she also signed another book of hers I had bought subsequently - 'Yesterday I Cried', and one I bought that evening 'In The Meantime'.

Sistas, if you're looking for guidance through life's picker patch, try reading one (or all) of Iyanla Vanzant's books. Maybe she could help save your life too.

Other life-saving and inspirational books I've read are: 'The Way of the Wizard' by Deepak Chopra,'The Alchemist' by Paolo Coelho, 'De Distance Is Here' by LeRoy Clarke.

Of course there are other books that have touched my life in several ways, and to these I pay homage and say 'thank you'.

I just love books!