Book Pick: The Thorn Birds

This is another one of those books that I should have read a million years ago and just now got around to it during the snowy winter. And it wasn't a bad book, but let's call a spade a spade, people.....it was a romance novel that somehow caught fire back in the day. I guess it was because of the overarching theme: a priest being in love with a woman and fathering an out-of-wedlock child. Shocking! I'm annoyed that it took me nearly 3 weeks to read, and this may have been a romance novel but it was a thick one! I'm waiting for the miniseries now which I remember being a really big deal when I was a kid.

The story is good.....I like multigenerational tales, but I was creeped out by it on one particular level. (This book was written in the 70's, so we can't call spoilers now!) Father Ralph seems to be in love with Meggie from the time that he first meets her.......at age 10. Now, the passion may not be consumated or even discussed until years later, but isn't it a little gross that he seems to pine for her from her childhood? I had a little trouble with that.

I also got a little bored toward the end because I didn't care that much for what happened to Justine.

The one thing this book did make me think about was how important it is to not go through life living with regrets, guilt and unfinished business. I'm so happy I don't live in that kind of space anymore.

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