Sunday Scribblings

This week's prompt is "the books I would write..."

This is a great idea, a wonderful brainstorming exercise for all of us who enjoy words. I never have a problem with coming up with ideas, my issue is actually with moving past the idea and putting words to it. I would write a book for children, one where they learn about the world and other cultures, without feeling like they were reading a textbook- giving them a chance to be more open minded and understanding of our differences and similarities. A chance to see what its like being a kid in another country. I would love to write a book like Nick Bantock, full of letters they could pull out and hold, postcards and journal entries- the child could then feel part of the adventure.
I would write a book encouraging others to travel the world, to see who they are on grander scale, what they can handle and accomplish outside of their comfort zone. I would write about how you can go from being a homebody who gets homesick sleeping over at her neighbour's house to traveling the entire globe. I would write a book from the perspective of an inanimate object making its way around the world (ie.backpack, journal, boots, etc), see it from a new perspective. I'd love to write a book about traveling and food, two of my favorite things. Or a book about surviving the reverse culture shock of coming home after being away for awhile in another part of the world- it's the one thing they forget to tell you about! (All this traveling must be good material for something!)
I would write a historical novel, so I could spend hours researching about a world I never lived in, making it my own despite the distance of centuries. A story of a woman surviving in a world where she isn't seen as a real person. Or a family trying to endure the hardships of living in a place like London, with little money or hope of a better life. Or a book about some of my favorite historical figures, all meeting for lunch and having a chat about life in their times, their perceptions, what is similar and different and why they think it may be. Step outside reality a bit.
I would write a book like Joanne Harris, or Audrey Niffenegger, or Barbara Kingsolver, or Michael Ondaatje, or Dorothy Dunnet, or Bill Bryson or Jodi Picoult, or Jeffrey Eugenides...I could go on and on!! They are the best escape into another world, from your own world. Books have played such a big role in my life, I could only dream of having that sort of effect on someone else through my own writing. I've already written a story for my nephew and nieces, about a farm near my parents' place where we all spent the summer together, so hopefully I can at least keep that audience happy!!
For more scribblings on book ideas, head over here!!