Which Books Would I Love to Live In?

Thanks to The Blue Bookcase for hosting The Literary Blog Hop Feb. 2-5. There's still time to participate!

I've been cogitating on this question all morning, and so far my mind refuses to stray from all the books I dreamed of inhabitating when I was a child and teenager. Not a single adult book has entered my brain yet, though I'll think more about it while snowshoeing today. So check back later tonight and tomorrow to see if my memory is cooperating.


When I was twelve, I desperately wanted to live in the family Madeleine L'Engle created in Meet the Austins and Moon by Night. I'd still live to be an Austin cousin and visit for a week. L'Engle wrote a third book about the family, Ring of Endless Light, but not until I was in my twenties. And, I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm so grateful to Wikipedia for this sterling reproduction of the original dustjacket.


When I was eleven, I wanted to live within the stone walls of Misselthwaite Manor and roam the Yorkshire moors of the classic The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I longed to explore the manor as Mary did on rainy days, and at night, when she searched the endless corridors for the source of the screaming and crying. Working to bring the Secret Garden back to life and keeping that secret also stirred me. And, once again, I'd still love to live this book! According to Wikipedia, the cover art I've posted belongs to the 1911 edition.