Today we present April’s featured reader for our Page Turners of Jefferson County series, which asks a local resident to reflect on the role books and reading have played in his or her life.

Mary Burns is the advertising director at the Spirit of Jefferson in Charles Town, WV. She is actively involved in Charles Town Now and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. Mary is passionate about all things Charles Town, including the library! We are grateful for her constant support and enthusiasm.

What book(s) are currently on your nightstand?

Books currently on my nightstand are I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb and American Sniper by Chris Kyle. I wanted to read American Sniper because I was intrigued by Chris Kyle’s journey and what he dealt with, not only serving his country but also the after effects when someone returns from war. I Know This Much is True has been sitting on my nightstand collecting dust. It’s a very heavy read and honestly quite depressing, hence it just sits there.

What genres do you especially enjoy reading?

I love reading all different genres. There is a world of inspiration to be discovered in books and a world of knowledge. Even reading a blog makes you a reader. I would have to say, I do love reading mysteries with drama involved.

Where and when do you like to read best?

I think I read my best at night before bed. It relaxes me to a point that I sleep really well. I also tend to read on weekend afternoons curled up on the couch.

Which book has most impacted your career?

The most influential book that has impacted my career is Gorilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson. I read it so long ago but some of the techniques and ideas expressed in the book I use today. It was way before its time–when the Internet was just getting big. Every small business owner should also take this book and follow it. It’s never too late.

Who is your favorite fictional character?

Well, my favorite fictional character is Katniss Everdeen. It was one of those books that everyone was reading and I got on that bandwagon. Love her!

What’s the last book you put down without finishing?

The last book I put down without finishing takes me back to my first answer, I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb. I am going to finish it. It’s going to happen one day.

Which three authors (living or dead) would you invite to a dinner party?

The three authors I would invite to a dinner party are Jane Austen, because I think she would be enormous fun, Mark Twain and Charles Dickens. What an interesting group! I think I would love to have them for dinner at Happy Retreat right here in downtown Charles Town.

What childhood memories about reading stick most in your mind?

Reading when I was a child was mostly a chore to me. I really didn’t enjoy reading books until I was in my twenties. I read Angela’s Ashes and just fell in love with reading. I think at the time it helped me embrace a new thought and evaluate my life against it.

How have books changed your life?

Reading now has and still does take me to new places, I am inspired, entertained, and invested in a new world. I have become a better person because of it–I just wish I read more.

Which five books would you take with you on a desert island?

I think the books that I would choose to take to a desert island are How to Survive on a Desert Island, How to Escape a Desert Island, How to Eat off the Land, and A Boy Scout’s Guide.
Jokes aside, my five favorite books are Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.

Do you have any guilty pleasure reads?

My guilty pleasure reads are blogs. I could read about beauty, nature, gardening, and decorating all day long.

What do you plan to read next?

My next book will be The Last Mile by David Baldacci. I already read Memory Man by the same author and this will be the second book about Amos Decker, the man who can forget nothing and who will be in this new thriller.

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