"Words are alive and literature becomes an escape, not from, but into living." (Cyril Connolly). After the death of her sister, Nina Sankovitch found herself caught up in grief, dashing from one activity to the next to keep her mind occupied. But on her forty-sixth birthday she decided to stop running and start reading. For once in her life she would put all other obligations on hold-a husband, four kids, three cats, and piles of dirty laundry would have to wait. Instead, she would devote herself to reading a book a day: one year of magical reading in which she found joy, healing, and wisdom. With grace and deep insight, Sankovitch weaves together poignant memories from her family's history with the unforgettable lives of the characters she reads about. She finds a lesson to be learned in each book, ultimately realizing the ability of a good story to console, inspire, and open our lives to new places and experiences - reading as therapy. In an era when we are constantly bombarded by technology and instant gratification is the norm, "Tolstoy and the Purple Chair" is a reminder of the wisdom to be found in books and proof of the all-encompassing power and delight of reading.Thoughtful, accessible, and moving, this book will touch the bibliophile in all of us.