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Posts Tagged ‘reading’

High on Reading

bookshelf

When I was a teenager and the latest CD from my favorite band was released, I couldn’t get to Sam Goody fast enough. I had to have it. Nothing was more important than driving to the mall, buying it, and then listening to it on the way home.

Yes, I realize I am dating myself with talk of CD and Sam Goody, but I’m not ashamed of my age. And as I get older, I no longer feel the same rush of adrenaline for music. Sure, I love to attend concerts, and my love of great songs has not dimmed in the least. But I have now replaced CDs with books. I must have them, and when I have the urge, I make a plan to visit one of my favorite independent bookstores. This is probably why I have so many books on my TBR list and own so many of them.

I have yet to conquer this passion for the written word. And quite frankly, I don’t want to.

But I do need to curb my spending habits and enjoy the books on my shelf. I must remember the reasons for wanting those titles so desperately in the first place.

Did Oprah recommend it? Probably not, but Reese Witherspoon might have.

Did someone else read it and tell me I’d love it? Yeah, I can easily be convinced to look up suggestions from friends and see if they can earn a spot on my bookshelf.

Did I see the title on bookstagram or the Facebook pages of some of my local businesses? I cannot tell a lie – those pretty photos of book covers placed on a pretty table or a blanket with a cup of coffee next to it are hard to resist.

Because of my Google history and those damn Facebook algorithms, I am bombarded with new releases that everyone is reading, loving, and recommending. But I am happy to report that I haven’t bought a book in May, and I don’t plan on it anytime soon.

Rediscovering the books I own is slowly replacing the adrenaline rush I experience in bookstores. This is a new kind of high for me. Since I finished a novel late last night, it is time for me to take another hit from my shelves.

Have Book, Will Travel

windmills in Mykonos GreeceHere is a piece of advice for you. Don’t bring a real page-turner kind of book on your honeymoon. Yes, I admit that while we were enjoying the sandy beaches in Mykonos, Greece, my mind sometimes wandered elsewhere. In between seeing the larger-than-life windmills, enjoying authentic Mediterranean cuisine, and drinking copious amounts of ouzo, I was also lost in the streets of Washington, D.C. I was reading The Tenth Justice by Brad Meltzer.

Oh, I was right in there with those young law clerks who were fortunate enough to work next to Supreme Court Justices. I got caught up in the politics, secrets, betrayal, and mystery of it all. Who wouldn’t?

I intended to read it on the seven-hour flight to Athens. But, the book was so good that I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully my husband forgave me. In my defense, he knew who he married. 🙂 I didn’t go anywhere without a book or two in hand. Besides, we had the rest of our lives together. What can I say? I had to know how the book ended!

Over the years, books have served as my tour guides. Right now, I am reading about 1950’s Hollywood and the starlets who did everything possible to make their dreams come true. In this novel, not only do I get to explore new and exotic locations  – like film sets and mansions – but I also get to do a little time travel. It is fun to plant myself in the land of the rich and famous. The book is all glamour and grit at their very best.

And since we haven’t been able to travel due to the pandemic, the next best thing has been discovering new countries and historical periods from the comfort of my couch. Here is where I’ve been so far:

Where have you traveled to in your reading life? And where do you hope to go next? In the meantime, I’m going to look for a nice historical fiction novel set in the Greek Islands.

 

Writing about Reading

For this month’s Ultimate Blog Challenge, I am going out of my comfort zone. You may have already noticed that I am sticking to one topic – reading –  and writing about it the entire time. For those of you who have followed my blog, this will be a little different than my normal schtick. I’ve given this a lot of thought and feel like it is the right time for something new, and here is why.

  1. Getting Published – I’ve been doing a lot of writing between blog challenges, including a 2500-word personal essay on surviving COVID-19 and its impact on different parts of my life. I would love to share bits and pieces of that story with you, but I’m shopping it around to be published. And unfortunately, if I publish the story on my blog, it is not considered original material and, therefore, no longer eligible for submission. I’ll keep you posted if it gets accepted anywhere! I promise.
  2. My Reading Life – Maybe you and I share a common love of great stories. Whether you have a TBR pile as tall as mine (65 fiction books!) or are a summer reader or a patron of your local library, I think you will find there is plenty to talk about. And if you aren’t a reader or haven’t picked up a book in a while, maybe I’ll inspire you to give it another go.
  3. Books Open Up New Things to Discuss – If a book does its job, it will lead to questions about any number of topics to write about here. Recently, I read two books about living with regrets – The Midnight Library and Cleo McDougal Regrets Nothing. After reading the first book, our book club had an interesting discussion about what our lives would be like if we made different choices. As you can imagine, some fascinating revelations came to light. This topic alone made for great conversation. This is what books do – shine a light on aspects of life that we don’t often think about and then talk about it. There are discussions to be had on a wide range of issues, and books often serve as the icebreakers.
  4. Change is Good –  I’ve written plenty of posts about my kids, my dog, my job, my religion, my anxiety, and my everyday life. I’m not saying I won’t get back to that kind of writing because I most definitely will. Writing about reading is actually a pretty personal thing for me. Focusing on books might serve a bigger purpose. I can take a deep dive into my own interests, learn something new, and find ways to connect with others on a new level.
  5. I’m Still Looking for the Manual – As we all know, none of us are born with a “life manual,” but we can learn so much from books. This time next year, I will be an empty nester (or pretty close to it). I’ll be honest with you – I’m not looking forward to it. But, I need more information and inspiration that will prepare me for this next chapter. Who am I without my kids needing me 24-7? How will it affect my marriage? Will I be lonely? What can I expect, and what should I watch out for as I begin to figure things out? While I know I have people in my life who will advise me (and I am all ears!), I find that books are a reliable source when facing new challenges and opportunities.

All of this is to say that I have concerns that I will lose you as a reader if you are not interested in this particular topic. So much so that I felt like I had to defend my decision to take this new path. But, to grow as a writer and a reader, this is a risk I must take. I hope you understand and will stick around, comment on posts, and cheer me on. Thanks!

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