Thursday, June 19, 2008

Books: My Love

We have already explored my love of Diet Coke, my sweet mistress. But I have another addiction: books.

I love books. My parents perpetrated this addiction by buying me books by the boat load. Every Sunday, my family would go to Barnes & Noble and buy a few books PER PERSON! I read one book MANY TIMES. So it is more economical than it seems.

K-Dubs does not get it. He thinks you should read whatever the library has to offer. But what if they do not carry the book that is in your series or the book you really really want? "Too Bad," says K-Dubs, "Read this book on Ant farming with boogers pressed between the pages."

But I can't help it. I need books and I need to have them! When I hear, "Let us go forth and Serve the Lord....Amen," I feel this inexplicable urge to buy a book or eight.

I called my mom last Sunday to blame her for this problem, but instead of denying this enabling...she said, "Um...I'm in Barnes and Noble now...so I'll just go and act like we didn't have this conversation."

I always have a book in my purse for down times in my life or times that I just would rather be reading than working, playing, or living life. (K-dubs gets on to me about that too.) I also am always reading more than one book at a time. This is challenging because I run out of books to read quickly! I will read a good book that is 200-250 pages in one day...two if it is a heavy work day.

I am starting to plan my fall travels and will need a lot of books to read. So I need your help. What books do you love? What are you currently reading?

Here are some of my favs (If you see my sidebar you might see some repeats):

The BEST: Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Current Series: Mitford Series by Jan Karon

Great Historical Fiction Series: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation Series by Lauren Willig

Cause-I-love-my-Teen-Drama: Harry Potter and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer


***To answer my faithful friend and reader, Curtis: Yes, I still read while driving...it is why I like traffic jams. And drink the beer when I am at stoplights.

17 comments:

Unknown said...

I, too, am such an avid reader. I love books and love to get lost in them. I'll have to read some that you recommended.

Thanks for the comment, too! We thought it was pretty funny :) Have a great weekend!

Allison R said...

I'm an avid reader as well!!! I love books - it's an escape from every day life. I'm currenlty reading The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory...I've really been enjoying it. I just finished The Other Boleyn Girl and loved it.

Happy POW!

E said...

One of my favorites is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers.

I am currently reading "Marley and Me", a dog book. Pretty funny.

I am not a lover of reading, but I do LOVE kids books! I have a ton in my classroom. My child will be read to quite a lot!

Good for your parents for instilling a love of reading. I can think of a lot worse things to spend money on!

The Mrs. said...

I love reading, granted its harder to get thru a solid book now that kids have arrived but I love it and can blow thru borders like hell on wheels. I'm not so into library books, since lets be honest a lot of people read in the crapper it just weirds me out.

Lately I've been really into series. I get so into a book and then I'm sad when its over, so series help to lessen the hurt! I'm going to have to look into the mitford series. I havent heard of that one.

Curtis said...

Since I always read your blog in Google Reader, I don't usually comment...that extra mouse click or two to get to your actual site is just too much for me, Alex. But I had to comment on this one (Go me for the extra effort on a Friday!).

First though, I hope that you aren't still reading while you drive, Alex. That always concerned me. You need to be careful. I don't read and drive because how am I supposed to hold the book, the wheel and a beer at the same time?

I'm currently reading The Steel Wave by Jeff Shaara. See my blog to see why. Owen Meany is great...thanks for giving me that book back in college. My favorite books include The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, American Tabloid by James Ellroy and Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson. I just left so many out and I feel terrible about it.

Laural Out Loud said...

I come from a long line of book lovers. My house is full of them (once I read a book I can't bare to part with it). I love their smell, I love how the pages sound when you fan them, and I love how they look all stacked up together. It's like looking at a stack of windows that each look onto a different place.

So far my daughter loves books, too. And it is the BEST gift ever.

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

ooooo, that pink carnation one looks like it's perfect for me! :-)

have you read tracy chevalier...the girl with the pearl earing, falling angels...etc. she's pretty much a genious!

hey, come on over to my place and join in with Feel Good Friday...it's a brand new weekly "bloggy event". come help me get it started!

Carol said...

I get a buzz from purchasing brand new books with crisp pages that I never get from the library, plus library books smell kind of funky.

Have you read any Jodi Picoult? I just finished Time Travellers Wife again, that is a good book. I'm sure with your rapid reading rate you've already read everything I can suggest. Clearly you should be recommending books to us!!

amanda said...

boogers in pages!! oh honey!!

i too am a book junkie. there is nothing like walking into b&n and coming out with an armful of new treasures!!

as for favorites - i have a ton!! but currently sitting on the bedside table - david sedaris. sooo fun!!

but i too (like carol) loved time travelers wife!! soo good - cried in the shower for days!!

Anonymous said...

If you're headed to the beach or jonesing for the beach... anything by Carl Hiaasen!

Jamie said...

I've been meaning to pick up "A Prayer for Owen Meany" at the library, thanks for the extra push :)

Lauren @ Adventures of a Southern Newlywed said...

I love books too. I need to devote more time to reading this summer now that school has slowed down. There is nothing like a new book that still has that new book smell.

Enjoy your weekend!

McMommy said...

Hey, have you checked out Shelfari? My friend just introduced me to it. I have the widget now on my sidebar and need to update it with all the books I've read. Do it and add me as a friend so I can see your book recommendations!!
If you do a search for McMommy, I should come up.

And no lie, A Prayer for Owen Meany is one of my favorites!

A Crafty Mom said...

GREAT POW!!!! I adore A Prayer for Owen Meany, and I don't know a ton of people who have read it. I've read it at least five times - so sweet and I cry every single time! I love all your book choices actually!

GranolaGirl said...

A book that really rocked my view of global warming was Micheal Crichton's "State of Fear"... a real page turner.

I LOVE that you are such an avid reader. But, the Mitford Series? I tried to read one of the books and it was just so sappy, I couldn't stomach it.

You know I like Barbara Kingsolver.

McMommy said...

Me again...thanks for playing POW--even when you aren't feeling well.

I just want you to know that I will always love you...shingleful or shingleless.

Charnita said...

I feel you pain.....
I have not read lots of your favs.
Thanks for the ideas to go out and BUY TODAY.