Do You Read?

I love books. If you don't believe me, you should see all the filled to overflowing bookcases in my house.

As I typed that I had a flashback of the bookcases in my parents' house growing up. They built bookcases to attempt to hold everything. In the house where they live now, they had built-ins with tons of shelves put in, and they still can't hold everything. Growing up there were shelves and shelves of National Geographics next to the shelves and shelves of Reader's Digest Condensed books. I know they still have the condensed books, I'm not sure about the National Geographics. (Note to grade school self - the National Geographics are NOT to be used when cutting out pictures for school projects. Yow.)

Anyway, back from that tangent...all of my adult life I have loved to read. I loved to read as a child, too, but I've heard myself say this phrase one too many times lately - "I was supposed to read ____ in high school/college, but I didn't." I guess the classroom discussions were enough to do well on the tests.

I have read all of the Harry Potter books at least 2 if not 3 times. I have a friend who just does not get reading a book more than once. After you know how it ends, why read it again? I've stopped trying to explain.

Since having children, especially the toddler now running around, it has become more difficult to just sit down and read a book. I had all but given up. Not that that stopped me from BUYING books. Mr. S once gave me grief for buying so many books. I told him to be glad that my vice was books and not crack. I could go to the library I suppose, but I've never gotten into that habit. Maybe I'll have to put some serious effort to that in the future - once I read all of the purchased, yet unread books.

I, like my dad, have trouble getting rid of books as well. I'm getting better about not holding on to paperbacks forever. Thank God there is somewhere like Half Price Books that will take them off my hands. I couldn't bear to drop them in the recycle bin. It may be time for another trip there.

Just recently, though it took me at least a month and a half, I read Crime and Punishment. One of those "I was supposed to read"s. Wow. I said to Mr. S, "This is a REALLY good book." Of course, you know what he said. "Um, maybe that's why it's a classic?" Duh. Having just finished it, I wish I could go back to that college class that assigned it and participate in the discussion that I just sat through at 20.

I've just cracked open another Dostoevsky - The Idiot. When I bought it, I also bought a book with 5 or 6 Oscar Wilde stories in it (not condensed). That should be fun. I'm truly excited to be spending more time reading, again. I grab minutes here and there whenever I can. Slowly but surely, I'll make it through these books and look forward to more.

One of these days, maybe I will keep a list on the side of my blog keeping up with what I've read. MB does that, and astounds me at the amount of text she has gone through so far this year. How do you DO that?! She knows she reads freakishly fast and readily admits that, but yeeshk. Just take a peek at her list.

I'm thrilled to have Crime and Punishment in/as my list of books read in '08. Maybe I'll finish another book or two by '09.