Read – 31 Things

**I signed up for a class with Ali Edwards over on Big Picture Scrapbooking. During the class I’ll blog some of my stories. The class makes a scrapbook of each of the 31 days, but I signed up more for the practice of writing and blogging again.**

Reading is vital to me. When I am not making time to read a good book I feel slightly disconnected. Like now. I haven’t really read in the past couple of months. Life and work has been hectic and reading time has been reduced to almost nothing. I did manage to read the first chapter of my book club selection, The Descendants: A Novel the other day at lunch.

We use the term book club loosely and joke that we should call it what it really is…supper club. There are about 10 of us and usually 2 or 3 read the chosen book. Except for a rare occasion of someone choosing a book everyone can get into like The Help. I think everyone read that one and then we went to the movie as a group. Fun times! We can always count on a fun time and some great food though.

Three of my favorite books.

I’ve decided that I’m a book snob. I won’t read Young Adult…I’ve tried it and I just can’t get into them. Not really a fan of formulaic books. Or authors that churn out a book or more a year. Or even books in a series. Although often I read a book and want the story to go on into a second.

I love classics. Love popular fiction too. Dysfunctional families and people fascinate me. I like to be in someone’s head. To know what they are thinking and why they do what they do.

I adore books that engulf me with beautiful details. So much that when I look up from my book I’m actually surprised that I’m not in Japan seeing and smelling the cherry blossoms.

I love prose and artfully structured sentences. I think that is such a talent. Sometimes I just reread a sentence and think wow that is a beautiful sentence.

I read both on a Kindle and real books. I love the ability to have lots of books accessible wherever I am. Whenever I have a lunch hour or few minutes here or there I can read anything on my Kindle on my iPhone. Love that. And I love being able to throw my Kindle in my purse (when I remember).

I love self-help or inspirational books too. If I’m having a problem I often search out a book on the subject.

I’ve always been a reader. My mother and I used to make regular trips to the bookmobile and check out a good size stack each. (the Bookmobile for you city folks is like a library RV that makes stops in small, rural towns.) The Bookmobile didn’t have a big selection and I don’t remember having to read many classics in high school.

I have a long list of classics on my to-read list. This year my goal is to read War and Peace. But I fell off my schedule in March when my Dad got sick. I need to get back to it. I really was enjoying it.

But first I’m going to read The Descendants: A Novel. As soon as I can carve out some time. 

What are you reading?