Reading

A house without books is like a room without windows. ~Heinrich Mann

I wished I would have picked up the practice of reading long ago. As I kid I despised it. I was a very slow reader, it too forever. I struggled through each book I had to read whether it was for a book report from school, assigned by my tutor, or at my stepmom’s general demand that I read just to be reading. I cringed when I was called to read aloud from the Bible in Sunday school. Reading aloud was even worse.

I can remember it like it was yesterday – in a narrow dark faux wooden paneled room housed in the basement of the church. Just enough room to hold an 8 foot long table in the middle of the room and a small table with stacked quarterlies (learning material), pencils, and a few Bible for our visitors to use at one end of the room. It was a small congregation church at the time. All the kids were in the same class (6th grade through 12th grade) – I being in 6th. There was myself, Tim & Todd (brothers), Stephanie (their cousin), Zach (Tim’s Friend) & Richard (our teacher & the minister of music). I always felt there was a conspiracy against me since I wasn’t in their family – I was an outsider. Half the congregation was THEIR family (grandma, aunts, uncles, brothers, cousins)! – That’s another therapy session. But I remember I had to read a handful of verses. It started out ok but then I started to think about it and while I was reading – I kept telling myself, “Don’t mess up, don’t mess up.” I’d start to hear snickers; it made me more nervous which slowed me down slower than crawling on my eyelids. Finally when the end was in sight Tim (a high schooler) sped read the last verse and made a nasty comment about “now that’s over” and Zach had to follow up with a laugh. That was painful, it hurt.

Back around ’96 I got on a kick to read the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. I liked them, they were “feel good” short stories. Otherwise called fast reads! I couldn’t get enough of them; I wanted to collect them all! Until they published more books faster than I could purchase/ or read them. I finally gave up and drowned in chicken soup. (I have some at home yet to read.)

A few years down the line I picked up James Patterson books; Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas & then later on Sam’s Letters to Jennifer. I really enjoyed those books. And you know what? Reading wasn’t too bad!

Next I found myself joining Double Day book club. Again, I bought a lot of books but didn’t have time to read them all. I read all of Judy Blume’s adult novels. (I like her kid books better.) I was starting to find that ‘page turners’ were actually FUN!

Then I discovered Nicholas Sparks, I took pleasure in reading his books. I have read almost all of his. And so it went, I learned – reading is marvelous!

I’ve ventured out more and more on what I read. The last book I finished was called One for the Money. It came from a recommendation otherwise I wouldn’t of read it. It’s more of a Mystery/ Thriller/ Suspense.

Among those mentioned above I’ve also read sTORI Telling, Marley & Me, Amazing Gracie, Flirting with Pete & Sunday’s at Tiffany’s just to name more. All I would recommend!

I’m currently reading Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler. I heard her on Johnny Dare’s morning show promoting her book, sounded very funny at the time. I’m finding it ok; I don’t know too much about her other than she’s a comedian. You’d probably enjoy the book more so if you were a fan of hers.

Other books on my “to read” list are:

The Last Lecture – discussed earlier this week
Behind the Scene – I’m really looking forward to this one, written by Mrs. Lincoln’s confidant.
The Art of Racing In the Rain - canine narrator of this bittersweet and transformative story of family, love, loyalty, and hope.
Gracie, A Love Story – Written by George Burns about Gracie Allen (my Woo’s book) ; )
Two for the Dough, Three to Get Deadly, Four to Score - Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum is still learning the ropes at her cousin Vinnie's bail bond office. The series goes clear on up to 14!
Night Swimming – recommended by my mom

I could go on but I better get to reading!