Reading is fundamental
For as long as I can remember I loved to read. I remember staying up late as a teenager snuggled up in bed reading the latest hardcover Stephen King book. I just couldn’t put the book down and had to read just one more chapter before closing my eyes. While I don’t stay up late anymore (I would never recover!) I still make it a point to read every day. My reading taste varies dramatically. I read everything from historical fiction to biography to the latest dystopian vampire/werewolf love triangle. I have been know to just randomly select books off the shelf at the library and dive in. I do have favorites that I re-read every few years and love them every time (Pride and Prejudice being one of them).
A number of years ago I discovered “Playaways” at our local library. If you haven’t seen these before, look for them! They are about the size of an old MP3 player and you just need a battery and headphones to listen. You can use them anywhere. My children think it’s hysterical because I use them when I run. I trained for my first half marathon listening to The Count of Monte Cristo (excellent book BTW). I love music, but find it distracting. I enjoy hearing my feet hit the ground while I’m listening to a book in my ear. It’s a combination of peace and exertion and I get lost in the book while time goes by.
I used to keep a journal of the books I read with a brief review, but I found a website that does it for me and it became so much easier. If you are a reader, check out Goodreads.com (not sponsored!). You can set a goal for yourself (I am competitive by nature, so this appeals), track your books and see what other people are reading. Last year my goal was 30 books and I just made it under the wire-yay! The pictures in this blog are my eclectic reading choices for 2021. In the past I have been resistant to include my Playaways because I didn’t actually “read” them, but decided this year that that was a silly distinction. This year my goal is a lofty 40 books. I’m almost done with my first, so I’m on my way! Happy reading my friends.
Coming soon!