7.01.2010

Well Read

I adore reading. As long as I can remember, I have devoured books. The library was one of my favorite places to go as a child. In the summer, we'd go every few weeks, and I'd walk out, barely able to peer over the teetering stack of books precariously perched in my arms.

My mom stopped sending me to my room for punishment, cause to me? That was like heaven. I could just go read and read and read.

Judy Blume was my favorite. Of course, I would get in trouble for reading her. Cause they were 'sexy'. All that talk about breasts and periods. Um....

I guess Forever was a little racy. Maybe.

I do remember getting my hands on a copy of Elvis and Me, Priscilla Presley's autobiography, when I was about ten. Totally inappropriate, and the person who lent it to me? My eighty year old great grandma. My mom didn't catch me with that one till I was done and re-reading it.

Then I moved on to Sweet Valley High. I always pretended like I liked Elizabeth better, because she was the sweet twin, but I always really wanted to be Jessica. And I bet you did too. Liar.

And those really awful Christopher Pike murder mysteries? Read those too. Those were like soft teenaged porn, really. Our parents had NO IDEA.

In college I majored in English and actually hated reading for a few years cause I had to do it, all the time, and then listen to a bunch of bespectacled (but they only wore the glasses to appear intellectual) blow-hards yammer on about Proust and Thoreau. And I had to read poetry and I know it's sacrilege for an English major to admit this but OMGIHATEPOETRYWITHTHEFIREOF1000SUNS. This stems from being forced to try to find something meaningful out of a bunch of words some dude wrote while he was doing copious amounts of opium or whatever. I do, however, enjoy a good dirty limerick.

When I worked outside of the home, I actually had time to read during the day, and read and read and read. On the train, at lunch, in traffic (just kidding, kind of...have you been in Seattle traffic?).

And then, when I became a stay at home mom? The reading came to an abrupt and grinding halt. But I have figured out how to work in some reading time. Usually it occurs in the bathroom. In the bathtub or the other place, whatever, don't judge. And I try to read before I go to bed. Usually this concludes with me passed out, drooling, the book on my chest.

Have I read any good books lately? Lots! I'm in love with the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series. And yes, I have been reading the Sookie novels, the ones True Blood is based on...brainless? Yes. But so fun.

Also, my friend Andrea sent me a wonderful book called Cold Tangerines when I was having a rough time - it's about finding the small joys in life. It's a perfect little book, you can read a chapter at a time, and it is just, well, uplifting (thanks again, Andy).

On my nightstand, I've got The Help. That's next. I've heard wonderful things about it. Can't wait to dig in.

What have you read lately? I'd love some suggestions. I need to keep the nightstand stocked.

12 comments:

Brooke said...

you need to check out the Stephanie Plum (that's the character name) series. janet evanovich is the offer and the number book is in the title "one for the money" i think we're up to "sizzlin sixteen". they are filarous! she's a bounty hunter, but not exactly the best at her job. i swear its like if i tried to pick up a gun and tried to catch criminals (and befriended a rather large woman who use to be a ho)

jaime said...

I love chick lit. I need stuff that I don't need to think too much about, since I read a lot of work-related books. Everything by Jane Green has been great for me. And her new book is a must-read. Not so much chick lit as her earlier work, but do try to pick up "Promises to Keep."

*Lissa* said...

Yes, I pretty much lived for all those books you speak of as well, I even still *have* some of my Sweet Valley collection. ;p

I am a total book whore with no time to read... hoping to dig into one on the plane ride to Florida next week.

If you haven't read A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, you must. But I'm guessing you have already.

Also waiting for me to read: The Host by Stephanie Meyer, Night by Ellie Wiesel, High on Arrival by Mackenzie Phillips, and a million more.

Mommy Mo said...

The Help is my next book to read, too!!!!

I literally just opened a box from barnes & noble 10 min ago. They are having a HUGE summer sale right now. I got 7 hardcover books for $40. Here's what I got to read:

A Homemade Life- Molly Wizenberg (you sent me to her!)

Betty Crocker Heart Health Cookbook

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

Belong to M by Marisa de los Santos

Dumas Key by Stephen King

Oxygen by Carol Cassella

Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian (one of my all-time books is by this dude, Midwives)

Other books I have read in the last year: American Wife, Just Breath, The Pillars of the Earth, The Time Travelers Wife, The Host, The shack, all things by Jodi Picoult.

Books I want to read: Born to Run

Anonymous said...

I wish I still had my Sweet Valley High collection... I had them ALL and think it'd be fun to reread them!

some of my favorites:

Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen

ALL of the books by Kristin Hannah (shes from Pacific NW..)

Money Jenny said...

About to start The Corrections. Just finished Girl in Translation. Wrapped the Dragon Tattoo series couple weeks ago (boo...I miss them!).

Anonymous said...

I love reminiscing about books I read in middle/high school. In so many subtle ways, they really shape who you become...even the silly ones like The Babysitter's Club!

And, I have to admit...though I deeply love literature, I really hate poetry too!!

Audrey said...

I agree with Brooke - the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich is good. I had fun with the Sookie Stackhouse books myself and now I *must* try the Girl with the Dragon tattoo books. I wondered if they were any good.

Did you read The Host by Stephanie Meyer? Excellent recommend to me by @MitaKay.

Oh and I loved SVH and wanted to be Jessica too. No shame there.

I only wish I had more time to read now. :)

Money Jenny said...

Dude...how could I not remember already having read The Corrections? Trolling for a new book to read now.

Tiffany said...

You will love The Help... It is one of my favorite recent novels. A bit disturbing for our generation, but amazing read!

Anonymous said...

The Help is on my "to-read" list. I just started The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society.

I do love Jodi Picoult, and I second The Time Traveler's Wife and Water for Elephants.

I mourn my loss of reading time. For real.

30 Days of Fun said...

I too love love to read! Read THE HELP AWESOME! Did you read Water for Elephants? Do so because the movie will be coming out soon-another goodie!! Also Janet Evanovich so funny! But yes the non judging part of the bathroom I read my trashy magazines, you know Star and US and People and smut like that!