Friday, August 24, 2007

Reading and Breathing are the same to me

When I am taking classes at the local community college (because one day, I will have a degree), I spend most of my free time doing homework or studying. I only allow myself to pick up a non-school book on the rare occassion that I have no homework and no tests scheduled in the very near future. By the time a long weekend, or spring break, or the end of the semester arrives I feel like a drowning man straining back to the surface for one more breath of air. Or maybe I feel like a heroin addict willing to steal, kill and lie for my next fix. All I know is that I can not comprehend going an entire year without reading a book. If I am not in school, I can not imagine going an entire WEEK without reading a book (or 2 or 3).

Right now I am reading Sandra Brown's "Play Dirty". I read her "Ricochet" last week and I have read at least one other in between the two. Some weeks I will read a book a day so I do not understand people who do not read. According to a recent study most people would rather watch TV or play video games or go to the movies, some don't read at all, ever!

I do not leave my house without a book. It does not matter where I am going or what I am going to do there. Many times I can go all day without opening the book I am carrying, but many times I get stuck waiting for someone and I am prepared. I just pull my book out and I am quite happy! Without a book? I tend to get a little pissy over tardiness.

I do not have a favorite genre, not really. I don't read a lot of science fiction or fantasy*, but that does not limit me. Yes, I will read an occassional romance novel, my first "grown" books were Harlequin Romances and Danielle Steel** (I will probably 10 or 11). But I love James Patterson, Stephen King and John Grisham. I read biographies and autobriographies and history. Hell, I read technical manuals and road signs if there is nothing else available.

I dreamed of being a writer when I was younger. I didn't plan on writing the Great American Novel, I just wanted to write to entertain. But I do not have the patience, the imagination or the skill to write actual books and I haven't written short stories or poetry in years. So I will continue to read everything I get my hands on... and pity those who don't.

*Harry Potter being the obvious exception

** Every book at least once, including her biographical "His Bright Light"

4 comments:

Ulysses said...

Have you ever gotten the chance to read anything by David McCullough? His biographies (Adams, Truman, etc.) are excellent!

LeftLeaningLady said...

I will check him out. I haven't read a good biography in a while.

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I've got a stack of still-unread books at home... not sure what I'll start next... I don't read often, but enjoy it when I do...

btw, new post at my place... stop by!

LeftLeaningLady said...

A stack of unread books? I can not even comprehend it. I may have a stack for a couple of days, but it has dwindled in less than a week.

And I am glad you had a new post. I have already been to your site today!