Wednesday, April 2, 2014

B is for Books

My Favourite Things: Books

There is no way I could have done this challenge and avoided talking about books.  Books are one of my passions and my life would be incomplete without them.  Unfortunately, they have kind of invaded my life and my house and everyone room boasts several books, probably more.  My night table holds a precarious pile of books and I am in constant fear that if I so much as shake the table, they will go tumbling down and take everything else with them. 

I have developed this nasty habit of reading more than one book at a time, and usually have at least five on the go at once.  This I blame solely on my mother, whose reading habits I picked up at an early age.  While I did spend an inordinate amount of time outside as a child, I also had a nasty habit of staying up late reading in bed, a habit I have continued to this day. 

Two of my favourite places to go to, even today, are the bookstore and the library.  As a kid, I went to the library at least once per week to check out a pile of books and to spend time there.  I would also go to the bookstore whenever I could to see what had been released and then go find it in the library.  I find I am completely relaxed in these places and my mind goes into a kind of tunnel vision mode where I focus only on the books and relaxation.  Behold anyone who interrupts my musings in a bookstore or library as chances are I will probably walk right past you and not even know you were there!!! Don't take it personally though, as my life is so busy that I crave these moments of solitude.

When I was a kid, I remember signing up for book contests and winning most of them because I could read faster than most kids could.  I remember one librarian doubting the number of books I read one summer so she sat me down and drilled me on the content of every book I had listed.  I must have passed because she never said anything after the drilling session, just handed me my reward, tight-lipped as if she couldn't believe I had read all of them.  I think the biggest shock was when I had to relate the contents of Flowers in the Attic when I was ten years old and she couldn't believe my mom had let me read it.  Of course, I didn't understand a lot of what I had read until I re-read it several years later and did the "Oh, that's what that means" and "Oh my!" thing.  But my mom didn't believe in censoring, bless her, as it would have been hard to hold back a daughter who was a gifted reader, and I probably would have found a way to sneak the book anyways. 

Why do I like reading so much?  I don't really know, to be honest.  Oh, I could spout the usual things about educating the mind (which it does), increasing my vocabulary (absolutely), studies about
dementia and alzheimer's (reading delays the onset of these), gaining knowledge (absolutely - I wouldn't know what I do today without reading both fiction and non-fiction), transporting you to a whole new world (gotta love my sci-fi and fantasy for that), self-reflecting (don't always want to go down that path though), and containing important information.  I just know that I don't leave the house without a book in my purse; I don't travel without my e-reader and at least two hard copies just in case something happens to my e-reader; I get twitchy if I have to sit for a long period without something to do and don't have a book to read; and, adore rainy days because it means I can sit inside and read all day.  I was secretly proud when my son got caught in school reading a book instead of doing math even though I did the big mean mom thing and talked to him about the school rules, but I was thinking he was the proud apple from the tree, you know? 

So basically, I like reading because it's part of my genetic code and it comes as naturally as breathing to me.  It's more than just transporting me to another world or into other peoples' lives, it's about the journey.  I read because I can!!!

16 comments:

  1. Yes! I too read more than one book at a time, though not because of my mother; she tried to convince me that starting a book before I finished another was bad luck. Hasn't stopped me yet. I used to read so late into the night that my parents took away my light bulbs just to get me to sleep. Too bad they couldn't turn off the moon!

    I never participated in reading contests, but I used to check out the maximum number of books when I was young. I also read most of my mother's V C Andrews collection in middle school. I loved Flowers in the Attic, and wish I still had a copy. Oh well. Happy reading!

    Nicky @ http://njmagas.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/b-is-for/

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    1. I bought a flashlight with my allowance when I was 8 and hid it in my room. My parents never knew I had it until I confessed years later. My doctor thought the black circles under my eyes was due to anemia (which I had), but it wasn't the only reason. LOL

      I still check out the maximum number of books at the library - I think a psychologist would call it an addiction.

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  2. Hi, I'm gina and I'm a book addict...lol, love your post, and looking forward to more.

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  3. I can't be without a book and always have one with me - can't sit and do nothing. I very rarely read more than one books at a time though.

    Eileen @ In My Playroom (also doing the A to Z Challenge)

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    1. I am always with a book. The only thing I refuse to do is bring a book into work with me as that would be disastrous. I would never get my job done!!!

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  4. I love love love books! :) Great post, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

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    1. You're welcome! And thanks! It is fun to take time and see what other people are posting as I rarely have time to do so.

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  5. I'm right there with you and for the same reason. My mom never censored me either and I, too, read things that probably I shouldn't have. I have the Kindle app on ALL devices: iPhone, tablet, iPad, computer, and the hub's iPhone. No way am I going anywhere without being able to read. I love books b/c they provide me with a way to experience the things that I'm just not going to be able to experience otherwise. Great post!
    Stopping by from the A to Z Challenge.

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    1. Having all this technology is a great thing, except when you need to get things done, isn't it? I never have to worry when I am at the trailer anymore either as I have my phone and tablet on hand with thousands of books on them.

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  6. I was already reading before kindergarten. And my mother remarked on how I'd be getting dressed in the morning in a distracted way, because I was also reading a book.

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    1. I almost missed my bus stop a few times because I'd be so absorbed in my book that I wasn't paying attention. Not good!! My sister was the one who got in trouble for reading before school.

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  7. I totally get how you feel in a bookstore. I'm the same way. Reading your post made me want to get out some of those books I bought but haven't read yet! Thanks for that...

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  8. As a writer, I'd just like to say "bless your heart, eyes, and mind."
    <3

    People like you are the reason people like me drink another cup of coffee and pound on the keys rather than, well, anything else people might do.

    You rock. Stay exactly as you are. Unless you can become immortal... because that'd be appreciated. ;)

    Stopping by from the #atozchallenge !
    @JLenniDorner

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  9. Very good start of this challenge!! Love what you said about reading being part of your genetic code. It is definitely part of mine as well.

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