Um..My name is LCM and I am addicted to books. There, I said it out loud. I can read fast, I mean really fast. I don't know if this helps or hurts me. Today I read Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline, and then also The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan. I also finished the latest by Kristin Hannah, not very memorable. She swiped obvious story lines from Bob Woodruff and his brain injury for one thing. I read his book too, I really enjoyed it. I went to the library to pick up some holds, even though I still had several books, unread, at home. I feel an obligation to quickly read the hot books that come in order to quickly pass them on, in the hopes that someone will do the same for me.
Now, my family is fed, the house is relatively clean, hubby has clean, ironed clothes to wear to work, I usually work out, so this doesn't qualify as a real addiction, right? This is something I need to do in order to keep in me sane. But, if I could tape a book to my leg, in order to absorb the story by osmosis, I would, no matter how goofy looking I might be.
I love to read all sorts of books. In 2004 I read more than 200 books on WWII, started by Anita Shreve's Resistance and I so lucked out that it was the 50th anniversary of the landing at Normandy which allowed me to indulge my need to know. The next year, I entered a contest that an Oregonian columnist does every year, trying to find out the most pages someone reads in a year. I read over 100,000 pages! And yet, I still manage to find books I haven't read yet.
Here at the Harris Public Library, you are only allowed to request 15 books at a time, so I have had to resort to forcing Hubby to get a library card, which he will never use, in order to use his 15 slots of reservations. I am pretty sure he won't be embarrassed by the fact I requested Celebutantes under his name.
I spread the love around. I enjoy some good Chick Lit, I call it cotton candy for the brain. Then I also love a good memoir, no matter what it's about. I love the military guys from WWII or Vietnam, women living in repressed societies, whatever. I also enjoy serious novels or the classics.
But I read the books to quickly get in the story before I am off to a new one. If I don't read through the pile I have before I go get more from the library, then sometimes I don't get through the ones who were left behind. Of course, sometimes I get them and they aren't as interesting as they sounded on Barnes and Noble.com .
How nice to get this off my chest. Send some recommendations my way, if you want to feed the addiction. With any luck I won't have read it. Of course I might have to open a card in Buttercup's name in order to request more! (Oh I spend a lot of time standing in line, virtually speaking, because I request books before they come out).
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5 comments:
Join. The. Club. :) It's wierd, but I almost think of it as an actual "responsibilty" I have. Have you read anything by Shannon Hale? I absolutely love her, and she's so easy to recommend because her stuff is (a) excellent! and (b) totally clean (but NOT fluffy!). She writes mainly in Young Adult fiction - sorts of fairy tales with substance - but she's also written a hilarious adult novel called "Austenland". It is a *do not miss* if you like Pride & Prejudice. Oh, there's so much more! :)
I think you should think of yourself as a "functioning addict" and let yourself go! :)
What a great addiction! I would love to read more - I just need to make it a priority.
I always think I don't have time to read, but the reality is, I usually lack the mental and emotional wherewithal to pick up a book. Evidence: I've watched Access Hollywood about four times this week. I feel like I should be reading classics and historical books, but typically the brain can only manage chick lit (I didn't really like Austenland, btw -- no offense to anyone who did) when I do read. You inspire me though. Have you read Malcolm Gladwell's books "Blink" and "The Tipping Point"? They're non-fiction, kind of a look at our culture -- I enjoyed them both, though I didn't always agree with him.
Thanks for the ideas. I guess I am a functioning addict and my addiction helps me to function! J~ you should check out a book for those long doctors visits. It's nice to have a paperback that fits in your purse. Stacy- I will try your book! Liz- I will try those books you mentioned, I love those kind of books, did you ever read Freakonomics? Fascinating spin on certain trends.
That's pretty impressive, all right. I thought I read a lot, but you've got me completely outdone.
I think lately I blog too much. Yeah. That's it...
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