I have seen the light...

and it is the glow from my new e-reader.
Now, depending on how long you have followed my blog...I believe there was a particular rant a few months ago saying how I would NEVER, NEVER be one of THOSE Nook/Kindle people. Well, I am here to say that I have been converted.
No longer am I a book buyer, but a book downloader.

It wasn't as if I went out and made the leap on my own, my e-reader was given as a gift. So I went into it with an open mind, and was quickly transformed.

The Pro's:
* Cheaper prices
* Instantaneous Book Buying Satisfaction
* LendME capabilities

The Con's:
* Books still smell good, and are pretty on the shelves
* Buyers remorse for walking into a BN, and NOT buying anything


I am not here to convince you to run out and buy the greatest, most satisfying book apparatus on the market. I am not here to make you feel good because your shelves are overflowing with unread books.
I am here to share my experience...and to let you know the pure excitement I feel whenever I finish a book, and can immediately search and choose my next book and download it within SECONDS.

No, No...this is a free country, and we are adults who can make their own decisions. Just don't get jealous when you see my Nook in all its glory, posed perfectly in her red leather carrying case.

Why can't you understand?

It's like when you tell a joke, and no one thinks it as funny as you did?

OR when you believe you are wearing the greatest outfit ever! and no one compliments you!

OR when you are talking about something you are very passionate about, and to others their feelings are luke warm, at best....

This is how I feel sometimes. It's me and Harry Potter....

Against the WORLD!!

One of the students said something about the HP7 moving coming out, and I thought, "Yes! This is my moment to share the joy of making my own HP7 t-shirt!" So I proceeded to tell the class what a glorious piece of timeless apparel I had added to my wardrobe...it was like crickets chirping.

They TOTALLY did not get the Horcruxes? or Hallows? reference. Poo on you silly kids who don't know a good book when it smacks you in the face...poo on you.

For those that are my kindred spirits and will be with me when it comes down to movie time...here is a picture of the text on my new, awesome, totally hip, and everyone will want one...

HP7 Shirt.

Fall Weather and Books to Curl up With!

I saw a post today about the cool weather making its way to NWA, and it got me to thinking...What are my favorite things about fall?

* The Smells (Fires burning, rain, cool air, cinnamon smell)
* The Colors (red, brown, orange, yellow)
* My Birthday
* Coats/Jackets
* BOOKS.

When I think of the different seasons, I automatically think of the books I will read. Everybody always tries to find that perfect "beach read" or "summer book." Jump on the bandwagon people! Let's get into seasonal books reads for EVERY season.
Here is my list for fall -

1. Little Women (I actually just got finished with this one, and will post later about why it is SUCH a big deal)

****** Harry Potter Preview just came ON!**************

2. Harry Potter. There is something about the back to school atmosphere of the book that just screams...FALL!

3. To Kill a Mockingbird - Always for me associated with fall, not sure why.

4. Inspirational Books like The Shack and 90 Minutes in Heaven - The English teacher inside of me says it's because seasons are associated with the circle of life, and fall is like that age where we know we are getting old. I guess a good time for reflection.

I am sure that there are many more that I could list...mentally I am already preparing for winter. Its like a bear eating a lot in order to survive hibernation. I must read a lot in order to survive.....Life?

In Case you didn't already know....

Harry Potter is coming. 21 days. 504 hours.

If only I had Luna's awesome Griffindor Lion hat!!! UGH.
I would totally wear THAT to the movies.

Also, if you saw the interview with J.K Rowling, and didn't turn off the TV because of Oprah's incessant need to talk about herself, then you might have heard that she would never stop writing...

JK, we're waiting.....we're waiting....

Reading Makes Better Writing...

But do we write more because we read a lot? I don't. There are many things that I consider as I am taking a shower, driving to work, and falling asleep. I think about things that I wish I could do, or a "type" of person I wish I could be.
* I wish I could be the type of person who runs five miles a day.
* Or the type of person who is generally nice to everyone they meet, without making any preconceived judgments.
* I wish I could be the person who keeps journals, or writes for fun. I actually tried to "train" myself to be this person when I was younger. I thought, "Oh, I will keep a journal, and document every. single. day. of my life!" It lasted for awhile...during a tumultuous relationship...

I found the journal a few months before I got married, and chucked that thing to the wind. Boy, are teenagers crazy!

In my youth, I also tried to train myself to be the type of person who would sleep with a stuffed animal....that one didn't take either.

English teachers tell their students every day that if you read more, your writing will be better. How can I be truthful, when I don't really write myself?
Soooo... I will try once more with the whole "journal thing." Only this time instead of professing my love for certain deadbeats, I will try to write about what happens at school. Funny stories, stupid things kids say...

With that note, I encourage you to find something that you wish you could do, or be and give it a whorl~~

Next project will be KNITTING!!!

Mean Girls Strike Again.

I know that some readers don't quite understand the dilema our bookclub has. Essentially we have two sectors. The old ladies and the youngsters. The original members established a rapport, a friendly atmosphere where we can talk about anything and everything...and when the "elders" came in, it kind of ruined that for us. Slowly we have been trying to fade ourselves out. It's not really working.

Last week, right before our secret bookclub meeting, the elders sent out an email. "Hey, lets get together at the end of October to discuss Mockingjay." My initial response was to laugh because it took our members 17 days to read the book. The elders have given themselves about two months.

I CAN'T work like that! Two months, really. After our Friday night bookclub, we made a decision: find an excuse to have your name removed from the elders list. So far two have said that work is too busy, that is easy. We joked that we should say we stopped reading alltogether, but I can't even type that...

As soon as I am done here, I am off to send my "Sorry, but I can't be involved with your old lady book club anymore, because it causes me to roll my eyes, make gagging noises, and swear under my breath" email.

Toodles!

The Girls are Back...

Woo Hoo! Yippee! Woot Woot...

Can you tell I am excited? It has been a few months since the Mean Girls have gotten together.
There will be much fun in store for Friday night...

Food: Check!
Wine: Check!
Books: Check!
Inappropriate Conversation: Check!

Stay Tuned for a recap of the nights events!

It's Over.

The last page has been read. People died, people survived. Mockingjay is done.

After purchasing the much anticipated finale to the Hunger Games series, I actually tried dragging it out. Normally I would rush home and spend the entire night consuming each and every detail until it was finished. But for this book, I really wanted to savor each page. So I let it drag out, over six days. And now I am complete.

I am satisfied with the way Collins ended the trilogy, however, as with most great books, you really wish they would never end, and you would continue to live vicariously in the lives of your favorite characters.

Happy sigh. What will be the next great series?? Can anything compete with Potter and Katniss??

Cheers, to the eternal search for great books!

Is that a Mockingjay on your wrist???

What goes best with a newly purchased book???

A fake tattoo!!

That's right...when I purchased three copies of Mockingjay on Tuesday, I was rewarded with a Mockingjay Temporary Tattoo. I was soo overwhelmed with excitement that the check-out lady gave me about 20 more for "my class." YEAH RIGHT!!! Those are for me, suckah!!! :o)

So while I read away, I can turn my wrist and look at my new tat...

Enjoy the pic~

Summertime...is over :o(

I know there are people out there that believe.."Oh, teachers have summers off! They don't have to do anything for three months!! neh neh neh" True. I consider myself to be a pretty lucky person. BUT, and its a big BUT....I have done lots of "school" stuff this summer, and probably didn't have as much time as I would have liked, but that is all hindsight.

Here is what I did accomplish...
12 BOOKS...

I feel pretty darn good about this. There were non-fiction, beach reads, and lots of young adult books, one of which I will do a review of in a later post. It definitely pulled at my heartstrings.

Anyway...I have read lots of blogs about teachers whose goal was to read 40+ books. Yea, them.

I read books, and I got a tan. AND I didn't count picture books, so boo-yah!

I am pleased to say that book club will be back in full swing in a couple of weeks. With their absence, I have felt a little off. Although I did read my own books, it was kind of weird not to have a "book club" I needed to read. I will be happy when the ladies of the Mean Girls BC can get back together.

Let the Countdown Begin...

That's right....if you didn't know...Mockingjay comes out in 19 days!

'nuff said.

If you haven't read Harry Potter...Get out of my life!

Harsh?? Maybe a little. I've decided that I am pretty much obsessed with this book series.
Best Books ever?... I think so!

At first it was kind of a joke with our book club to ban ladies who hadn't read this series. Then in every day casual conversations about books (you have these, right?) I would ask other people if they had read Harry Potter....and many have NOT! Its kind of a turn off. Not that I am looking to be turned on, but it's kind of a bummer.

Is there an application to be my friend too??? Just KIDDING!!! A little.

Although I am now on the lookout for "spell" t-shirts for the Nov. 19th premiere... Or even a roaring Gryffindor hat!!!! I'll try to sit in the back row...

Workshop vs. Classroom

This is a random post. Well, they're all random....really.
So the workshop this past week was full of great ideas, and really smart teachers throwing out their views on literature and tone and attitude and theme and breastfeeding and sex.

Did you catch those last two? Believe it or not this was one of the most entertaining workshops I have been to in awhile. The instructor, who shall remain nameless, was more than willing to share details of her past two marriages and world views on many different subjects. She was also willing to flip people off and use swear words.

We talked about how she will probably be married four times before she is finished. Although the intriguing part was that her last marriage was to a band director who still teaches in her school, and whose new lady (the one he cheated on her with) also works in the school. Awkward?

Anyway...I came away with some great lessons and new words for the classroom:

Scrizzled in place of Screwed.
Vocabilomious instead of "lots of words"
Jerklet

Feel free to use them in your everyday life!!

Update: Columbine

I finished reading Columbine the other night. The only word that can really describe the experience is: disturbed. On several levels really. The actions of the police, the media, the shooters themselves.

For the past week I have been in a Pre-AP/AP workshop. One of the teachers, who had recently purchased the book, asked me if I would put in on my shelf? Maybe. I have decided to put it in my classroom, but on the shelf behind my desk. If a student wants to read the book, then I would accept a parent note acknowledging that this type of book is okay.

Another teacher said they weren't sure if they would read the book because a parent of a Columbine student hadn't given the book a very good review. My opinion is that I need to inform myself, and then have my own idea of what I think of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book. It was hard to get through emotional, and logistically because you are constantly trying to work out details and maps in your mind...but it was worth it.

Columbine

I was reading in bed the other night, and my husband looked over...
"You're only THAT far in your book?"

So, normally I am a fast reader. Do I read every word? Nooo...but that doesn't mean anything is lost in comprehension. But I started reading a non-fiction book called Columbine.
Written by Dave Cullen, he takes a look at the truth behind the two people at the center of this horrific event.

This is the first book that I have actually read every. single. word. Because I don't want to miss anything. The book is so emotional. It makes you want to scream and cry and throw things.

When I finish the book, I'll post more!

Confession of a Speed Reader

As with most readers, once you get hooked on a book, you tend to not want to put it down. I have stayed up many a night, til the wee hours, trying to finish a book or just getting too wrapped up in a book that I had to keep going. And I am a fast reader. Between 40-60 pages per hour!
In previous entries I have discussed a particular knitting book that I am a huge fan of. Well just as promised I went out and bought the sequel.

And I didn't read it. At least not all in one big sitting. Its like that perfect piece of chocolate, or the best dessert you ever ate...you really want to savor it, you want it to last a long time, you want to draw it out as looooonnng as possible. So that is what I did. I Purposely did not read it for a few days, or I would only let myself read a few pages at a time. I wanted this book to last, and last....because I have no idea if there will be a third.

I have had a couple of inner conversations with myself about why I like this book so much, or why I became so attached to the characters. Most of my students like to give the same answer for similar questions..."I don't know...I just did. Or just cuz."

The connection is based on a couple of things happening in my life.

1. We considered for a brief moment, moving to a different country.
2. She had a great relationship with her kids, one I hope to have one day.
3. She was able to totally reinvent her life, and have life long friends and happiness because of it.
4. She was FUNNY, WHITTY. Number one quality in any human being...at least in my book.

So, next time you find yourself at the end of a book, gloriously happy and at the same time sad that it ended. Ask why you liked the book so much. Readers often don't take the time out to really reflect on why the read, what they read, and how it effects them! Trust me...aside from talking to yourself...its a great conversation to have, and then continue with someone else once they read the book!

Beach, Books, Sun Burn.....and Knitting?

Have you ever read a book and were so connected to the characters and their life that at the end of the book you truly wanted either to be their BFF or the crazy cat lady that lived down the road? Just so you could be a part of the life they described and you envisioned? I have read three books or series of books that have had this affect on me. Harry Potter (of course), The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society...and my new wannabe BFFL....The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club.

As with any vacation, and any book addict...when leaving for a few days of relaxation you automatically consider which books and how many you should take. I took four, for a six day vacay... The Beach Street was my second book of the trip.

Gil McNeil, the author is British...which needs mentioning because it helps to create her "voice" in your mind. It also adds to the authenticity of the whitty vocab (wanker, bloody hell, sod, bugger, etc).

Her main character, Jo, is the mother of two young boys, and the wife of a foreign correspondant. Although she is accomplished in the TV producing field, her time is spent with her kids and in general filling the shoes of a loving mother and an absent father. A tragic accident (or fate) forces Jo to go out on a wire and change her life. She inherits her Gran's wool shop in an all but dying seaside town, and there she finds what she was truly missing out on in life.

After reading this book I found myself activly wanting to become a knitter (no joke, I have already signed up for free knitting emails), wanting to live in England, and wanting to have the kinds of friendships she develops with her knitting pals. Where is the nearest Stitch & Bitch group I say??

If you want a great beach read, or a great overall summer read that doesn't include vampires, but inspiring realistic fiction. Then you MUST read this book.

In the next few days, you will find me at Barnes & Noble, buying the second book, Needles and Pearls, scouting the knitting books, and then trying to knit something.....Stay Tuned!

Now it's time to say Good-bye to my school Libraryeeee...

So the end of the school year is drawing to a close. I am not moving classrooms this year, so there is not too much that I have to pack up. My desk is in serious need of a bulldozer, and there are some definite piles of stuff strategically placed around the room that probably need to go...but what is this book blogger's priority.....BOOKS!

So with two days left, I have resorted to the following:

1. Constant harrassment to those students who still have not turned in my books.
2. Putting those said students names on the board...with the books of which they owe me!
3. Long and intense conversations about how much these missing books have cost ME, not the school.
4. Creating one box of books I must take home and read...so far the count is 15.
5. Obviously worrying too much about the books in my room.

This is has been a banner year for book returns....last year I was at least 50 short. This year...maybe 10.

My Fiscal Year Ended

For those of you who haven't read much of this blog...please be aware of the often overused accounting references. My TWO followers and husband both work/live in the accounting world so, it starts to wear off on me!

My fiscal year ended May 31. I try to keep track of how many books I read per year. June to June. Although a little OCD, it's really satisfying to look back at your year and see how much you have accomplised book wise.

My novel count this year was 45, with one reread (The Hunger Games). Big pat on the back to ME!

I've already began the new fiscal year count...and I am shooting for 50. If you are an avid reader, like myself, try this for the next year. Find a notebook, or calendar, or day planner where you can keep track of the books you read. I am a perpetual list maker, so I don't just make tick marks, but actually write out the title too! And let's face it...I sometimes need reference the list just to see exactly what I DID read.

Have a Happy new Fiscal Year!

"I Joined a Book Club"

I went to our monthly book club meeting and had a conversation which made me both laugh and get really annoyed at the same time.
Our hostess mentioned a brief encounter with the man behind the liquor counter.

Cashier (Male): So, are you having a party?
Hostess: Actually its for a book club meeting.
Cashier(Male): Yeah right...book club.

Now...at this moment I thought, sure I see the humour. BUT...we are an actual book club. We talk about books... A LOT. At our last meeting, we gave each member an "Expertise Area" to include but not limited to the following: Harry Potter, Twilight, Romance, Young Adult.
We even devised a book exchange system where we could read numerous books in addition to the monthly book club selection.

Are we book nerds? Yes.
Do we like to have wine with our words? Yes.
Do we get extremely offended when new members aren't really readers? YES!
Have we considered an application process for new inductees? YES!
Do we cringe when you say you haven't read the Harry Potter Series? YES

We are HARDCORE...and not in that way! But the Book way. Secretly we have named our book club...The Mean Girls BC. Join if you dare but beware, we find ways to accidentally lose members email addresses if you don't meet our criteria.

So if you read this and think...oh "Book Clubs" that's just an excuse for women to get together talk about men, and drink. You betcha mister! We are intelligent women who can talk about ment, books, and drink at the same time!

Update: LIFO/FIFO Methods

I have recently purchased quite a few books. Surprised? Me either. I have decided that I cannot continue my methodic, and somewhat deranged system of reading.

New System:

1. Stack five books with spines facing toward your body.
2. Hold out books to husband, spouse, or friend (so that they cannot see the titles)
3. Have them point to one.
4. Voila~! Next book chosen.

So far I feel a lot less pressure when choosing the next book to read...because I didn't choose...someone else did. :o)

Need a Fix?

Have you seen any episodes of Intervention or Addicted lately? Well, for awhile I was mesmorized by those shows. To me it is insane how people can be so fixated on one aspect of their lives, that they let it control them. Crazy, right?
It's a good thought, until you begin to see similarities in your own life.

Drug users have to have a fix, in order to survive a week, a day, an hour.
People who are addicted to shopping are thrilled by sales, and can't pass up a good bargain.

Meet the newest reality TV Star:
The Book Nerd:Addicted to Words
That's right. I think this could be classified as a disease. Not one that I want a cure from, but an addiction nonetheless.

A co-worker of mine let me in on some classified info: the Eureka Springs Library has a book sale. Each bag of books = $1.
I couldn't pass it up. And in that place on a hill top in the middle of the beautiful Arkansas trees I found refuge. People like me. Looking for books. Not any that they really needed...but who can pass up a bag of books for $1?!?!?!

So would that be the premier episode of The Book Nerd: Addicted to Words?
I came home with 32 books. Some of which I will read. Some I already have copies of....

Next TV Stop...Hoarders!

A True Disappointment

Spring Break for teachers is like a little bit of heaven. It's the time to catch up on sleep, mark things off the To Do list, and for me...catch up on some light reading. We can do these things without having to worry about school, students, papers, etc.

This is how my Spring Break was SUPPOSED to go:

Monday-Wednesday: Shopping with mom, and Kilzing the kitchen
Thursday: Painting/Reading
Friday: Reading
Saturday: Reading
Sunday: Reading/Checking Papers

This is how my Spring Break ACTUALLY went:

Sunday-present: sick/blowing nose/throwing away Kleenex/Blowing nose
Monday-Wednesday: Mom was here. I shopped, but without enthusiasm/blow nose
Thursday: Slept/nose/trash/nose
Friday: Did finish 30 pages of a book
Saturday: see Thursday
Sunday: see Thursday

It really wasn't the fact that I was sick. It was that I got NOTHING done. The biggest disappointment was the fact that I brought home two books, bought six more, and didn't even crack a spine. Screw painting and shopping....I want to READ BOOKS!!! My average for the month is totally blown.

What Question would you ask God?

Okay, so my students can obviously tell that I read....a lot. Every day, in every class, we read for 15 minutes. I love this! This new schedule, where as with the old we only read one class period a week for 45 minutes, lets me read so much more. Last week, I read three books! That doesn't even count my at home books. Those were just my school books. It is crazy!
Anyway, the kids ask questions like: Have I always been a reader? Did I like to read when I was little? How many books have a read in my lifetime? Stuff like that.

A few days ago I had a conversation that went like this:

Student: How many books have you read?

Me: I don't know...a thousand.

Student: How many words do you think you have read?

Me: A billion?

Student: When I get to heaven, I am going to ask God how many words/books you have read in your lifetime?

Me: Soooo, when you walk up to the pearly gates, the first thing you say is going to be: Hey God! I had this crazy 8th grade English teacher who read all the time....how many words/books do you think she read?

Student: YES!


With just my ability to read, and read, I have moved my way up on someone's list...Waaaay up! I am the subject of the first question that they would ask God. :o)

LIFO/FIFO: Book Cirulation on my Night Stand

Many, many years ago...I went to college with the the goal of becoming an Accountant. A few months into that I found my brain, and changed my mind. Sooo to make up for my life without numbers, I married a CPA. I CAN have my cake and eat it too!
Anyway....My husband comes home most nights and talks about his day and spouts off acronyms like IFRS, SOX, 10Q's. Although these mean nothing to me, I do believe that I can apply the accounting world to my reading pastime/hobby/second job.

LIFO: Last in First Out
FIFO: First in First Out

My nightstand is currently holding at a minimum....twenty books. So the struggle to decide what to read next is quite daunting. Do I read the classic Wuthering Heights that I have been deciphering one page at a time? Do I read the next book club book? What about a book for school? Or one of the three others that I have started, and put down. AND then what happens when I buy a new book, because I can't walk into B&N without buying something...for the good of the economy, of course.

Here is where an accounting degree would have been handy.
Inventory Evaluation Methods.
In my current plan, I am using LIFO. Last in First Out. So, books I buy at BN...I read first, because it was the last one on the table... Books that are loaned to me...I read next. Book Club books follow (depending on the next club meeting) and then Wuthering Heights and the others fall to a dead last. In the forseeable future I have no plan to change my inventory method...unless the classics really begin calling my name or my accountant believes that it would be in my best interest to change.

Is this insanity to want to apply accounting methods to my life of books? Or even crazier to know and understand how they are applicable and get a big kick out of writing this blog? Almost to the point of serious out loud laughing!

Books that become Movies: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

It seems that in the past year, popular books are the first screenplay that directors/producers try to adapt. I use TRY in bold, capital, underline, etc...because it takes effort to make something not follow the story line. I am of course, a huge Twilight fan....the books are better. I love the Percy Jackson series...we'll see how that one turns out. Jodi Picoult and My Sister's Keeper...Let's just say that the ending had people living, when they should have been dead. I know..morbid...but for the love of Pete...they become popular books because of the story lines, not because when we read it, we envision an entirely different plot. More movies that aren't as good as the books: Dear John, The Lovely Bones, The Time-Travelers Wife, Shopaholic (was that a movie??!?!?)

I could go on and on about movies that don't follow the plot, and I know (according to recent comments about the Harry Potter series) that often there are too many subplots to tell the whole story...but really..can we at least stick with the inherent plot diagram...Exposition, RA, Climax, FA, and Resolution...AND keep them the same.

PS- I love Harry Potter, and own all the books and the movies.

To Kindle or not to Kindle? That is the question.

E-books are becoming very popular. In fact, I myself have gone so far as to download the Kindle App for my iPhone. Sure, I have read a few pages on it...but cannot seem to grasp the idea of reading a book, where I don't have to actually flip the pages. Yes, and I know that these Apps and apparatuses have the function to make the flippy page sounds, like an actual book. But it is not the same.

I cannot do it. I cannot give up the wonderfulness of books. I cannot give up the smell, or the creases in the corners of the pages, where I have dog-eared them. I cannot give up the tattered covers, wrinkled spines, or any of the wonderful things that you can't get with the Kindle or Nook. My husband would truly disagree. He would love a Kindle. My best friend has the Nook. No matter how articles and friends and other tech savvy people rave about these new devices, I will not succumb.

I will not go down without a fight! Print on publishing companies. Print your millions of copies for those of us out there that will read and love those paper pages.

The Help: Book Review

The nature of my job allows me to read lots of books. I teach 8th grade English, so I am always looking for good books to recommend to my class. As a rule of thumb, I generally try to stay away from "tween" books. You know...The Clique Series, Dear Dumb Diary, Diary of a Wimpy Kid....etc. Not that those books aren't good, but I like books with a little more meat to them.

During a conference last summer, The Help by Kathryn Stockett was recommended by a fellow avid reader. I bought it, and it sat...until Winter Break. One cold, snowy day I picked it up, and decided to get started. It has been, so far...one of the best books I have read all year.

Set in early 1960's, we follow a group of four white, female friends. All growing up in Jackson, MS. Skeeter, the main character, has just graduated from Ole Miss, and is determined to become a journalist. After receiving advice from a New York editor, Skeeter sets out to write a story that could change her town, her relationships with men, family, friends, and could change her life all together.

She decides to write the stories of local black female domestic servants, and their relationships with the white women who employ them. Because of Jim Crow Laws and the general idea that whites shouldn't talk to blacks, Skeeter has to find a way to tell the story, without risking her life and the life of her new found friends.

It is a candid/eye-opening look at how all women were portrayed in the South, and how even the smallest details do not go unnoticed. It is well written, and will keep you turning the pages to discover how Skeeter finds the guts to write the story, and the courage to become something different than the expected life of a 1960's housewife.

Reader: A must have quality in a man

There are many qualities in men that are considered must haves: Humor, Charm, Intellect, Attractivness, Good Teeth, etc. But one that is of vital importance is that he has to be a reader. When my bedside table is full of at least twenty book, of all varities, it is only fair and balanced for my husband to also have a table full of books. Every night when I go to bed, I like to stay up and read for about 30 minutes. I find comfort in the fact that my husband and I read in silence together.
My husband came into our marriage as a reader of non-fiction...only. He never dabbled in fiction or things that would take his imagination to far away lands. Fortunately, he is open-minded. After seeing a few Harry Potter movies, I finally convinced him to take the plunge and read his first fiction...Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Once he finished that series, it became easier to convince him to read others....Twilight, Da Vinci Code, and next...The Hunger Games.

So ladies...Remember, looks are great, but when they are old and wrinkly...there is nothing better than sharing the love of books with someone you love.

Books Smell

I have heard people, myself including, talk about the way books smell. For me there is something about a never before read book that smells soo...inviting. Some people like the smell of library books, or at least I heard that in a movie once..which of course makes it true. I can see that, although they have a funky, musty smell that I am not quite as attracted to.

Its really not any different than the smell of new leather, or new shoes. Smells are said to envoke memories...mine are of book fairs in school, the Scholastic book order forms, and places far away. The promise of new, never touched books. Its exciting!