I Can Read!

I love to read, always have. Growing up my favorite books were the Anne of Green Gables series, which I read 3 times. I of course loved Pride and Prejudice, which I have read multiple times as well (I'm not sure if I have met a woman who does not love Pride and Prejudice), Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, The Babysitters Club, The Work and the Glory series, The Scarlet Pimpernell, The Count of Monte Cristo, Jane Eyre, Ender's Game, and Ender's Shadow. However, the older I got, the less I read outside of school. And by the time I got to college, I think the only non-academic books I read were the Harry Potter series and The Chronicles of Narnia series. That's it! And if read something else I don't remember it now, so it didn't make a lasting impression.

So after one graduates college, there is loads of time, right? I should have been reading up a storm, but unfortunately I was not. I'm not sure how I passed my time, but it was not reading books. I think this was partly because I never knew what I wanted to read, so I just didn't do it.

Fast forward to post-partum. So much time spent nursing and getting up in the middle of the night. I watched all sorts of shows. I gained a love for the PBS channel, all the cooking, travel, craft shows were fun to watch. I watched some Ken Burns documentaries on DVD and enjoyed those. I felt like if I was going to watch all this television I wanted it to be somewhat educational. But then I hit a wall. I hated turning the tv on. I needed something more engaging.

So I talked with some people and got some recommendations. I started with the Fablehaven series and Hunger Games, and my love for reading was rediscovered and I took off. Now I can't stand not having a book to read and my only problem is I need to make sure I don't read too much. But can I just say how much I love it? I love being so wrapped up in characters and stories and enjoying the descriptions, writing styles, creativity, and talents of amazing authors. I love finding a book that is bittersweet to finish.....happy to have made it through but so sad to say goodbye. So long live reading.

And now that I have an awesome e-reader, reading is so much easier! I can read easily during late night feedings and in bed if I want (I will admit I have gone to bed later now that I can read in the dark). I thought I would miss having a book to hold, but it does come in handy and I feel like I read so much faster. I still will buy books and will read books, but it is nice to have the e-reader option. Plus, all the classics are free...so I have a whole library at my fingertips! And this will definitely make travelling with books much easier.

I thought I'd make a little list of books below that I have read recently so that if you are ever looking for something to read then here are a few suggestions...and if you have any suggestions let me know!

Left To Tell: Amazing true story of a woman who survived the Rwandan Holocaust. So inspiring. Jeff read this one too and couldn't put it down and kept making all these notes and underlines in the book (sorry mom, he marked up your copy).

Fablehaven series: This consists of 5 books written by a BYU grad. I actually remember seeing him play Gandolph in BYU's comedy group, Divine Comedy. These are about 2 kids who help save reserves that house magical creatures. Very creative and fun to read. Good for kids.

Hunger Games: Series of 3 books about a futuristic world where kids have to fight in games to the death, as tribute to the "capital." Very interesting and IMPOSSIBLE to put down. This is a great one to take on a lounging vacation, or where you are going on a long flight. Otherwise you kind of take a break from reality until you finish it.

Unbroken: Another amazing true story written by the author of Seabiscuit. It is about an Olympic runner who, as an air force pilot in WWII, gets kidnapped and detained as a POW in a Japanese camp. Incredible story of survival, also very inspiring.

The Help: Written during the time when Martin Luther King was just becoming popular. The help refers to the black help white people had in the south. Commentary on the south during this time, great read.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society: Delightful read! About German occupation on the Channel Islands during WWII. The book is written in the form of a series of letters, which is unusual but works wonderfully. Very quick read (so sad it ended).

Walk Two Moons: An adolescent book that deals with loss. Another quick read, but very touching I thought.

Sherlock Holmes: All I have read is the Hound of the Baskervilles, but it was very entertaining. I'm just starting another story today. Didn't know stories were written from Watson's perspective, but it's fun how smart Holmes is, wish I was like him. Plus, since I loved Nancy Drew and The Three Investigators, I am a sucker for a good mystery.

North and South: Written in the 1800's, this is kind of Pride and Prejudice-esque. During the industrial revolution, a commentary on the hard working conditions of mill workers. A Darcy/Elizabeth love story. The language was a little hard for me to follow at first, but once I got the hang of it I enjoyed it. There is also a movie which I'd like to see.

The Secret Garden: Love this! I knew I enjoyed the movie so I read this the other day and thought it was just wonderful. Such a beautiful story.