To Read or What not to Read
I am a
reader. I read all varieties of
books. Informative, inspirational, pure
candy novels, hard fiction, horror and mysteries. You name it, I have probably ventured to try
it. My preference, however, would be science fiction, and fantasy with a couple
of monsters thrown in.
Recently, my
man wrote a novel that he was able to get published. It has been released as a kindle version with
a paperback version to come out this fall.
It happens to fall in one of my favorite categories, a space opera. For one of the best in my point of view, I
would go with Lois McMaster Bujold and her Vorkosigan Saga with Miles
Vorkosigan. My man has been reading the
books to me. We still are not finished
the series as he switches to various other novels in between. Terry Pratchett is a favorite with the Disc
World books for our nightly reading.
Currently we are working on a new book and author to us on the kindle, Robert
Lee Beers, “A Slight Case of Death”. It is “A Tony Mandolin Mystery”. I am enjoying it. My man, the actor lends his voice to the
characters in this quick moving novel. I
have grown to like Mandolin and hate the fact my husband limits my bedtime
stories when he sees my eyes at half-mast.
A few weeks
ago, my man wrote in his blog about the change in reading from books to
electronic devices such as the kindle.
He has his opinion which pretty well mirrors my own. A glance about our house will lead you to
believe our preference because of the various bookcases in every room we read
books. Well, not all of them. None are for show, it just that we haven’t
gotten to them yet. For years and years,
we have forsaken various books on shelves to the point that I am surprised that
we have only gotten one or two duplicates in the thirty eight years we have
been together.
Yes, we do
use the library. I am addict. I work across the street from the library and
despite the full bookcases at home I will wandered occasionally to see what is
new, interesting and tempting enough to walk out the door with it tucked under
my arm. I love the feel of a book in my
hands, I like the turning of pages, using various slips of paper to mark my
place with a few bookmarks thrown in here and there in the piles of books that
I have placed on the table waiting for my return.
A kindle
just doesn’t seem the same. I have
probably fifteen total books loaded on ours.
Two came with the kindle. My husband reads in the bathtub, he loves a
good soak with a good book. You can
imagine my shock to walk in and find him with my kindle (correction, our
kindle, my man so kindly pointed out to me) in the bathtub with him. A drowned book, okay, a very sad occurrence
but the kindle? The man pointed out to
me because of the new cover, it wasn’t as slippery. I backed out, sputtering to myself under my
breath, my kindle, my kindle. I didn’t
have the heart to wrestle it from him when he smiled with his blue eyes
twinkling at me. But, growl.
Frequently,
I chided myself about the content of what I am reading. I am torn between “improving my mind” with my
reading and a simple just quick good read.
Recently, I had an idea for a blog “The Zen of Shoelaces”. I figured that I should read up on the matter
a bit more, refresh my memory though I practice some form of mindfulness daily. As we were picking up a friend at the
airport, I was able to stop at the bookstore there and found two new books to
inspire me. “Mindfulness on the Go” by
Jan Chozen Bays, MD seemed to fit the bill for a refresher on Zen. I picked up “How to Love” by Thich Nhat Hanh,
a favorite author of mine plus a quick read by Gail Carriger. Needlessly to say, I have finished the Gail
Carriger book a couple of weeks ago and I am still working on the other two. Perhaps, it is because I misplaced the books
for a couple of days?
No, I think
inspirational books require more work, more attention with less distraction occurring
around you. You can’t read while eating, watching bits of the news, talking or
listening to someone else while trying to absorb or understand a theory, notion
or great revelation. You have to be
present. You need to be alone. Oh, God
or Goddess can hang out with you, angels may hover but essentially you and you
alone must hit the book or books and read with intent.
I am a
morning person. I prefer to wake up
naturally which I do on the weekends.
But being a forty hour a week employee, I set my alarm for early, like
in five am early. It gives me time to
read, sitting quietly at the table with a quick read or some a bit heavier and
more inspirational. This morning, I am
up writing as my husband whisked himself off to work out at the community REC
center. This is my time. Ordinarily, I would be out walking but as
fall comes closer, the sun is still waiting to arrive. I don’t walk in the dark. I read with the light of my lamp. I pray. Mostly,
I read or write depending on my morning inspiration. Yesterday, I did stripped the beds and did
laundry. Sometimes, I just exist. It is
a good thing.
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