A Girl And Her Books

I love books. I love reading them and collecting them. I remember reading once that people in the Army should not collect books, since when you move they take up valuable space and weight (you are given a certain weight allowance by the military). I say take the weight that would have been used by all of my non-existent kitchen stuff and transfer it over to my books. I’ve noticed though over the last year or two that I’ve bought and have been given quite a few books that I have yet to read. It’s weird, because I consider myself such a voracious reader, yet I haven’t read a lot over the last few years. I really don’t know why that is.

When Laura was little I used to read a lot and when I worked at the library I was reading all the time. As a child I used to sneak a book into my desk and read it while my teacher was teaching. My sister and I kept books under our pillows to read at night by flashlight. I remember when my Mom found all the books, she kept laughing and said she didn’t understand how we could sleep like that; it must have been so uncomfortable. I don’t remember it being uncomfortable at all; I just remember our batteries in our flashlights running out and us not wanting to ask for new batteries because surely our parents would figure us out!

So obviously, I love to read. Yet the total number of unread books on my bookcase is 13. I really don’t like having books on my bookcase that I haven’t read, so I guess the only solution is to read them or get rid of them. And asking me to get rid of books is like asking me to leave Laura by the side of the road. Well, not quite that dramatic, but almost. So I’ve photographed my unread books (yes, I’m a nerd) in the hopes that I will be spurred into action by this public shame. And I know you all are going to gasp that I haven’t read THAT book yet, or wait, not THAT book either? Shocking!! I know, I know. Obviously I own them because I want to and feel I should. I just haven’t gotten there yet. Please note the bookmarks in some of the books. I have started some of them! I’m boycotting Jane Eyre though, because upon reading the introduction (which I was always drilled to do by my English teachers); the ending was spoiled for me! How rude is that?Which book should I tackle first? Any in my stack that are particular favorites of yours? The most recent one I have been reading is the Emily Post biography. It’s really interesting and well-written, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in good non-fiction. I heard rumors that the purchaser was reluctant to buy it for me, but I’m glad she did because I really like it. If only I could finish it. Or any of them!