So in some bizarre twist of fate, I like to read. Wow, a former reading and English teacher who did freelance editing for fun likes to read? Who would have guessed it!
Yes, I was the pasty-looking kid with stringy long hair and brandless denim sitting in the middle row of the bus readingon the way to and from school. In retrospect, I can’t believe it wasn’t patently obvious back then, at age eight, that I was destined to do something with books as an adult. That I spent years mapping out other possible careers, like fashion design, borders on the absurd. Actually, if you saw my binder of designs, you’d realize there shouldn’t be a “borders†in that last sentence.
So, since I like to read, I’m going to talk about it in this blog. Note: I do read new releases sometimes, but first and foremost, I read eclectically, which means this will be a hodge-podge of posts about what I’m reading at the moment. I look to dozens of sources for reading inspiration, from a neighbor’s recommendation to college professors’ reading lists to a book reference within another book to Book Page reviews. I sometimes read what’s new and fresh, but only if it’s what I really want to read, not because it’s current.
Trust me, I also don’t read certain titles to appear cultured; after three babies, two minivans, and an infamously klutzy nature, striving for that image would be an experiment in failure. Really, I believe all sorts of writing can be enjoyed for all sorts of reasons. So while I love good literature, I also love books that aren’t necessarily works of pure genius but are just incredibly engrossing stories.
Left to my own subconscious devices, I’d read fiction 95% of the time, so when I can, I try to save myself from myself. And honestly, much of the nonfiction I end up liking isn’t always as strong as it could be from a writing standpoint, but I find it compelling because of its information.
Furthermore, working with teenagers has given me an appreciation for young adult literature, and since it appears that three small people have decided to set up residence in my spare bedrooms, I’m guessing that children’s literature will come up as well.
I also imagine it’s safe to say that, over time, my affinity for all things islandy and beachy will become evident. Ultimately, my reading list is and will be varied.
Like right now, I’m reading A Lost Lady by Willa Cather, A Thousand Sisters by Lisa Shannon, The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy and Wintergirlsby Laurie Halse Anderson. Yes, in defiance of logic, I tend to read multiple books at once.
I’ll let you know what I think when I’m finished.