Bookish

My dad has always been a huge reader. Whether it was the latest Tom Clancy book or a reader’s digest, my father (and most of his siblings) could be caught reading in their downtime. From an early age, my parents started taking my sister and I, on frequent trips to the library. I am not sure if it was because my father loved reading so much, and he wanted to share his passion. Or if it was just a cheap form of entertainment for my then, financially struggling parents. Or if it was intended to be for our educational growth. Or if it was some combination of all of the above. What I do know is, my early introduction to books set me up for my own lifetime passion of reading.

What I loved most about our trips to the library was the fact that my parents never told us what to read. We were free to roam the aisles, stack after stack, perusing multiple covers for the perfect couple of books to spend the next week or two immersed in. It was complete autonomy. If I was in the mood for murder mystery, so be it. Excitement- horror! Chill- romance! Sad- Drama! There was a novel for every mood, every feeling. 

The first books I remember reading (though I am sure there were books before these) were the Berenstain bears!! I loved those books, and I would argue, I read well over 75% of the collection! As I grew older, I transitioned to The Boxcar Children, Babysitter’s Club, Goosebumps, and other youth authors. Finally, as a young adult… I found myself reading EVERYTHING fiction. I had a special love, in particular, for Indian authors.  I have probably read works from well over twenty different Indian authors so far, and my love is still insatiable. 

It’s funny, or maybe sad- I haven’t figure that out yet…. for all the reading I do, almost all my friends did not know I enjoy reading or that I am actually pretty well read. Lol one day, we were all just shooting the shit and the conversation turned to “who reads the least”, and almost every person named me!! I mean I definitely don’t really discuss or share what I read on the regular, but man. I didn’t think I came off THAT bimbo!! But hey, never judge a book by its cover. I may chat up a storm about the latest drake song, or kylie’s lip kit, but this girl is up to date on wide variety of topics! I don’t care if it’s the latest investigative reporting piece from NPR or a book on the merits of some diet or a biography or whatever…if it captures my interest, I am all about it. 

I realized for all that I read- and it is plenty- I forget a lot too. God, gifted me with many things, but a photographic memory is not one of them. Actually, let me be real, I have the memory span of a goldfish in general. I honestly can’t remember seventy percent of the author’s, titles of books, or content that I have read. Which is really quite sad, because I have had the pleasure of reading some great works in the past- sometimes by obscure authors, I wish I could now recall! For that reason, I have decided to start sharing some of the books I have read and particularly enjoyed on this forum. Either in the form of a book review or synopsis, but just something for me (and who ever reads it) to remember, reflect, and ultimately revisit in the future if I so wish.  

I look forward to sharing my posts covering:  

1. some of my favorite reads of 2018

 2. my introduction to a beloved author- Maya Angelou, and 

3. a compare and contrast of three different autobiographies I recently read

…stay tuned!! J

**Complete side note: I cannot wait to have my own library in my future home. I would love love love a room adorned with wall to wall beautiful oak wooden shelves filled with some of my favorite reads- hardcover of course. I don’t think there would be a room (ok maybe my bedroom) that would make me happier! Also, hard cover over paperback, or god forbid this kindle crap (I was recently gifted a kindle, and it’s just not the same!). The feel and touch of holding a book- it’s sacred and irreplaceable. Call me old school, but some things are just better without the interference of technology.