Happy National Read a Book Day…
Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine. A rainy Saturday will allow me to finish a great read without feeling to guilty of not getting yard work done. In the past, I’ve ‘marathoned’ my way through a book series in a weekend. I will admit, however, that with new technology I have found myself reading less and less. Recently I have decided to make a change and put the phone, tablet, and remote down to enjoy escaping into books again.
There are many reasons why I enjoy reading; a good fictional book will allow me to escape from reality for a while by being transported into another time or place, a biography may inspire me, self-help books may teach me a “Better Way to Live”, a textbook will educate me, and the Bible has given me a greater perspective on life, and I have even been known to read pages of the dictionary or encyclopedia to learn something new. A fun read about reading through The Encyclopedia Britannica, “The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World” by A.J. Jacobs
My favorite place to read is my front porch with a cup of coffee. Truth is I enjoy watching my neighbors too. I most often read in bed at night; at times falling asleep with the book precariously perched open without my bookmark! Any place that is quiet and comfortable for me is a great place to read. How people can read a book in a loud, crowded coffee shop or mega bookstore is beyond me!
Speaking of bookstores, yesterday my family and I enjoyed a Durham Bulls game (sadly they lost), and afterwards we journeyed over to Brightleaf Square for something to eat, where I found a great bookshop, Wentworth & Leggett Bookshop. After enjoying enjoying the eclectic vibe and walking into the nooks created by the bookshelves stuffed with books and unique nick-nacks, I purchased “My Ántonia” for a wonderful price. I love locally owned bookshops, with crammed shelves of books, the smell of pages and pages of thoughts, creating a sense of nostalgia and comfort that a mega bookstore cannot.
Currently I am reading: Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge, The Sacred Romance by Brent Curtis and John Eldredge, and A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin. Next up on my reading list is the trilogy by Willa Cather, “O Pionneers!”, “Song of the Lark” and “My Ántonia”. Although, I have yet to purchase “Song of the Lark”.
What book(s) are you currently reading? Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a favorite bookshop?
