I Never Thought I Would Say These Words:

I Like To READ.

The other night when we were getting into bed I was going to stay up and read which was a first in our 5 years of marriage.  Jeff was shocked and then when I asked him which book I should read, he almost feel over.  He has never really seen me read a book, let alone two books at once.  

Seriously, who am I?  I have never been a reader.  Despite my parents best efforts as a child, I never read for fun (with a small exception one year I read a few Animorphs).  But really, middle school, high school, college ... I NEVER read for fun.  I would even skimp on my school reading, who knows how I graduated let alone with the grades I did.  

All of my closest friends were/are avid readers.  They would always tell me you would love this book or that book.  I would just nod and smile and know that I had ZERO desire to read any book.  If I was going to see a movie based on the book everyone would say, you have to read the book first.  I would kind of laugh inside thinking, why on earth would I take the time to read the book when I can just go watch the movie.  I felt like I had a million other things I should/wanted to do rather then sit on my butt and read.

But last year a friend in the ward put together a book club and I decided to give it a whirl.  I don't really remember why, maybe because it started in the middle of busy season and I was going crazy.  Maybe because my brain was starting to feel like mush after only talking baby talk all day every day.  Or maybe it was because I know that I should read more because I want my kids to love to read and if that is ever going to happen I am going to have to love to read as well.  Whatever the reason, I'm so glad I jumped on the bandwagon!

Here are the books I read last year:

(All pictures were taken from Goodreads)

 The Wednesday Letters by Jason F. Wright

Goosegirl by Shannon Hale

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

So putting them onto the list that doesn't seem like a lot, but for me this is HUGE!!  Aside from the scriptures and a few church related books these really are the first books I have ever read on my own.

I also want you to know that I at least attempted every single book on our book club list.  I checked them out from the library and started them, but just couldn't get into them.  Maybe I'll try them again someday because I know a few of them are classics.  

Here is the list of attempted books:

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

The Giver by Lois Lowry

An Emanciaptor’s Wife by Barbara Hambly

When February came around and I didn't hear anyone starting up a book club I decided to take charge.  You heard right folks, I am heading up a book club!  Never thought I'd see that day!  I sent out an email to some local friends to see who would be interested and get some ideas on what to read.  By the end the year book club kind of petered out so we decided to start with our December book from last year which was The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls.  Next week we will be meeting to discuss it and come up with our book list for this year.  

I am so excited about this and I am proud of myself.  I feel so good.  I feel more educated.  I feel closer to my friends.  I feel accomplished.  I feel like my reading has improved.  I feel anxious to start a new book!  As much as I love talking about my kiddos, I love having another topic to discuss.  It is kind of weird, but it has made me feel like there is a me outside of my role of mommy.  Please don't get me wrong, I love being a mother more than anything, but sometimes you get lost in all the poop, tantrums, and messes and forget that you are an individual outside of this role.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this on paper.  I am reading.  I am loving it.  I am going to keep it up!  So far this year I have already read 2 books and by the end of the month it might be up to 3!

The Glass Castle by Jannette Wells

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

And I am currently in the middle of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

If you have any must reads, please comment and suggest them to me.  

I am kind of overwhelmed by all the books in the world and don't really know where to begin.  I don't really know what my book preferences are yet aside from clean.  I have loved everything I have read so far. 

Happy Reading!