Books, Books, Books . . . I have so many, and yet I don't have enough.

I have stacks of books I need to read. I’m a book-aholic, “Hello, my name’s Angela, and I love books.” Though I must say today, while thrift store shopping, I MADE myself avoid the book section. I walked past it several times but told myself, “No, don’t do it. Just say no.” It was super hard. I have anxiety right now thinking about how I didn’t even look at the books . . . I should’ve looked at least.   

Seriously, I have stacks of books—books on shelves, books stacked on my dresser and desk, books in the car, and books in the bathroom (yep, I do).  I also have great intentions, AND I will someday, read them all.

It’s a matter of time. I need more of it.

My time, now days, is spent writing my own books—a very good thing. But as every good writer knows, to be a writer, a really good writer, you must also be an avid reader as well. Read everything. And boy do I try. Jeez, I have several books in which I’m smack dab in the middle of, yet can’t quite seem to finish (Whistling in the Dark by Lesley Kagen; Women Food and God by Geneen Roth; Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl; The Maze Runner by James Dashner; The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield; The Right Mistake by Walter Mosley; Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahme-Smith; The Writer’s Guide to Character Traits by Linda Edelstein, Ph.D).

Then there are books I have patiently sitting, waiting for me to even pick up and skim the first few pages (far too many to even list, though there is one I look forward to reading World War Z; An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks).

AND then there are the books that people, with wonderful intentions, have loaned to me to read. Books I just can’t seem to get to, though I would like to so I can return them, but haven’t. I’m sorry. I hope to read them at some point and then return them to you. Be assured they are being well taken care of (though gathering dust).  These are the books that I may have to simply hand back and say, “Sorry, I just don’t have the time.” But that makes me feel bad so I will try.

Okay, so today I am reading. No writing (which is fine because I’m at a standstill anyway). Just reading for today (and doing this blog, of course). I’m trying to finish Women Food and God so I can get that done for my book club and get it back to its owner. I am a woman. I like food. I love God. This book should be a cinch to read. But it ain’t. It’s a self-help book and well, I’m not too fond of those. I should try more, I should help myself, especially since Oprah herself has backed this book and I like Oprah, but I like my complacency a little too much (that’s why this year, I made no resolutions. None. It’s too confining and I tend to break my resolutions after only a short period of time. Why set myself up for failure like that? So I’m not. I will take this year, come what may).  So anyway, maybe I’m not taking this book as seriously as perhaps I should. I’m a fluffy gal. I should have better portion control when it comes to food. But for the most part, I like myself. I like who I am—wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, love handles and all. I’m an okay person. Besides, I don’t have an issue with food—food and I get along just fine. We like each other.

Then there are the YA books (The Maze Runner and Beautiful Creatures) I’m trying to read to get a better feel of the genre I’m hoping to break into. I’m struggling with both. Sorry, but I am. I really like James Dashner too. I bought the book specifically for his personality. He was awesome at the League of Utah Writers Convention. I just don’t think I enjoy the fantasy/escapism type stories. I’m having a hard time connecting to the characters, rooting for them (which I need to do). But I will press on. I will finish reading them, someday. (I will James. I still like you).

The Right Mistake, is for another of my book clubs. I’m still at the beginning stages of it and haven’t decided much about it yet. I have it on my Kindle and I take it with me everywhere. This book is a bit put-offing though—too much swearing. I’m pretty liberal in some of my reading, but I don’t know about this book. I have read to a section in which it has settled some, but this one may have to be shelved if it starts up again. I will not read it. Sorry. There’s no need for that kind of language, really.

Now, Whistling in the Dark is good (so far). I bought this book for $1.50 at a thrift store for the sole reason that the main characters in this book are children. It is also written in first person for an adult market (just like mine). I need to know why and I need to know how. My novel Desert Rice, which is being peddled to publishers right now, is being done so under the Young Adult category, even though I don’t think it’s really for young adults. But my agent thinks that’s the way to go. The author of Whistling in the Dark, Lesley Kagen, has also gone on to write other novels with children as the main characters. I may have to email her and get some advice—if I dare. 

Anyway, this is the book I plan to finish today. I like it. I think it is well written and believable. I’m half way through and I worry about where this book is progressing to (doom and danger, possible murder of one of the main characters). It’s pulled me in. I will review it on the EXTRAS tab above later.

I’m off to read.

Let me know what you’re reading.