Thursday, July 14, 2011

Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

I’m not entirely sure why summertime brings out the readers.  Maybe it’s the longer days…the lazy afternoons…weekend beach time…or finding yourself on an airplane headed for vacation with a few extra hours to kill?

I’m not a part-time reader.  For those who know me, know I love to read and prefer it to watching television.  Let’s face it; there is nothing but garbage on tv anyway.  I love to get lost in a book and realize three hours later it’s midnight and I had completely shut out the rest of the world for awhile.

I recently treated myself to the Nook.  While I like it, I don’t mind the stack of book’s I have piled on my nightstand I have yet to get to.  Currently, however, I have three to four books going and a couple backed up in my Nook.  Eventually, I’ll get through them all.

That old English Idiom we all know, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” really applies to so many things, not just a book.  However, I’m guilty.  I’ve reached for plenty of books with creative covers and bought it just for that reason.  They make better displays after you’ve read them or while it’s ‘in waiting.’  I love to stack books and magazines in places to create some flare or create a makeshift nightstand or coffee table.   I have always liked going into someone’s home, seeing a bookshelf and finding out what they have read…or have in the queue to read.  Maybe some classics, a few from the NY Times best seller list, maybe a few trashy novels peppered about.  

The Nook, has a lot of pros, but one thing I found that sort of bugs me is that I have no idea what someone else is reading!  I am always looking for a new book and I’ve often seen people reading and I’ll jot down the title and go see what the book is about and put it on my list if I find it interesting…but, now what?  Hey, how do you like your Nook?  Whatcha reading?  Ugh.  Doesn’t work.

Dr. Seuss said, “The more you read, the more things you will know.  The more that  you learn, the more places you’ll go.”  It also sounds like something my dad would say.  Read everything…know your rights…knowledge is power…keep learning…no one can take that away from you.  And he is right, read, learn, study and grow and you will become.  With that, here is a peek at my magazines and books I’m currently either reading or about to dive into.  What have you rounded up for your summer reading list?  I hope you will make some time to get lost in a good book.  Leave your recommendations in the comment section…I’d love to hear what you have enjoyed or what might currently be on your list…maybe I’ll add it to mine?