So Many Books, So Little Time

I am a reader.  The story I have heard from my parents is that I learned to read at the age of three, while listening to my mom teach my brother.  I remember gathering all my stuffed animals and dolls around me for story time in my preschool days.  I would take requests from them and then read with as much expression as I knew how, stopping after each page to show them the pictures, just like the children's librarian at story hour used to do.  The times in my life when I've been between interesting books, or when I have read a particularly captivating story that I wasn't ready to muddy up by starting a new one, I have spent reading educational or how-to books.  A book taught me to knit, to tie knots, to mix any skin tone from four colors of paint.  Books teach me to cook lots of new and healthy things for my family.  Books inspire me to be a better mother, daughter, wife, and christian. 

Nothing is so exciting to me as when a book captures the imagination of my children.  The current trend toward retro toys and remakes of old video games gives evidence to the fact that we love to see children enjoy the things that we loved as kids.  Sadly, the books that have captured the imagination of my kids have been few and far between.  Grayson loves the Harry Potter books, and we are currently reading book number three (The Prisoner of Azkaban), but I am not comfortable with progressing any farther than book three with him for a couple of years.  We are reading it slowly, trying to make it last!  He also loved Roald Dahl's books for a while.  The BFG  and James and the Giant Peach in particular.  He liked Treasure Island as well, but I didn't realize until too late that we were reading an "adapted" (that's book code for "stripped of anything that adds interest or excitement") version.  In addition to Harry Potter, our current readings are:  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (which we are listening to on Librivox, and which Grayson surprised me by absolutely loving), Night of the Ninjas (a Magic Treehouse book, which he is reading aloud to me), and Pilgrim's Progress (which I am enjoying, but which is a tremendous waste of breath, since Grayson is grasping none of it.  I think we'll try one of the children's versions, or at least an illustrated copy!).  These are just our recreational readings...  There is a whole separate stack that we use for school!

On my own, I am reading Atlas Shrugged which was suggested by a friend.  I was very skeptical at first (when I hear the words "economics" and "philosophy" in relation to a 1,000 page novel, I can't help being wary).  It has gripped me from the first page.  Go figure!  I'm also listening to Vanity Fair on Librivox.  I am embarassed to say that I've been listening to it since November, and am not even halfway through.  I have precious little time to spend with earbuds in my ears, and it's hard to choose between music and a book.  More often than not music wins that battle.  I am reading Pilgrim's Progress on my own as well, because I am thoroughly enjoying it, and don't want to stay at the slow pace I have to keep for the boys.  Last, but not least, I am reading Helping Children to Understand the Gospel from Desiring God Ministries.  I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who struggles with what, when, and how to tell their children about the gospel.  There are even family devotions in the back that walk you through speaking to your children about your faith. 

Leave me a comment to tell me what you are reading now!  If you aren't reading anything currently, tell me your past favorites, or what's sitting on your shelf waiting to be read!  Give this bookworm some future goodness to chew on!