I love to read. I sometimes fantasize about staying in bed and reading all day! In my fantasy, no one talks to me, I leisurely sip coffee, time pauses, and the daily grind comes to a halt so I can soak in delicious words and twisting plots.
This has never actually happened, and if it did, I feel like I’d end up with a bedsore and jitters from too much caffeine. However, I really do steal away moments and minutes to read when I can.
There is such sadness when a great book comes to an end. Sometimes I feel lost and stumbling for a couple of days, like I am missing home or a good friend.
So what is one to do?
Make a book stack to find your next read. Light your enthusiasm and fire for the Next. Great. Book.
Making a book stack is one of my favorite traditions. It’s a little gift I give to myself. I follow some “rules” when I do this. Your rules may certainly be a bit less draconian if that suits your style.
First, I do not do this with people around. It is deeply personal.
Next, it requires yoga or pajama pants and probably a big, ill-fitting but oh-so-comfortable robe.
Third, I must be able to touch the book stack. This means that no electronic versions of texts are allowed (I am sorry to offend all of the Kindle readers out there – I just can’t. I love the feel of a book in my hand).
Lastly, at least one book must be a title that I have turned down before.
In our house, there are eight bookshelves. These are spread out among Harper and Jameson’s rooms, the playroom, our bedroom, the office, and the family room. Eight! We have no excuse not to be reading. When I am ready to start a new book, I go “shopping” at these book shelves. I pull out titles that spark my interest at the time for a myriad of reasons (ie: I need a new genre, my neighbor just read this and loved it, the content is apropos, I need a fluff read because my brain is on overload, I need a smart read because my brain has been at the beach for two weeks) … you get the idea.
I stack up four to eight books in front of me and poof up a pillow behind me. Next, I start to read. I read just a bit- perhaps five to ten pages- into each book I’ve stacked to find the one that catches me.
I think a book fits you when you need it to. Many times, I have put a book down because it didn’t feel right at the time but picked it up two months later only to devour it with joy. Books are like finding the right outfit. They have to fit the season and occasion and have a bit of bling, too.
After I’ve chosen “the one,” the others get returned to their shelves until they are pulled out again. My mom always told me that friends are the gifts you give yourself. Books are friends. What’s in your stack today?
