The Great Love of My Life

Sound interesting? Well, *I* think it is...but it's not what you're thinking. At least I doubt it is, but then I'm not a mind-reader, so what do I know?

Nope, not a mind-reader, but I AM a book reader. A lover of books, if you will. Hence my title, "The Great LOVE of My Life." And THIS time the love is reciprocal. I know my books love me. They love to be taken off the shelf and held. They love all the attention. Not a cursory glance, but pouring over the details.

You can't just grab a book and plunge in. You have to read the thingie on the back...which I KNEW the name of until I went to write this sentence. (I can say that and you'll never know for sure, will you????) You have to read the dedication, any prefaces, any forwards, any character maps or explanations, any acknowledgements. It all matters. Really the only things that don't HAVE to HAVE to HAVE to be read are the title page with all the copyright dates and ::yaaaaaaaaaaawn:: publishing's details AND... the chapter titles. Some call this the "table of contents" when the word occurs when they're ready to type it. Yeah, you can skip the "Table of Contents" ... but only if it's fiction ... because some authors just don't think of us obsessive readers who are going to look at the chapter titles and figure out the story before we read it. Then we feel cranky. So you can skip the Table of Contents. (See how I remembered in time?)

I also love my computer ... using the word "love" rather carelessly, but you know what I mean. I enjoy it. It's my greatest past-time ... or is that pass-time??? Anyway lots of time goes bye-bye right here. But that's because I have friends in here AND because I love to write. I do. And in my less humble moments I like to read what I wrote. How's that for a humble spirit?

But I'm sorry to say that this computer has put the squeeze on my favorite hobby. I don't get near as much reading (or cleaning or working or...or...or) done because of this. I used to read every spare minute. And before reading was the thing ... which was a LOOOOOOOONG time ago ... tv was the thing. I was a little couch potato.

And now? Yeah, not a lot of tv ... although I DO have a few shows I like to see. And of course there's movies. Have I ever mentioned Mamma Mia? No? Remind me. I'll fill you in. har har

Man, I'm just a rambling rambling rambling rambling woman tonight.

This is about my great love of reading. Tonight (thanks to Mummy's link on her blog) I found Library Thing and I joined and added my favorite books and voila! in my side column is now a widget with random titles I love reading.

I'm a re-reader too. If I've read it and I liked it, I'll re-read it. Must not just borrow, but OWN good books. Hence a very full bookshelf ... or two ... in my living room.

Top 5 (ok, 6, but one of them is a team, so it kind of only makes 5) favorite authors? Lori Wick (::the crowd goes wild::roaring applause:: ... she KNOWS how people are REALLY and truly supposed to live ... at the heart and soul level ... and relate to each other), Francine Rivers (I stand amazed at the way she weaves so many stories into one), Gilbert Morris (a little history with your romance, folks?), Brock & Bodie Thoene (more great history, especially around WWII...love how the characters in one series show up in other serieses) and Max Lucado (let's hear it for a NON-fiction guy ... although he does some kid's fiction, too ... GREAT writer of inspirational literature ... and a favorite author I shared with my dad.)

Ok, when I started writing, I had no idea where I was going other than sharing that I love reading. And now I'm not sure where I've gone. But I'm tired and don't think I'll bother sprucing this one up. And it MIGHT not be one of my favorite re-reads, lol.

Oh wait ... one last thing. FAVORITE of ALL books (aside from my Bible): The Last Sin-Eater, Francine Rivers. It's a favorite for a couple reasons. First and foremost because it's just jaw-dropping good. And secondly, the first time ... hmmmm ... maybe the second time I read the book, I was on the road with my parents. It was during the month after I'd separated from my ex-husband. The girls were tiny and we did a lot of road trips that month. During one long drive to visit my sister for Christmas, my Dad asked me to read the book out loud. So I read the whole book (not all at once) to my mom and dad. When we'd be driving along quietly, Dad would suddenly say, "Let's see what's happening with the Kai." So I'd take out the book and we'd read some more. I like to read out loud, and for whatever reason I really enjoyed the fact that my dad wanted me to read it to him. I've loaned this book out so many times. I never get it back either, so it must be good. So I re-buy it ... and loan it again. Not a quick learner, lol.

And now that I've gone on THIS long, I hope YOU like reading, too. :D

Books, books, books

Reading...it was my first real hobby, my first real passion aside from my spiritual life. Then along came this computer and distracted me for about 5 years easily...but I'm rediscovering books. And I still love them!

But something has happened. It hasn't been a drastic change but there was a time I'd rather poke my eyes out than read non-fiction. Give me fiction! And please, make sure there's a good love story in it somewhere. No trash please. Just a good wonderful love story that gives me hope that there ARE men like that out there. However, I must have grown up these past 5 years because I've found that there ARE SOME non-fiction selections I can appreciate.

Before I delve into them, I have to stop and pay some homage to the best piece of fiction ever written: The Last Sin Eater, by Francine Rivers. Go to your library or a bookstore IMMEDIATELY and get it. It's amazing.

Ok, now back to my new-found appreciation for non-fiction. I have found that there are areas of my heart and soul which I need to pay attention to. I've found that there are corners that have been bruised over the years and they need healing. Ignoring them does not bring healing. So a couple days ago I was out and not planning on buying any books. I'm seriously trying to be very frugal right now and not spend a penny more than I should. But there were three books I could NOT turn away from. And not in a sense of "I HAVE TO HAVE IT!! I WAAAAAAAAAANT IT!" but more like.... Like.... Like I'd look at it, then put it down, thinking "Later. I can wait." And then feeling a nudge inside telling me to get it. So I finally paid heed to the nudge (which I believe is the Holy Spirit giving me some guidance, speaking to my heart) and I bought them.

I've begun two of the three, and really am anxious to start the third one, but just haven't yet. Two of these books are about changes in me. The first is "Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul." You can bank on me coming back to share some neat stuff I'll learn from that one. It's off to a good start, but I don't have any particular "nuggets" to share just yet. The second is "Love as a Way of Life: Seven Keys to Transforming Every Aspect of Your Life," by Gary Chapman. It's the one I'm still looking forward to. It has a chapter on forgiveness which was the hook for me. More on that another day. The third is "Have a New Kid by Friday." Anyone who knows me also knows how badly I'd like to have more kids. Being single, I'm thinking this book might be my only present hope. Ok, just kidding. It's about discipline. The subtitle is "How to Change Your Child's Attitude, Behavior, and Character in 5 Days." It's by Dr. Kevin Leman. I'm already intrigued by it and can hardly wait to finish and IMPLEMENT the strategies. It's fascinating. I haven't finished it but already feel comfy recommending it to others. My prayer is that I can stick to it. I want desperately to be more patient, kind, and gentle with my girls...............but more firm, too. I want to set an example for them of self-control, even when I'm displeased. And I want to teach them better obedience (like first-time obedience) and more respect. The book gives me some hope and I'm enjoying the read, too.

I suppose that's it. Nothing earth-shaking. Nothing funny. Just sharing because these books represent some big changes I want to make in ME.