So yesterday I went to the bookstore to get my class books for fall. Very fun! It was about all I could do to not let out little squeals of delite each time I found the book I was supposed to get. Actually, if you were listening really closely, you probably could’ve heard them–just like a little mouse 
Anyway it feels like so long ago that I was in classes, it’s only been four months. But I am really excited. But just getting my books wasn’t enough–I went to the library afterwards and ended up getting more, so I had three bags to take on the bus, luckily it was not so full as usual, I needed a whole extra seat for them.
Anyway, this is turning kindof boring, but what I want to say is–I love reading! Growing up I wasn’t much of a reader… Too much stuff to do with my hands, I liked making things, or moving things around, or eating!
And I used to be hard core on just reading things that seemed productive, like history books, so I could “learn something” , but not very often books to just enjoy. Well, this summer I started reading the Lord of the Rings books, and that changed everything! It was hard for me at first. For a while I took along other books, that were not fiction–oh I guess that’s what I mean, I used to not take much stock in fiction books, I thought that they just a waste of time– oh boy, dare I admit that?! Anyway I am hooked now, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back to normal reading after this. Now I’m working on Harry Potter, working on, no–I mean enjoying Harry Potter.
But one of the most surprising things to me, is that I have been learning more, I think from these fiction books than I’ve learned in a lot of non-fiction ones.
Anyway, if you are still reading this post 
then I want to say THANK YOU to all of you who have helped me discover reading–for enjoyment.
August 19, 2007 at 9:07 am
Oh Holl,
I do, sometimes. I know how you feel about book stores. Mmmm. I always have to rush myself out before I buy too much, particularly kids’ books. Too fun!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying books now! I just can’t get enough. Perhaps I could take a page from you and start reading non-fiction books to “learn” things.
August 26, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Let me tell a funny story about reading. I was in Vale, Oregon at a Medical clinic this Spring waiting for the ones I was with to see the Dr. I started reading a little book that was in the waiting room about Louis Braille. I was maybe 30 pages into it, when I realized I would not finish it before my friends came out and it was time to leave. So I hurried and wrote down the title and author. When the time did come to leave, I thought momentarily about just taking the book with me, so I could finish it. I didn’t figure they would miss it.. besides I knew someone that worked there, and I could just give it to her to take back. But I couldn’t do that of course. So when I got home, I had to buy it from Barnes and Noble.com – so I could find out how it ended. I could not wait to finish reading the story about the boy that invented Braille.. My sister – Shirley – came to visit me, and I told her the story. She started reading the book, and finished it that evening. It was fun to share it with someone, and see them enjoy reading it too. I guess my favorite reading – is short stories.
August 26, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Em,
Hmm, if you are taking suggestions on non-fictions books, I’d say read 1776 by David McCullough. (And if you’re not taking suggestions, I’d still say read 1776 
)
Thanks! You have been a good help to me in this area – as you know
Barbara,
That is one thing that I’m really enjoying about reading the Harry Potter books so late is that I can go right from one book to the next, no waiting! I really like that kind of reading, too–Short stories and books about people, biographies and such are fun. Some of my favorite short stories are the ones that James Herriot tells in his veterinarian books.
That is cute! That book sounds really fascinating. I hope it didn’t take to long to get to you
August 31, 2007 at 2:25 am
Holly,
Try reading antique books for a treat. It is fun to view the world in the same context as your ancestors and it gives you an entirely different understanding of why things are the way they are now. I especially liked reading about manners from the cradle to the grave in the 1800’s and learning of the social conventions of that age. It was also fun coming to the realization that in the 1800’s people didn’t understand why the Nile river valley flooded every year because clouds in the sky in Egypt were almost unheard of. This realization made the biblical account of Moses in Pharos’ court even more interesting.
Now I want to read about Louis Braille before I need to use his invention. Anyway, I am enjoying your blog. Thanks for writing.
September 8, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Janet,
Thanks for that idea – I want to know more about my ancestors and that sounds like a fun way to get to see things a little closer to how they might have seen them.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Keep eating carrotts!
September 9, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Hi, In Case Janet or anyone else wants to read the Louis Braille book that I read it is called “Louis Braille” and is written by Margaret Davidson. It is a Scholastic book. It is 80 pages and in large print. A small paperback. I bought two different books on Louis, but this was the best one. I didn’t want to stop reading it. Ordered it actually from Oregon, so it was here the day after I got back from my trip. It was only a few dollars on Barnes and Noble.com