Reading Together...

Its been somewhat busy in my life lately, and I feel that I am juggling lots of projects in my free time: organizing my life, a new cross-stitch that I just started, reading three very different books, looking for library jobs, relaxing, and getting ready to work on several wedding presents. Since this blog deals with books, let me tell you what I'm working my way through now.

Balliett, Blue. The Wright 3.

This is a book that I have been reading out loud with my significant other. It seems to be the perfect book for a read-aloud, and I would suggest it to families, couples, or friends who enjoy discovering entertaining family-friendly reads. Its been so much fun to work our way through this book. It reads very quickly, and if neither of us had to get up for work in the morning we would be much farther along than we are! Calder, Petra, and Tommy are very real child characters who lead their audience on a great introduction to Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and their attempts to save the house from destruction. While educational, it is not textbook in any stretch of the imagination! Prepare to be sucked into their adventures. For those of you in the Chicago area, it would be great pair this book with a visit to the Robie House. Check here for information on The Wright 3 tour!

Willas, Jim. God's Politics.

I'm only on the second chapter of this one, so I won't write much now. So far, it has really given me a lot to think about. Especially in light of the upcoming elections. Why do people vote for the candidates that they do? And how is it that there came to be "hot-button" issues in the first place? This is something that I know I have been guilty of in the past. I think living in the city and becoming more aware of the people around me has expanded my horizons and my political ideals. At this point, I'm trying to learn more about the candidates and what they are each standing for. I'm hoping this book will help me to keep my eyes and ears open as I make a decision about which candidate will claim my vote when November rolls around. In any case, Jim - as of chapter two - is doing a solid job of presenting weaknesses from both the Republican and Democratic parties. Check it out if you are interested in gaining a more well-rounded view of politics and what it means to vote for a candidate - blue or red.

Roberts, Nora. Heart of the Sea.

Okay, say what you will, but I confess that I love Nora Roberts' romance novels. I greatly enjoy her characters and their interaction with each other. This is the third in the Irish Trilogy, following Jewels of the Sun. I predicted what this book was going to be about before I picked it up. There was only one umarried Gallagher sibling remaining, and some new blood was going to be brought in when the family decided to join forces with the American Magee family. If you've read these books, I'm sure you've picked that up as well. The predictability of the plot and characters doesn't detract from the fact that Ireland is an awesome place to fall in love. And even better if you are helping a long dead lover finally become reunited with her faerie prince! While you might not classify this book as intellectually engaging, it provides a great balance for God's Politics and The Wright 3.

Why I Love Reading, or "How I Became a Librarian"

I love to read. I've been reading for about 22 or 23 years now, and I can't imagine NOT being able to read. It gives one a new appreciation for literacy when you stop to think about what life would be like if you weren't able to read. For starters, you wouldn't be reading this blog. Secondly, your access to knowledge would be limited to things you hear and experience, rather than the boundless abyss of information sources that are available to those of us with the ability to read.

I love being able to read. One of the most exciting feelings for me is what I experience when I walk into a library or bookstore - an overwhelming awe at the treasures that surround me. "Where to start?," I ask myself. And the beauty of these places is that you can start anywhere, and who knows that you'll end up with.

I used several gift certificates this past weekend to buy four books. Three of them are titles that were not on my radar at all, until I saw them and realized they were what was missing from my personal library. I purchased God's Politics by Jim Wallis, Jenny by Sigrid Undset, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan by Sophie Kinsella, and Pilate's Wife: a novel of the Roman Empire by Antoinette May. Now, I will happily admit that I went into Barnes and Noble intending to purchase the next book in my most recent fiction addiction - the Shopaholic series. I have no shame in admitting that I think those are seriously fun reading.

The other three, however, were spurred by different interests that I have. First, I don't know very much about politics and have never taken the time to read anything about it. I was the supervisor at Covenant Bookstore (before The Man put us out of business), and we could not keep God's Politics on the shelves. I saw it, and it was like finding the perfect piece of furniture, or coming across a great bargain on a shirt you've always wanted - I knew I had to read it. especially in light of the upcoming election and the various primaries making their way across the country.

I love things Swedish, and more broadly, Scandinavia. Undset won a Pulitzer prize in 1928 for the body of her work, which included Kristin Lavransdatter, a huge volume which I enjoyed reading last year. I saw Jenny by Undset, and knew that the two of use would get along quite well. (well, that and the fact that the mother of the man I am seeing is named Jenny...)

And finally, I greatly enjoy reading historical fiction. Pilate's Wife was on display at Borders, and the description on the back just pulled me in. I really lose myself in thinking about how various characters throughout history may have responded to the situations that they found themselves in. Who was Pontius Pilate's wife? How might she have seen the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion? It is something I have fun thinking about.

Books amaze me. They can be so many things to thousands, even millions of people. Books can be therapeutic, comforting, and intensely personal. The same book can give different messages to each of its readers. And this is one of the reasons I am becoming a librarian. I love speaking with people about books that they are experiencing, and hearing what they enjoy and dislike. I may have had a completely different reaction to the title they are reading. And that is what makes discussion so interesting. What would you say to someone who felt the same way about a particular title? You can only praise it for so long. But in a discussion, with various view points, you really have to verbalize your thoughts, and respond to specific items that you may either have loved or disliked intensely. It can get heated. I think its great.

I'm currently reading All He Ever Wanted by Anita Shreve. Shreve's name had come up during our RA class, and I had never read any of her titles. It is really interesting so far, and not what I expected at all. The language is very proper and elegant, and it is written from a male perspective. It is also set at the turn of the century, which is something else that I was not aware of when I picked it up. I'm enjoying the New England-esque atmosphere of the book. I'll let you know more once I finish.