This is my basement. Actually, this is one corner of my basement – there are three, really. The desk/library, the sewing/fabric stash, and the tv/sofa. But this is the corner that I’m sitting in right now, and this is the corner that is the topic of the post. I follow a blog called La Vie En Rosie, by Carrie of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co. (home of some truly awesome patterns). A few days ago, her post included a few questions about reading, and it’s been on my mind ever since.
I love to read. I can’t remember not reading. In kindergarten, the teaches stuck me on a stool with the Weekly Reader (anyone remember those?) and I read to the class while the teachers had coffee. I mostly read fiction, although I’ve enjoyed a few biographies and other non-fiction. I enjoy a variety of genres, including mysteries, thrillers, chick lit, romance, sci fi, and even the occasional YA. I tend toward lighter reading, although I have quite a few “should read” books waiting on the shelves.
I devour books; I read very quickly and I usually read a book straight through. For example, the Michael Crichton books Jurassic Park, The Lost World, Sphere and Congo each took almost exactly four hours to read. I love the Harry Potter books, and I read each one in a single sitting. That includes the one that I found at my front door at 8:00 p.m., started immediately, and finished at 3:00 in the morning.
My favorite books include The Time Traveler’s Wife (I’m not sure I could bear to see the movie), Ender’s Game, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Last Unicorn, Gods in Alabama, and A Ring of Endless Light. When I find an author I like, I keep going back until I run out of books. Some authors that I read are Joshilyn Jackson (who has an awesome blog, Faster Than Kudzu), Lee Child, Robert Parker, Robert Crais, Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb, Diane Mott Davidson, Nevada Barr, Janet Evanovich, Dick Francis, L.M. Montgomery, Richard Russo, Douglas Adams, Orson Scott Card, Jennifer Weiner, Madeleine L’Engle, Diana Gabaldon, Andrew Greeley, Kathy Reichs…
I like to give books as gifts to all of my cousins’ children, and I like to read the books first. That means I’ve read a surprising number of children/Young Adult books. My favorite series for young adults is the Tomorrow series by John Marsden, about a group of teens in Australia who come home from a week camping to find that the country has been invaded.
So who else out there enjoys reading? What do you read? Do you have any suggestions? Do you belong to a book club, and do you recommend it? Do you read anything that others might consider unusual?
By the way, if you click on the photo above you’ll go to the Flickr page, which has notes on the photo.
Piecemeal Quilts 
What a gorgeous library. My “library is my office, sewing room, and general “stuff” storage for the family – it’s pretty tight! We have books all over the house, most rooms have a stack or two if not actual shelves.
You have interesting taste, so varied! I started to give you my “take of the moment” but it’s turning into a book so check out my blog for a current list.
I loved your post, Sally – in fact, I’ve just added you to my blog roll and my Google Reader!
I read most of the same authors you do. I love Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew. I work in a library so I do read a lot of YA books. Most of the time, I give books to my family as gifts. They have come to expect it.
I feel the same way about Time Travelers Wife. I love the book so much, I really don’t know if I want to see the movie…
Have you tried reading Mary Higgens Clark, Ann rule or Patricia Cornwell or James Patterson?
Have you ever read Sue Grafton? She’s like Janet Evanovich. I love Trixie Belden books too. I couldn’t get my daughter to read them though. If I ever find them, I’m going to read them again.
I am going to put some of your fav books in my must-read list!!
Oh, I LOVE Madeleine L’Engle… I was so sad when she passed away! I still have my autographed copy of A Wrinkle In Time from when I was about 11 years old and I read it once a year. It’s truly an old friend.
I’ve read many of your favorites… along with a lot of fantasy, some sci-fi and most of the Oprah list. I’m currently trying to work my way through the list of Pulitzer Prize winning fiction… just finished March which was a great read!
I have to say that the Harry Potter books are my very favorites! And I also read them each in one sitting! š
What a nice room you’ve got in your basement. I would love to something like that! I love to read and I am try to read books in english because it slows me down, and I learn more english words. Don’t like to write in english, but listen and read! I like some of the authors you mentioned, because I love crimes and thrillers!
Ann-Christin in Sweden
Thank you for joining our group. I will be keeping tabs on you and your website – most interesting indeed.
I love reading but am very slowwwww at it. My favorites are still Gone with the Wind, Good Earth, Forever Amber, and Act One.
I must admit in my old age (62) I find myself reading Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, and Twilight. I loved all the first two but only the first two Twilights. As you can tell I’m not a lover of “reality.”….grin. i have too much of that in real life
Billie in TX from Cyberquilters
I am with you. I can’t really remember not reading. We seem to have a lot of the same tastes as well! I love the Time Traveller’s Wife. Such an awesome audiobook. I also stick mostly to fiction, but am reading a book called Brain Rules, which I am finding to be really interesting. If you haven’t read the Bartimaeus Trilogy, I would highly recommend it. The first one is called The Amulet of Samarkand. They are YA, but I would say that they are like Harry Potter, but darker. Thanks for posting!