I really love getting lost in a book. Sometimes (ok… almost always) when I’m involved in a good book, I have a hard time coming out of the book and getting on with reality. It’s my acid trip or my booze fog. A total escape. I can tune everything else out and focus intently on the world within its pages (much to the dismay of anyone trying to get my attention at any point during my involvement with a book).
Once I had kids, I found reading to be very difficult. I would tend to ignore the kids and all housework for several days in order to spend as much time as possible in a book. With little ones, that can be bad… very bad. So, for my children’s safety, I had to be very selective on how often I read, which wasn’t very often.
At the beginning of the summer, I made a goal to read more. It’s been so fun! I’m addicted again, for sure. As I was looking at the list of books I’ve read since June, I figured I’ve read about a book a week. Pretty good for a girl who averaged maybe 2-3 books per year in the past few years! I think it helps that I don’t have a baby destroying the house as soon as I look away. At least, not with Sharpies like they did in the past. (And just because I said that, I’m probably going to have a post in the next few days documenting the damage someone did with a Sharpie, since that seems to be how it goes…as soon as you’re sure of something, or get too cocky, you’re kicked in the knees by the thing you thought you were safe from.)
So… for any of you readers out there, here are my summer reading recos:
A Thousand Splendid Suns Really really good. I couldn’t put it down. I was visiting family when I read this and spent an entire day and most of a night reading this and finished it in one day. It was thought provoking and moving, the type of book that leaves you feeling like a different person than the one who picked it up.
Twilight, Full Moon, Eclipse Such a fun series. My sister from another mister, Mindy, gave me Twilight when I was in Utah, telling me how her cousin’s wife’s sister wrote it and it’s getting all kinds of praise. So, I’m practically related to the author. This book was the one that finally kicked Harry Potter off the number one spot on the fancy book list, whatever it is (NY times? Billboard?) 
It can be a bit melodramatic at times, but I will forgive that (it was written for teens, after all) because it is so fun and engaging. I read all three in close succession… the most fun I’ve had since I fell in love with Harry Potter in the beginning, years ago. Maybe even more fun…
The Red Tent Awesome. This book is about Dinah from the Bible. So, it’s practically like reading the bible. I’m totally counting it as bible study. The incest, the sex… all of that’s in the bible, right? Ha ha. It was fun reading a book set this far back, learning about the way they did things and having a very interesting and lovable character leading me along. I felt like I really knew this character by then end, like she was one of my really good friends.
Water for Elephants I read this one this week. I loved it. Another totally engrossing book where I got really caught up with the characters and the environment. I fell in love with the narrator… I even cried tears of joy at the end… something that is unusual for me! But I must warn my innocent friends… there are a couple parts that might offend your delicate sensibilities. Please forgive me for adoring this book anyway.
So… go forth and read. Let me know what you think about these. Maybe we could do a book club in the comments section here? Maybe?
And when you find a can’t miss novel… let me know. I’m on the lookout for my next great read!
There was a young mom who loved Halloween. She spent hours making wonderful costumes for her children and beamed proudly as they collected candy and compliments.
by Shannon Montez
2 comments
add a new comment link to this post email a friend