What’s On YOUR Nightstand?

I am an avid reader and I tend to have more than one book going at a time. One of the reasons I have an English degree is because it gave me the opportunity to read. A LOT. I never wanted to teach. I just wanted to READ. My nightstand is a testament to my many interests. Or is it a testament to my short attention span?

I read Gone With The Wind in a weekend when I was 13 or so.  I slogged through “Is Paris Burning?” around the same time. I went through a Pearl S. Buck phase, trudged through Dostoyevsky, and read all the Thor Heyerdahl I could get my hands on. Interestingly enough, I didn’t read a lot of the classics until I was in college.  My knowledge of Judy Blume’s work is sadly lacking.

I read an average of 50 books a year. Some I’ve read before and will probably read again. I have no preference as to the format, though more and more, I’m coming to appreciate large print, either in book form or on my Kindle.

And the Kindle is a new development. I tend to read it while I’m on my stationary bicycle. It’s not really something I “curl” up with. But I like its portability and I like it in low light situations.

I’m currently working my way through Mary Stewart’s work, re-reading her Gothic romances. And as a leader of the Spanish Springs Library Mystery Book Club, I have the “homework” of reading from that list.  I have no remorse about not reading a book that I then have to lead a talk on. Reading is supposed to be fun and I will toss aside something that doesn’t engage me.

Now, what should I pick up next?…