For the Love of Books

I love reading.  I love getting lost in a good book.  I love the way a good book can change your perspective and your understanding.  Books are wonderful.

I have been looking through lots of lists lately, making lists of my own of books I want to explore with Spudette and Jr. Spud, lists that I want to explore on my own. The list is much longer than we will ever have time to read.  I always hope that summer will be a time of reading and loving books.  I even get excited when it's time for a family trip so I can go find the "perfect" audio book to listen to as we travel, or just the right title to read while sitting next to a lovely pool or lounging on a pristine beach.

Books I bought at the book fair this week...

This week is the final book fair for the year at the kids' school.  It is a buy one get one free event.  They certainly know how to hook a book lover!!!  I love buying books almost as much as I love reading them.  I love to be surrounded by books.  I love going to the book case and finding something I have been meaning to read for a long time tucked among the titles of books that are like old friends.  I like the library, but I LOVE the book store!!!

The books on my nightstand

Even if I buy a book, read it and hate it, I'd almost always rather buy a book than get it from the library.  If there's a chance that I'm going to love it, or even like it...I want it on my bookshelf.  If I do buy a book that I don't like, I can always give it away or sell it or use it for some craft project that requires book pages.  I also feel severe guilt borrowing a book from the library if the author is living.  I mean, this is how they make their living and even though there are a few authors out there making lots and lots of money, most of them don't make enough to make up for the hours spent honing their craft and bringing joy and happiness to my life.  I make an exception when it comes to what I call "hyper-popular" books, because I almost always don't like them so I'd feel justified in borrowing because the likelihood of my keeping the book and the fact that those authors seem to be doing just fine release me from my guilt.  Let's not even get into how high my library fines get because I am so bad at remembering to return books.  All of you library lovers can thank me for buying lots of new books for you.  I also make an exception when I have spent way too much money on buying books recently or when a friend offers to lend me their copy of a book I have been wanting to read. But...in general...I am a book buyer.

 Maybe I am just crazy to even ask...but I always love to learn of books I need to add to my list! I'd love to hear your recommendations for me, for my young spuds or just whatever!  Yay for books!!!