Welcome to My Bookshelf

Recently an acquaintance and I were talking about books. She asked "Do you read?" I looked at her for a moment thinking, what a ridiculous question, of course I read, but then I understood her true meaning. Before I could answer she continued, "Are you a reader?" "Yes," I said most sincerely, "I am a reader." I have been reading since I can remember. I can't claim to be like Scout -- reading since I was born, according to Jem. But I can claim to have a nose in a book since I was at least 7. The first real grown up books I remember reading were "Little House in the Big Woods" and "Little House on the Prairie." They were a gift, from a grandmother? An Aunt? That I don't recall. These books were a magic machine. I was transported to a place that was foreign to me -- the frontier of America in the 1870's. Pioneers, covered wagons, territories, Indians, blizzards, what crops, the Prairie. What on earth was a Prairie? I grew up in Hawaii. Ocean, warm sand, no winter, the Tropics. I wanted to go to that place, THE PRAIRIE. (I eventually did when I was 31, but that's another story for another day.) I was hooked on books. My mother would take me to the one real shopping mall (Ka'ahumanu Center) on our island (Maui), with the one real bookstore (Walden Books). Every time we went, I was allowed to get a book, sometimes more than one. Any other store that sold anything else I might want -- toys, candy, clothes, shoes, whatever -- they were off limits unless it was back to school time or I paid for it out of my allowance. Books were the great indulgence my mother seemed happy to pay for, no strings attached. To this day, no matter what my budget, books are always on the list of "always okay to buy" along with food and electricity. I am fortunate enough with income that I can buy books whenever I want. I only hold back when the To Read pile is awfully high (like it is now). Books! Books! Books! Oh god I love them. I won't go on all night. I just wanted to start this. My plan? Just to share what I'm reading -- what I have read, what is on the To Read pile coming up. Whatever else comes up, that will be a wonderful surprise. Happy Reading. Julia