Reading a Good Book

Today I have spent some time considering the art of reading. I am currently reading The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes by Marcus Sakey. It is good, even though the "F" word in used too much for my taste. The story is intriguing, and the blurb on the back of the book states that two of Sakey's books are already scheduled for movies. Do I sense a movie in the Daniel Hayes' book? Perhaps.

I am also reading A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines. My son recommended the book to me for my students to read this upcoming school year. It is excellent, well-written, and thought-provoking. There is definitely going to be a lesson for me to learn in this book.

Is that to say that one book is worthwhile, and the other is not? No, of course not. There is a time and a place for different types of books. It's fun for me to read whodonits, and I will admit to being totally enamored of M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin books.

However, the other side of the story is what Barbara Kingsolver, author of the fantastic novel (and one of my favorites) The Poisonwood Bible, said about reading (and I paraphrase), when you have a world with Middlemarch (by George Eliot) in it, why waste your time reading a book you don't like?

And I think that is the answer. If you like what you're reading, you're not wasting your time, whether it is an old classic such as Middlemarch, a new classic such as A Lesson Before Dying, or a good summer read such as The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes. The important element, at least to me, is that a person reads and reads often.

A Reading Addiction

I have so many books lined up that I want to read: The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, Eat, Pray, Love, Deepwater Mountain, and so many more. I have one major problem; I suppose it can be called a problem, or maybe not. Right now I am addicted to reading M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin mysteries. I love Agatha Raisin. I read them quickly and then go the library and pick up more. My fear (horror) is that I will eventually run out of them; I've read many of the books, but happily, there are still a few left for me to read. The next one is not coming out until October 2010! There is, in addition, an Agatha Raisin Companion book due out in October 2010 as well. I feel as if I know every inch of the Cotswolds, the setting of the books. Agatha lives in a thatched roof cottage with a front and back garden. She has two cats and interesting friends. She solves mysteries. Even though the village Agatha lives in, Carsely, isn't real, the other towns mentioned are real. I love Beaton's descriptions of the towns and the countryside. I will read those other books. I really want to read them. At least that's what I keep telling myself. I just have to pick one up and get started and put my Agatha Raisin books out of sight. But then, maybe the time isn't right for those books. I really enjoy reading Beaton's books. As far as addictions go, I think this is a fairly harmless one, and after all, what can be wrong with reading about an intelligent, but abrasive, middle-aged woman, who has obsessive loves, likes to eat, and loves cats.

Tea With Jane Austen

Today is so hot, as has been the past several days. I believe I will stay inside and do house chores, some laundry, vacuuming, and dusting. I also am going to read a little; I'm still addicted to Agatha Raisin. I'm reading the first one, The Quiche of Death. I started in the middle and am working my way around the series. I also am going to work on my current work in progress, Tea with Jane Austen. I really like the pattern and the colors. I also have a beautiful piece of 40 ct. Lakeside Linen's Nutmeg. If anyone would like it, just let me know. I don't really get a lot of readers, so I'm not going to have a giveaway, but if you read this post and want the linen, it's 91/4" x 27 ", just post and I will get your address and mail it to you. I can't stitch on such a small count of linen.