On Hold At The Library

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I love to read.  I have always loved to read.  However, I think my rite of passage into reading happened right at the end of fifth grade.  At the beginning of the school year, our teacher announced that we were going to have a reading contest.  We were supposed to keep track of all the books we read by writing a little paragraph about each one and the person who read the most books by the end of the school year would win a prize.  I didn’t think much of the contest but I kept track of my books and come the last day of school, I apparently was the one who had read the most.  I won a copy of “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls.

At first I wasn’t so sure of this new book I had acquired.  After all, I was used to The Babysitters Club, Nancy Drew and all books by Beverly Cleary.  However, I decided to set aside any preconceived notions I might have about “classics” and books I was supposed to read and I went home that very afternoon and started my prize.  It didn’t take long until I was completely entranced and within a few hours I had read it from cover to cover.  I have since read this exact copy of ”Where the Red Fern Grows” that my 5th grade teacher so lovingly gave me more times than you could ever imagine and every time when Little Ann and Old Dan pass on from this life, it moves me to tears.  

It was at this point in my life that I remember discovering the incredible power of words and how, when they are strung together just right, they can create the most magnificent and magical story a person could ever contrive!

The genre of books I read varies immensely.  One minute I might be reading fiction by  John Grisham and David Baldacci and another minute I might be engrossed in a history textbook.  Some days I might read a church novel and other days I might be reading a self-help writing. 

Anyway, here is a random sampling of the books I currently have on hold at the library … or that have already found a home on my bookshelf:

1. “Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood” by Ann Brashares
2. “For One More Day” by Mitch Albom
3. “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire
4. “Bird by Bird: Some Instructions On Writing and Life” by Anne Lamott
5. “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
6. “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards
7. “Saboteur” by Dean Hughes
8. “Eragon” by Christopher Paolini
9. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen
10. “Bonds That Make Us Free” by C. Terry Warner
11. “Empire Falls” by Richard Russo
12. “I Feel Bad About My Neck: and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman” by Nora Ephron (I must admit I am a little curious about all the hype I have heard about this one.)
13. “Biscuit Goes to School” by Alyssa Capucilli (Well, this one is for Keri.)

**UPDATED:  Okay, I know this is supposed to be Thursday Thirteen, but I just had to update everyone to say that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J.K. Rowling is now on my hold list as well.  Woo-hoo!  I can’t wait until July 21st … I am sure nothing will get done for a few days except some insane reading!** 

What’s on hold for you? 

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