books

I love to read. Aside from spending time with my family, reading is my favorite thing to do. Lofton calls me a nerd because I devour books. Once I start a book, I cannot put it down. I'm a woman possessed. During the school year, I don't have much time for leisure reading. The summertime is a different story.

When I was younger, my dad would take me to the library during the summer {one of the perks of having a parent for a teacher}. I remember vividly the checkout limit was ten books. It probably still is. Ten never seemed like enough, so Cassie and I would trade our stacks once we finished reading. How cool were we? We would pile up in my bed or hers and read during the day. Literally for hours on end.

I took my time picking ten books, usually a mixture of Mary Higgins Clark and Sweet Valley High. As I got into high school my tastes changed. I've read all forty of John Grisham's books { A Time to Kill is still my favorite} and I love Jeffery Deaver. He writes about serial killers. It's a sick fascination, I know. I also went through a Danielle Steel phase. Now that I'm older, I read pretty much anything.

I've tried to convert Lofton into a reader. I must say that although he finds the pace at which he reads frustrating, he is enjoying the books I've picked for him. Marley and me, Angels and Demons, Tuesday's with Morie, and now The Summons are a few that he has read since we got married. Most summer nights you will find us, piled in the bed, reading together.

This brings me to the book I finished last night. The Last Lecture. I knew the story. I had heard about it on the news, but never read the book. Mama had it at her house and I swiped it for myself this weekend.

Amazing. Life changing. Moving. Those are just a few of the many words I could use to describe it. I'm not sure if i would have had such a visceral reaction to the book pre-Reese, but my post- Reese self was deeply moved. Randy Pausch delivered his last lecture on "Really Living Your Childhood Dreams." The lecture and the book are really a collection of memories and stories for his children, so they would have a piece of him when he was gone.

Surprisingly, I'm not really a book crier. I don't generally cry during movies or television shows either. Odd isn't it? I guess I'm more of a life crier. I actually made it through most of this book tissue free. The end got me though. He talks about his dreams for his kids and his love for his wife, and the frustration of knowing he'll miss so many moments with them both. I was a basket case.

All this to say: If you haven't read the book, drive immediately to your nearest bookstore and purchase it. You'll love it, too.

Future Bookworm