Move along, no spoilers here

I pre-ordered the latest Harry Potter from Amazon way back in the late winter/early spring…Midnight is too far past my bedtime these days, and given how hectic our weekends are I didn’t want to take the chance we wouldn’t be near a bookstore either.

Is there anything more delicious than an opened, long anticipated, nice fat book? I’m sure there are some things, but I love reading. I have since I was a little kid. I can remember all the nights during the summer when I’d have my nose in a book, tucked into bed with just the light on the table next to me and the cat for company, and coming up for air to realize that it was almost 2 in the morning? Or the long, lazy afternoons floating in the pool with a book (I never dropped one in, but did get lots of water spots on them in those days).

Unfortunately those days are long past – now jobs, and family and everyday obligations take up much of the time that was spent reading in the past. Last week on vacation, however, I was reading a couple books that I stayed up to keep reading long after D and C were in bed (don’t ask about the sleeping arrangements in the “cottage” we rented. It was almost comical). It also made getting up early a bit hairy, but I managed (although I did fall back asleep on the couch one morning after C got up extra early and came in to wake me up).

And on this past Saturday, when we got home, the mailman dropped off all our mail for the past week, and the Harry Potter! I didn’t immediately dive in, wanting to savor the anticipation for a little bit. But I couldn’t hold out that long, and started reading after dinner. I wasn’t able to spend all night reading, and put it down a little before the half way mark Saturday night. Sunday was spent at my dad’s, in the pool (so Harry has some of the waterspots too!) and I finally finished Sunday night before bed.

It wasn’t the same as when I was younger, but for now, it’s enough.

PS. For those enquiring minds – the books on vacation that kept me up were: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult (excellent! The ending was not predictable at all), and White Hot by Sandra Brown.

Book meme

Elle tagged me for a meme about books:

Next 5 books to be read:

1. Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill….Stephen King’s son – enough said.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling – the last Harry Potter! I can’t wait…this has been on order from Amazon since the release date was announced.

3. All the Kings Men by Robert Penn Warren - I had to read this for one of my high school English classes and want to go back and see if it “reads” differently now that it’s been twenty years. Plus I’m a sucker for any literature set in the South. Pat Conroy is another favorite author – he just hasn’t written anything new in too long!

4. Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Typical fluffy fare for the train ride….

5. Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught

I believe the proper term for this book would be “bodice ripper”….bought on a recommendation from the nice clerk in the Barnes & Noble – I’ve read a couple other books by the same author (except those were set in the present day).

Last 4 books I’ve read:

1. Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught

The same nice Barnes & Noble clerk recommended this one and it was pretty good – perfect for the train and an interesting story.

2. Full of Grace by Dorthea Benton Frank

A Jersey girl goes to live in South Carolina, near where her parents retired. Funny and light fluffy reading.

3. The Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King

Southern chick lit again….I told you I had something for the South!

4. Sick Puppy by Carl Hiaasen

He writes funny crime stories, usually set in FL….they’re so improbable but funny.

Last 3 books borrowed:

I must confess, I’m not in the habit of borrowing books. I don’t like our library in town and one of my favorite things is to spend an hour or two wandering the aisles of a bookstore, looking for old favorites and trying to find some new friends. Gift cards to a bookstore are my favorite presents.

Last 2 non-fiction books read:

1. Babyproofing Your Marriage…. By Stacie Cockrell, Cathy O’Neill and Julia Stone. D received this as part of some “book tour” and I skimmed through it quickly. It was ok, but not helpful because D is way more hands on than some of the dads that were described in the book.

2. ?? I’m not big into non-fiction – that’s more D’s thing, although his summer reading list has been the same for the last two/three years. Oh wait! I just caught sight of my bookcase in my office – that would be the 2007 Cancellation and Non-renewal Handbook for the 50 states and District of Columbia, as published by the fine folks at National Underwriter. Exciting, I know.

1 book everyone should read:

I don’t think it should be limited – I think everyone should read whatever interests them, as long as they read!

Consider yourself tagged if you haven't done this meme before!