My new pastime

I've been reading quite a bit lately. For years now I've always had a book or two I was in the process of reading. But I'm so slow. I wasn't always a slow reader. In middle school, and again during college summer breaks I was a voracious reader. Since then I've struggled. I was thrilled when I made it through Anna Karenina in about 4 months. Now I'm reading books nearly as long in about just a couple weeks though. The tides have turned!

I've found the author Phillippa Gregory. I love history (even if it's woven into fiction), and Tudor England is one of my favorite time periods. I'm savoring each of her books . . . The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Queen's Fool. I love them. In fact, I've been squeezing in other books between hers to make her series last longer. I only have one left in the stack, The Virgin's Lover. I'm reading them in chronological order, which is why I'm not counting The Constant Princess as one I plan to read; I should have gotten to it first. Though I will probably circle back and read it too - I'm obsessed.

Another author I'm reading quite a bit from is Gregory Maguire. I started with Wicked because the Broadway show came to town this summer. I really liked it. In fact, it made me dislike the musical. I was so invested in the characters as they were developed in the book, that I found the musical's portrayal insulting. Funny, because in actuality it's The Wizard of Oz that's the "original." I've yet to find the sequel (Son of a Witch) at 1/2 Price Books so I've moved on to his other works (Tales of an Ugly Stepsister, and Mirror Mirror) until I find it.

I'm also reading bookclub selections between historical fiction pieces. This is the third go 'round for our workplace bookclub. I've been somewhat involved in facilitating each time and I have to say this is the last. It's either going to be "third time's a charm" or "three strikes and you're out." Last month (the first for this series) was an odd fantasy book, The Eyre Affair. It was difficult to get into but in the end reasonably enjoyable. Bookclub highlighted quite a few shared annoyances and flaws but really as I read it I did enjoy it - I wasn't taking it that seriously (not that I think any of the other readers were either). I just finished this month's selection - Eat, Pray, Love. I'd heard about it from friends, seen it on Oprah but still continued to be hesitant towards it. I didn't honestly know what it was about, but maybe subconsciously I did. I tend to avoid books on spirituality. And I mean spirituality, not religion (though I don't read those either). So maybe I subconsciously knew how much this book was going to focus on spirituality and how I didn't want that challenge entering my full consciousness. But I read it and I really enjoyed it. As usual, when I find myself reading and enjoying a spiritual book it's not as bad or threatening as I may have worried it would be. This book is quite a bit travel memoir but it's very obviously more than that. I really enjoyed it and could see myself reading it again - focusing on some of the more subtle messages that had begun to resonate with me (but then I turned the page). It's written in three parts and while I like parts of each I mostly enjoyed part II (India) and the beginning of part III (Indonesia).

Now I need to start thinking about the next bookclub selection. Last go around we drew books from a hat, but this time I just look around and talk to people and choose what feels right or sounds fitting - something I want to read (just in case I'm the only one who participates). The next selection will run over the holidays so I think it's important that it's light and enjoyable - nothing to heavy. I won't pull What is the What back in from the last series; it was the beginning of the end for bookclub last time. It was a bit daunting but I really enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone.

So that's my new favorite pastime. My DVR is getting a workout since I watch nothing from primetime in primetime now. I read and catch up on only those shows that made the final DVR cut earlier in the evening or on weekends. It's working out very well.