“A room without books is like a body without a soul.” 
― Marcus Tullius Cicero

I believe that rooms are helped by a good book.  Readers are helped even more. Below is the Book Hutch that found me and so beautifully houses many of my books.

I love books.  I  have lots of books.  They have been moved several times, which is how I know I have lots of books. The hutch in the above picture is now crammed full of books and I have one other cupboard and three shelves that all house mostly books.  I have a table in my living room that holds books and magazines and there are usually a few books laying on the ottoman.  These are the one’s that have been most recently picked up.

 I tend to read several books at a time.  Some I finish in a day or two, others I read over a period of time.  I may spend an evening reading most of a book, then when I’m down to the last chapter or section, it may rest for a while before I finish it.  Some books I will read off and on over a period of several months or even years, depending on the type of book.  The bottom line is I love to read, but I don’t read enough.  And I always am reading multiple books.

I am currently in a relationship with at least 13-15 books and am considering a couple more.  Does this make me fickle?  I think not.  Actually, it makes me faithful.  A faithful reader.  Reading feeds the mind and the soul, and it inspires me.  As a writer, I need to read what others have written.  I need to explore and grow.  Writers should be reading.  Always.

I think I will find some quiet time this weekend to read a book or two.  Currently, there are, in addition to my Bible and Sunday School book, One magazine, five books in progress and one in waiting on my ottoman. (I’ll save the table for later) These represent the most recent, or ongoing reads.  I will share those with you:

1.  Mere Christianity by CS Lewis – I was interrupted on page 164, of 227, so need to get this one finished.  This book was on my shelf for several years and I recently decided I should read it.  A powerful book.

2.  Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg – I’ve been reading this one for awhile – it is a great book for writers and a book that can be read in short spurts.

3.  Grace For The Good Girl by Emily Freeman – recently bought this book on Amazon and am loving it.

4.  Where Two Ways Met by Grace Livingston Hill – GLH wrote several Christian based romance novels.  I grew up reading her novels, as they were pretty much the only one’s approved by my mother.  I always wanted to be a GLH girl.

5.  Jesus Calling by Sarah Young – I found this book in July and have been reading it (not every day).  I find that the days I read from this book, the topic is exactly what I need for that day.

6.  Grace by Max Lucado – I have not started this one yet, but am going to soon.  I purchased it at the same time I purchased Grace For The Good Girl – I’m sensing a theme here.

7.  The magazine is HGTV magazine – the October / November 2012 issue.  I love decor magazines and books.

I also have a kindle (gift from an office Christmas party – I actually prefer the book in my hand).  On my kindle I am reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. I also read The Writers Manifesto by Jeff Goins on my kindle.

As you can see I read on a variety of topics and all at once.  It is messy but oh so rewarding.  I really must go now and answer the call of the read!

Reading in Grace,

Sadie