Sunday, January 22, 2006

Must Love Books

It's simple really. If you are a writer, you have to be a reader. I am not sure there is any other way, to be completely honest.

I have yet to meet a true writer, who does not enjoy reading.

I knew when I was very young, that I had an obsession. Books. Even as a child, I had hundreds of books on my little bookshelf in my room. And my father several hundred on bookshelves in our living room, running from the floor to the ceiling. I remember how fascinated by all those books I was.

Well, that book obsession has followed me. I am a member of six different book clubs, I probably have over 1000 books in my home, including a few special books from my childhood, like "Katy No Pockets" and "Blueberries for Sal". Two of the best.

I am passing that obsession onto my own children as well. They see me reading constantly. I always have a book, a magazine, a catalog, my laptop or a newspaper somewhere nearby where I am. I cannot go a day without reading something. I am addicted. Even my magazine collection would probably put the local library to shame.

Know what's best about this though? My boyfriend is the exact same way. He is just as much of a book addict as I am. He reads just as often as I do. And we love talking about books together. We go to the library by ourselves once every other week, and with the children once a week.

I don't know why he has a book obsession, as he has know desire or pulling to write. But I am a writer first and foremost and I know that is why I am a book lover.

Is there any more delicous place to be than the library? Wher else is everything free? And where else are you surrounded by the very thing that makes you whole....writing.

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