Book Friends
This time of year, I savor all the books that trot themselves out into the displays, advertising, front list and “must-read” conversation of people I know. I may not ever get to read all the books I want to read, but that would be a dark day, if it ever came. There are so many wonderful books out there, and so little time. So little time. I wonder why I have cable TV at all.
A few years ago, I had a crisis brewing. My eyesight. Where before I could squint at a book in any position in bed, in any kind of light, into the wee small hours (the wee-est smallest hour is 1 a.m. by the way), I began to have trouble. First it was my neck which went all screwy in graduate school. Then it was my wrists and hands that fell asleep from holding a book. Then my eyes… headaches, holding the book farther away, etc.
I finally succumbed to reading glasses, and to reading less to save my neck and wrists… complications of keyboard RSI and not enough yoga, massage and too much stress. But reading less adds to my stress…
No more. I am dedicating myself to my book friends again. And will find that balance point. My 2008 resolution is simple: read more. That’s all. Everything else in my life has come from that - the writing, the stories, the friends, the career. READ MORE.
To support this resolution, my guest bedroom will be lined with shelves and two new LARGE shelves will occupy the living room. A low shelf will define the yoga space in my bedroom, and there will be more reading aloud. My book friends will be released from their cardboard prisons. Free at last…
And the new year has begun in that respect: we are reading Kringle by Tony Abbott
I hope this doesn’t spoil a gift for someone on my gift list reading this blog. There’s a book that I have run across that caught my attention, and is the No. 1 gift this year. Three Cups of Tea