Oh my. Today I finally realised that I have a problem. A big one. Actually, huge. For the last couple of years my friends have been trying to tell me that I have an obsession with buying cook books. Yes, I agree. However, today reality hit that not only is it cook books, but books in general. Only good ones though!
I have loved reading since about Year 10 when my lovely sister handed me Sidney Sheldon's 'Rage of Angels'. I had never really been into reading before that (except as a kid of course - I adored Enid Blyton - especially the 'Naughtiest Girl at School' and 'Amelia Jane' - does that tell you something?) My first few years at high school I didn't do very well in English.
I'm pretty sure in Year 7 I received a D and Year 8 & 9 a C. But...after I read my first 'adult' book, I was hooked. I loved that book and will never forget it being my first loved adult novel. The next book I read was Sidney Sheldon's 'Bloodline' another great novel. (Actually I still have it, and must now add it to my 'to read' list). Anyway, in Year 10 I elected to study English Lit as well as our compulsory English.
This was a new found love in my life, and I not only went on to receive a B in Eng Lit that year, but by VCE I scored an A+. All thanks to my sis passing on Sidney Sheldon. I even experimented in writing my own stories at the time (very weird ones - I remember one was about Barbie dolls turning homicidal - but they got great marks) but for now I'll leave that to my creative pal who has just started her own blog 'More Than Words' (http://daretopublicise.blogspot.com/). It has only been a week or so since she started it, and I am hooked. Every morning, as I settle down to start work, the first thing I do is check her blog. Already I find her writing so creative and clever. I'm looking forward to reading more and learning more about her every day. Mrs More Than Words is the one who has inspired me to start this blog!
Why have I realised that I have a mild obsession? Well, after sending a book recommendation to a friend (Frosty), she then forwarded it on one of her friends (Alternate Bookclub Girl - aka ABG) who then went on and instantly purchased my recommendations from a UK website (see, I'm not the only obsessed one), which is very cheap compared to OZ and has free postage. ABG then told Frosty about it and Frosty passed on the name of the website to me as she knew that if she did, that I would then buy books for her to read. Smart move Frosty. Was she right? Umm.....if buying 14 books that very night means yes, well then, yes. She ain't dumb. Mind you, I do research the books I want to buy and will only buy ones that come highly recommended. Again, Frosty knows this. Sneaky girl.
However, that was not when I realised I had a mild obsession. It was the next morning after I had decided that I had better blog the books that I own so my friends can share and borrow them, that I went through my cupboard to see which books I had lined up to read. A few years ago I spent my birthday money buying a lot of books online from Dymocks/Borders/Readers Top 100. I have managed to read quite a lot of them since then (and loved every one of them), but not all. For the sole purpose of starting this blog, I counted them up and listed them down. Including my newly purchased ones I am yet to receive, it came to a mere.........64.........o oh....
Time to put a brake on buying books I think. However, 'Mockingjay' - the final instalment of the Hunger Games trilogy is coming out in a week so I'll HAVE to buy that to read straight away. You understand of course. And then there is 'The Help' that is currently out of stock in paperback in my new fav UK bookstore, so when that does come back in, of course I will have to buy that. Oh, and I suppose there is the John Marsden 'Tomorrow' series, that having read the first one, I'll now have to buy the rest. There are only 7 in the series and I already have number 2 and 3 (2 is currently with Mrs More Than Words, and 3 I bought today - only because I was at Target and saw it for $12. I've been keeping an eye out for it over the last week and no one else had it in stock, so of course, it had to be purchased right then and there.) Oh, I just remembered that 'Lies' comes out here soon, also the 3rd installment of the 'Gone' trilogy, so yeah, well, you know..... But that's it - I promise!
So, what will my blog going to be about? For starters, I'll list my 'What I am currently reading' list seeing as I am sort of in the middle of 4 books. Only because I started some then put them down half way through and started another. That's going to be my first rule. Pick a book and finish it. Second rule, (thanks to Mrs More Than Words suggestion) I don't loan out any books I haven't already read. She says to do that as it will make sure that I do read them. I think its so I only pass her on good books! Once I have finished each book, I'll jot down my thoughts about it. I will add a blog of my 'To Be Read List' - the 64. Then I will also add the other books I have on my bookshelf worth reading that I have actually already read. Of course, i'll also have my favorites etc so that you know the real goodies.
Well, I have rambled on long enough. Time to actually get on with reading I suppose. My first book that I'm going to start reading and blogging with is 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. I actually read this before in high school and loved it, so even though it is a repeat reading, it's going to be my number one. From then on, I'll dive into the 64....
Until next time...
