I never met a book I didn't like.

That's actually not true. I hated being forced to read The Sound and the Fury in high school and the term stream-of-consciousness evokes a shudder ever since (unless it's my own, of course). But for the most part, I enjoy reading a variety of authors and genres. Or at least I used to. Now I'm lucky to skim through a magazine article uninterrupted, much less escape to another place and time compliments of someone's literary artistry. I now turn to the good old boob-tube (why is it called that?) for entertainment and enlightenment because small hands cannot disturb or destroy it as well as the more important factor being that I can feed, diaper, fold laundry, exercise etc. at the same time.

I love the idea of sitting in bed, propped up by pillows in the soft glow of the side table lamp, or even better, one mounted on the wall behind me, engrossed in a tale (and since I'm fantasizing, I'm also wearing cute p.j.'s, the children are tucked in, and the kitchen is clean). I always imagined that staying home with the children would provide plenty of time to read and here I am, nearly four years later, still waiting for the chance to pick up the latest New York Times bestseller instead of Brown Bear, Brown Bear for the umpeenth time. Even the days of reading on an airplane, gone, especially now that the FDA condemns the use of antihistamines in children (disclaimer-I have personally never drugged my child, although it is tempting). I'm not a bathroom reading type, but if I were, I wouldn't be alone long enough to read the foreword. This is sad to me because I come from a reading family. Everyone always "has their nose in a book". Growing up, we were only allowed 30 minutes of TV a week (I couldn't wait for Full House - TGIF!), so reading was a natural hobby. Although hardly fine literature, I loved The Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley Twins as well as the Indian in the Cupboard series and Little House on the Prairie! My mom, who knows best, would pay us ($1) to read classics and books she thought we should read. I'm thankful for that.

So what's all this leading up to? Well, I'm reading again! Not just reading, but devouring, and I'm so excited. Two factors contributed to this. Firstly, my friend April, who has two children, still reads...as I learned from from her blog, which in turn inspired me to attend our wards bookclub meeting. I wasn't sure if I would like reading what they suggested so I read the excerpts of the book they would be discussing on Amazon and went, hoping at the least to be able to meet new friends and find some other adults to talk to. Bonus - a selection of goodies from the Portuguese bakery. But the real bonus was the selection of books they have been reading or have slated to read. A couple I have read or am reading, and a few have been made into movies or are being made, hopefully well. I will be commenting on books as I read them but would love to know what you're reading, or raving about, or if you have any comments on the selections below. Meanwhile, Brown Bear Brown Bear what do you see...