good reads

Do you go to the public library or do you purchase your books?
  I decided this year that I was going to quit buying books if at all possible. I still purchase books for professional references, but I'm definitely cutting back on the other reading materials.  I love paperbacks, and keeping two or three around waiting to be read is my usual habit.  But it seems as the price of books go up, and magazines cost the same as paperbacks these days, I've just got to much invested into what I call disposable reading. 
So in comes the library. Heading to the library is much different than Costco,  Barnes & Noble or my favorite Borders.  I usually check the what's new shelf, to see if anything sitting there grabs me.  Occasionally I'm lucky but not always.  Than I head to the isles where a few of my favorite authors are.  I look for anything new by those authors and then start hunting around.   Gabaldon is one of my absolute faves and she has a new book out, but I'm too lazy to reserve it.  Patricia Cornwall, along with Kathy Reich's were once on my list of must reads.   Recently I started to read Janet Evanovich.  She is a popular author here but I had not really delved into her works. But now, I'm starting down her shelf. 
After finding a handful of books, which may include a few good novels and book from the crochet area, and a cook or gardening book, I will sit down in a big chair by the magazines and peruse those for awhile before checking out.   It has cut down on some of the clutter.  And if I can make myself get rid of several of the paperbacks in my bookshelves, I will definitely be happier.

I read the "Widow's Season " by Laura Brodie while in San Francisco. This is one of the novels you pick up and wonder about, but give it a chance anyways.  It's a little bit about supernatural, but its also about the grieving process you go thru when a loved one dies.  I would highly recommend this book.

I then was desperate for something to read, so had to break down and purchase a book..The winner: Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks.  I would much rather read one of his books than see the film.  And if I'm going to see the film, I really want to read the book first.  I don't always desire to read a novel made into a movie, but I find that very often the books are much better as the time limit on a movie restricts the story telling. 

One thing I have found over time is that I go thru moods- or types of books that I find enthralling.  When I was younger a  newlywed- I loved romance novels.  My best friend at the time also was into this genre- so we shared books. Kathleen Woodiwiss, Nora Roberts, etc.  Later I took a fancy to Stephen King- actually he has visited my reading several different times over the years.  I'm not a constant fan, but can get wrapped into some of his stories. Following that I had to go to the Robin Cook books and any other medical thriller I could find.  Hence my love for Patricia Cornwall, and Kathy Reichs and Tess Gueritson falls into this genre.  Then I went into the ABC series mystery.

With the book club I joined I have read some items that I would not normally have picked up, but often find these books somewhat tedious. Live Eat Pray all though a favorite of many is one of the books I've disliked the most in my life.  I grew up with classic literature, mystery, fiction, non fiction, religious books, biographies, and what ever else entered our house.  By the time I was a teenager I ready whatever my mother brought home.  She was and avid library fan, as was my grandmother.  My mother could read a book a day, despite working full time and raising a family of three children.  It was her favorite past time. 
The great thing about reading is that its entertainment at your own pace.  Whether you read fast or slow, it doesn't really matter.  You can pick the style of read you like, and imagine your own version of characters.

I hope you find a good read to entertain yourself this week.