My Other Love....Reading Books, a Lifelong Addiction

I have one love, besides my family, that has been a constant with me since I was a child--my love for, and addiction to, reading...

From the time I learned to read, I couldn't put books down. I started with the "Dick and Jane" series in 1st grade, and I can still remember how enthralled I was with those books. It was the beginning of a lifelong obsession. I started going to the school library as soon as I was allowed, and would soon be lost in my own world, reading titles and choosing the perfect book to take with me.

I would also beg my mom to buy books for me every time my teacher would hand out the Scholastic Book order forms. There's no explaining the thrill I got when those orders came back, and the teacher would hand me those brand new books. For several years, my brother and I would receive a new Dr. Seuss book in the mail once a month. I can still remember going to the post office to pick up our mail, and seeing that little blue slip of paper in our box, telling us we had a package to pick up at the window...and there it would be--a brand new Dr. Seuss story to enjoy!

Luckily for me, we lived in a very small town, so once I got old enough, I could walk to the library whenever I wanted, so I never had a shortage of books at my disposal. I can remember walking in the door to our tiny library and heading straight for my favorite book sections, excited to know that I could bring home as many books as I wanted!

I didn't spend all of my time reading, though--I did all of the things that other kids did, too...playing with friends, riding bikes, and swimming in the summer, ice-skating in the winter...but I always found time to read. Rainy days never bothered me--I would just grab a book and go to my bedroom, and then I was immediately immersed in the lives of the book's characters, who would draw me deep into their adventures.

The older I got, the more options I had, as far as types of books to chose from. I preferred fiction, but I occasionally read biographies. My favorite bio as a young teen was "The Diary of Anne Frank", which both fascinated and horrified me at the same time. I've never forgotten the impact that book had on me.

I went through a long spell in my 20's where I read only romance novels, but not long after Tom and I married, I realized I didn't need to read them anymore...I was living my own romance novel, lol...

One day about that time, an overnight guest of ours left behind a Dean Koontz novel. I picked it up and, out of curiousity, skimmed the first few pages--and that was all it took. Next thing I knew I was finishing that one, and hurrying to the library to look for more of his books. That was 20 years ago, and since then I have collected every one of his books, and have read then many times over...His books led me to Stephen King, and many other authors of that genre.

I also started reading murder mysteries. There were so many good authors in this area that I had an endless supply to pick from, so I continue to read those even now...my favorite author in this field is Diane Mott Davidson, who writes about a Colorado caterer who always ends up embroiled in solving murders--if you've never read her, definitely check her out!

When our younger son, Larkin, was about 11 years old, he started reading Harry Potter books. He bugged me constantly to read them, but I kept telling him that I was too old to read about wizards and magic. He swore that I would love them, though, and one night, when I walked into our bedroom, there was a Harry Potter book lying on my pillow, courtesy of Larkin.

So, I caved in and decided to give it a chance...long story short, I read the whole book that evening! He was right--I loved them, and before long, I had read all four of the ones he had. We both anxiously awaited each new book in the series, so we could buy it and take turns reading it. We were so disappointed when the series ended...

So I guess you could say that I have eclectic tastes when it comes to books--but I just can't help myself...I recently thinned out my book collection from about 300 books down to 100, since we downsized and we just didn't have room for all of them anymore...

But...I just won't part with my collections of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Dianne Mott Davidson, and Harry Potter...oh, and not to mention my Little House Books, that I started reading as a child, and still go back and read sometimes to this day!

Addiction? Obsession? I guess maybe it is, but I just can't help myself!