What 1 Book Would You Want to be Buried With?

Up until the last couple of years the word “reading” wasn’t even in my vocabulary. Reading has become part of my daily routine.

I wish I could say that I am a fast reader but I read at a slow pace in order to process every word printed on the page. Maybe it’s my ADD, “Attention to Detail” Disorder that causes this innate meticulous behavior. It could also be the fact that I have two children that are constantly interrupting and needing my attention?

Trying to read is much the same as a mother answering or making a phone call. Every mom knows that once she picks up the phone or a good book there is always a child nearby in dire need of some important question to be answered such as, “Mom, can Braxton spend the night?” Or a sibling spat commences. Or something in the house is missing and only Mom, can find it at that exact moment.

Reading has become a habit that I have acquired since the kids have gotten older. My sister is nine years younger than I with two little ones at home.

She asked me, “Did you read a lot when your kids were younger?”

To which I replied, “The back of cereal boxes, internet news headlines, Dr. Seuss and once in a while a parenting magazine.”

When the kids are little it is tough to pick up a good book and escape. I remember seeing a bumper sticker that read, “I make milk, what’s your superpower?” That was my story not so long ago and the thought of extra-curricular activities such as reading wasn’t a thought at all. The idea of finishing a whole book was as funny as Ellen Degeneres becoming an American Idol judge.

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Let me encourage you mothers all over the world; there is a light at the end of the tunnel. It starts at the beginning of the school day. Unless you choose to home school, and then you’ll need to speak to an experienced home schooling mom to find out if reading beyond textbooks is fiction or non-fiction.

I have found that reading while the kids are in school or at night after they have fallen asleep are the best times to squeeze in my quiet time. Of course, this means sacrificing cleaning the house during the day and watching some of my “must see” TV shows in the evenings. The indulgence is worth the payoff once I finish a book and am strengthened, rewarded and educated.

This year my goal has been to read a book a month and I have already surpassed my goal by reaching 14 1/2 in the month of September. For a list of these books and reviews please visit my blog at www.franzlifeinthefishbowl.blogspot.com. In my blog I also explain why I only read half of one of the books I began reading.

May I take this time to encourage you all to pick up a book and read? Time restraints, media and technological outlets and the great outdoors always seemed to be a better choice. However, after taking some time to join a book club and discover the vast variety of interesting authors and genres of writing I believe I will be able to have a good book in my hand for the rest of my life.

When I breathe my last, the only book that I want to be holding in one hand is the one straight from heaven, the Bible. It’s a best-seller, inspired by God, that offers His hope and promises. It is relevant, timeless, and spans the generations. But don’t just take my word for it, check it out at the library.

Word of the Week: Each week I add a word that I have come across in my reading for which I did not know the definition. After looking it up I try to use it in my future columns. Last week’s word was chieftain, a leader of a group, band, etc.”

The Wednesday Letters/Jason F. Wright Fiction - dull 2
The Glass Castle/Jeanette Walls Memoir - stick-to-itiveness 3
Sunrise Series/Karen Kingsbury Christian fiction – goodness 3
Sister Chicks Down Under/Robin Jones Gunn Christian fiction - girly 2
Blink of an Eye/Ted Dekker Christian fiction - non-judgmental 3 Adam/Ted Dekker Christian fiction – satanism 4
Tamar, Unveiled/Francine Rivers Historical religious fiction – callous 4 Bathsheba, Unspoken/Francine Rivers Historical religious fiction -humanity 4
And the Shofar Blew/Francine Rivers Christian fiction – sinful 5
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness/Andrew Peterson Fantasy – imaginative 4
North! Or Be Eaten/Andrew Peterson Fantasy – venery 4
The Great House of God/Max Lucado Non-fiction religious – encouraging 3
Crazy Love/Francis Chan Non-fiction religious – bold truthfulness 5
The Last Lecture/Richard Pausch Non-fiction – useful 4
Tourist Season/Carl Hiassen (half read) Florida fiction – disturbing 2

My favorite author is Francine Rivers, but I do not regret reading any of these books. Each author dispensed a degree of education, comic relief and drama.

Carl Hiassen, author of Hoot, was new to my list. He is a well-known Floridian author who writes about the Sunshine State. A Florida native, I have a deep understanding of the tropical climate. Alligators abound and the belly crawler already stimulates enough fears and anxiety deep within my bones to add to the imagination. I chose to conclude my reading half way through the book.