Me and My Books

In the last year I have taken a complete 180 degree turn with my view towards reading. I have read books before this year, but never finished them. I would read enough to know how the story would end then get bored with it. I even did this with class assigned books...don't tell my teacher. Anyways, it wasn't till my ninth grade year that I enjoyed, and finished, my class assigned books. I actually picked up and read a book for myself that wasn't a class assignment. Once I finished that book I picked up another one and finished that too. I guess it helps that my parents have a library collection of books in the house. I have never, not once wanted to spend any part of my summers reading a book. When I was in Montana I found it quite pleasing to sit down and read a book that I liked. When I finished a book I picked up another and read that too. I am a VERY slow reader so it may not seem like I read a lot of books to you, but for me I am becoming quite the reader. So far I have read: Speak, Dove, Animal Farm, Lance Armstrong, Recovering Charles, Wednesday Letters, Why I Believe, Timepiece, and The Letter. I decided that the next book I am going to finish is The Christmas Sweater because I gave it to a friend for Christmas. My friends and I went to the Library yesterday. Sadly, they didn't have the book that I wanted. But I did go to Barnes and Noble with the same friends today and they did have another book that I have been wanting to read. I didn't bring my money with me, but this gave me a great idea. I have been wondering where on earth I would get my first job. I now plan on working at a book store. If I work at a book store I can read the books without having to buy them...it sounds illegal, but fun. If anyone has any suggestions for books that I should read, my comment page would be the place to spill your ideas.

(One more thing.)

I went to the library to get a book that I've been wanting to read. They didn't have it, so I went to the desk and they ordered it from a Portland library. Two days later they called and I picked it up. I had not clue what this book was about, only that it's my friend's and dad's favorite book. I thought, oh if it's her favorite book than it must be good. I didn't want to pass up a good book. When I got the book I was disappointed and excited at the same time. First off, it was only a 110 paged book that looked REALLY old. I thought, I have been searching everywhere for this? it better be good. but at the same time I was excited because it, being a short book, meant I could finish it in a day and get back to my other book. Boy was I wrong. I got home and started reading the Introduction. Within the first two paragraphs I was in need of a dictionary. After five pages of gibberish, I gave up on finishing the rest of the Introduction. I started the book. Right off the bat, I was confused. I kept reading in hopes that it would clear up eventually. Early on in my reading I pulled out a dictionary. This book had the weirdest words. It even spelt color wrong. I kept reading; I was determined to finish this book that I had worked so hard to find. The day was at its end, and I was only at page 19. That in itself tells you how hard this book was. I decided that if I couldn't recall anything that I had just read, it was time to quit. I gave the book one last chance, and I opened to the last page (this is something I tend to do with all my books.) I read the last page and was lost once again. I flipped to the second to last page and read that too. There was no way that I was going to try to read this book. I took out my book mark and shelved the book. I'll never know what that book was about or what message I would have gotten from reading it. But one thing I do know is that my dad and friend must be amazing readers to have that as one of their favorite books.

I'm debating whether or not I should tell you what book it was. I don't want to crush someone's dreams of reading it too. But then again, I don't want anyone to go through the torture of reading it after their painstaking efforts in finding it. I've decided to reveal the book that caused me to sweet bullets finding and reading it. The book is......Heart of Darkness, by Joesph Conrad.