I love reading. Right now I have so many things to read that I barely know where to start. Some I have to read because I’ve made commitments to review them, so they should come first. Some I just want to read and they usually come last. There are piles of books I’ve purchased all around my desk.

I look at the covers and get excited. I read the blurbs and think, oh yeah, this one is next. Then I get something that needs to come first and the things I want to read get pushed back. I do try to read a couple of things at a time but I find that more distracting than helpful. I’m a fast reader and I do better with one book at a time.

The only time I’m not a fast reader is when I’m not enjoying a book. Then it’s as painful as pulling teeth. Why don’t I stop reading? Because, unless it is absolutely atrocious, I try to give the author the benefit of the doubt that it might get better. I think I’ve only ever not read two books. But those two were both out of my comfort zone as far as content and not well written so that was two marks against them.

Back to my to be read pile. Since I also need to write my own books and raise a family, I realise my time is very limited. One way I’ve worked around this is to read in the times that would normally be wasted sitting around times. For example, I have to wait to pick my oldest child up at school and he’s often the last one out (he tends to get sidetracked on his way out the door) so I take my Palm loaded with ebooks, or an actual physical book, in the car with me. If I have my Palm with me then whenever there is a wait I pull it out and read. This has worked well so far and I’ve been able to read more than I could have otherwise. Over Christmas break I barely got any reading done as all of us were home and the only time I was in the car was to rush around from one thing to the next, no waiting.

Hmm. Who knew waiting for someone could turn into a positive thing.