It is a beautiful sunny Spring day in Chicago. The kind of day that puts a smile on my face and energy in my attitude. Oddly, these are the days I tend to find motivation to do some cleaning... an indoor activity. Go figure. Today I attacked my front bedroom. Well, calling it a bedroom might be a bit misleading. The entire room is about the size of a queen bed and there is no closet. I suppose it is more of an office that has morphed into a large storage closet. I shall put on my rose colored glasses and call it my library. While still in need of a number of hours of elbow grease, the room is starting to resemble that romanticised description. It sure is full of books. Books, a desk, more books, a comfy arm chair, additional books, Christmas decorations that I am too lazy to carry up to the attic, and (of course) books.
I did not realize just how many books there were. You see, I have this coworker. About a year and a half ago we discovered that we shared a love of trashy romance. I wasn't alone! We began passing along the books we were reading. What a great way to read new books without having to buy all of them. There is one small issue: our ideas of quality romance are not the same. I think I may have gotten the short end of the stick. While I was passing along my Nora Roberts, Lisa Kleypas, and Julia Quinn, she was giving me Diana Palmer, Leigh Greenwood, and category romances. I know, I know. There are good category romances out there. Just... not most of these. (It should be mentioned that she buys most of her books at a used book store. Most of the wonderful titles don't find their way to those shops. On occasion yes, but not as often.) Ah well, what we lack in quality is made up for in quantity. I have a ton of books that she has passed my way. How many? Take a look!
The problem is, I have little to no desire to read most of these books. Some look good. (The Nora Roberts and some Catherine Coulter.) Some are books I purchased. (Kim Harrison and Teresa Medieros) Most are from her. How do I motivate myself to read them? How can I justify additional book purchases when I have so many waiting to be read? Now, don't think those are my only books. I have a pile from the library. A pile I want to reread. A bookshelf full of titles I have previously read and refuse to pass along (I just LOVE them!)
How do you justify a new book purchase? How do you find the motivation to pick up a book that does not excite you?
I am about to start a new book. Time is a consideration right now. My book club deadline is in two weeks and I need to reread Enchanted Inc. I have grades due on Thursday for nearly 700 students. There are other real life responsibilities looming. BUT I WANT TO READ!!! And that pile of books is mocking me. Therefore, I shall snag one of the category romances. It is short and, good lord!, the title is just so horrifying! How could I not read it?
So what do you think? Horrible? Horribly good? What do you think it will be about? Will I need to scrub my brain with a Q-tip afterwards? Am I completely crazy?
