Book Harlot

Quite a while back, I read an article entitled something like "The 14 3/4 Different Kinds of Readers". The article talked about the different ways people read books; some only read nonfiction, some pick up books and never finish, some can only read one book at a time, and some people pretend to read (and so on and so forth). I'm pretty sure that, after I read this article, I thought to myself that I was more of a one-book type of person, with maybe brief diversions into other books for book club or other good reasons.

Boy, was I wrong.

I started thinking about this on the way home from Bible study tonight (no clue what triggered this totally random train of thought), and I realized that I have a lot of books just sitting around my apartment that I've started but haven't yet finished. For one reason or another I keep getting distracted, and then borrow/buy a new book that I start, and then I get distracted, and the cycle continues. Perhaps the funniest thing to me, however, is some of the diversity in my book choices, so I thought I'd share (maybe this will also shame me into actually finishing some of them).

• The Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien): I started trying to read this one again for the first time since junior high in preparation for the endless series of movies that start coming out this winter. I detoured from this one to read the latest novel a friend had written, however, and my only regret is that I left Bilbo about to confront Smaug the dragon...poor guy, waiting there all this time.
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Mary Ann Shaffer): an excellent book that I started rereading for book club. This one might have to go back on the shelf for a while...at least until my to-read list gets shorter. :)
• Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories (Agatha Christie): I've read most of these before, but started rereading them once I got this one-volume collection. I forget how long it's been sitting on my nightstand; this is probably another one that needs to go back to my bookshelf for a time.
• Bioethics & the Christian Life (David VanDrunen): a Christmas/birthday present from my parents that I've been slowly working through. It's hard to sit down and read long portions of it, since I need time and brainpower to think through what he's saying, but I love what I've read so far.
• The Rogue Crew (Brian Jacques): the last book in a series that's been one of my favorites since I was 9. It's been so long since I picked this up, I probably just need to start over.
• Creators: From Chaucer and Dürer to Picasso and Disney (Paul Johnson): a recommendation from my sister-in-law (and subsequently my pastor), this book is basically a series of essays on various creators (writers, composers, artists, etc) and their lives/works. I haven't made it very far yet, but it's been an interesting read so far.
• Mere Christianity (C.S. Lewis): I've been meaning to read some of Lewis's works (I mean, besides one involving Narnia or other planets) for a very long time, and finally started a while ago. I tend not to read it unless I feel like thinking, so it often gets put aside until another time.

I better get reading fast, since my list of books yet to read is still very long! Though I'm always accepting more recommendations :).