Making Time to Read

I'm not doing much reading these days. That's a problem, as reading is by far my favorite hobby and an intrinsic part of who I am. Yet I can't remember the last time I lost myself in a good book. It's been close to two months, at least. Most of the reading I do now is informational or by assignment. I just read two Dale Carnegie books and while they were good, it's not the same as disappearing into a different world.

When we were traveling this weekend, I found a couple of great books I'd like to read. One was a biography of Marie Antoinette and the other is a book called "The Colony: The Harrowing True Story of the Exiles of Molokai."  It's about the leper colony established on the island of Molokai in Hawaii and the people (lepers and non) who were forced there. That book had blurbs from Tracy Kidder and Paul Theoroux, two writers I admire, and I'm kicking myself for not just having bought it in the airport. I balk at paying $30 for a book though--that's why God made libraries and Edward McKay's (2ndhand bookstore).

I've got meetings most of today but should be home around 4. I'm marching myself straight to the library and checking out no less than 4 books and I am going to make finding time to read more of a priority in life.  If I can find time to watch, "My Name is Earl," I can find the time to turn the pages of a book.

Do you go through reading stages? For years, all I read was history and biography. Then I spent 6 months on archeology (having it to do over again, I'd study forensic archeology in school). Then there was the chick lit stage (not a pretty period), then the classics, then sci-fi, then two years of almost solely non-fiction. This past year or two has been a mish-mash of reading--young adult, middle grade, fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks (I like looking at the pretty pictures), and reading the manuscripts and stories of fellow writers.

I just hopped over to Amazon and they have The Colony for $12 so I'm going to buy it. A little reward for...well, I don't know but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Book suggestions, anyone? I love to know what people are reading.