September 7, 2009

A Thirst for Books

Our family loves books. Michael is always reading at least 4 non-fiction books and on average finishes 3 a month. When we go to the library I check out 20+ highly selective* books for the kids and Haley reads them all the first day...which is really frustrating when I want to read some to them. My little bookworm.

Haven can't read yet but he really wants to. He knows that when he learns he gets his own Bible and that has him very motivated. The other day at Hastings we found a paperback NKJV Bible for $1.49! I'm not afraid of this one getting "used" by Haven and Paisley. This is perfect for Haven during family worship, as he is always wanting to follow along.

As for me, I too love to read, if only I made more time for it. I have a particular genre that makes me feel wonderful all over when I read them. It may be a little weird to most people but I can vividly remember how and why this love came about. Black history is a deep love of mine to read about.

In high school I would read scary novels one after another but I wouldn't say I "loved" reading. It wasn't until my first college history class that my interest in books jumped and my draw to Black history began. My professor assigned Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody and I could not put it down. It remains at the top of my favorite list.

Since then I have read a number of similar books. Most recently Black Like Me and currently Uncle Tom's Cabin. I can't believe I am just now reading Uncle Tom's Cabin! What an amazing literary piece. I would not let the thickness of the book discourage you from reading it. You will be blessed by it for sure.

Maybe it's my tendency to want to take care of everyone and fix injustice that keeps me reading these books. I know that blacks do get freedom. It's a lot like living through the tribulations in life with hope because we know in the end victory is ours as Christians.

I'm also reading Because the Time is Near by John Macarthur (study on Revelations) and Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem (sunday school class).

I have 2 other books on my nightstand that I am resisting the urge to start because I really want to finish UTC...before Christmas!

The books "on deck" are The Story of My Life by Helen Keller and In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick.

* by highly selective I mean we don't just go in and let the kids pick whatever they want. You have to be careful what you let your children read. Also we don't get books that are all pictures with 5 simple words per page. Pictures are nice but we want to encourage a love of words in our children.

I have the kids sit at a little table while I go around and flip through random books. If the words are challenging and there are lots of them then it goes in the pile. If I happen to fall in love with the pictures while I'm browsing I'll get it too ;) I'm a softy for Willy and Hugh .

Who'd have thought that I'd ever get my grocery budget in check then have to worry about the "Education" budget. At least I can blame that one on Michael.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Our house is loaded with books. We get the vast majority of them from thrift stores. Selective (and inexpensive) shopping has filled our house with hundreds of books in excellent condition. We've done a good job of selling some on eBay, too.

Cindi @ Rustique Art said...

I used to buy books and hide them under the dresser so hubby wouldn't know how many I bought....
Finally one day when I was looking for a book to read, he said: "why don't you look under your dresser?"
BUSTED!!!! Like I was really hiding anything from him. Thank the Lord he shares my love for books too. In fact that is how we spent our Labor Day off...at Half Price Books, just browsing, selling and of course buying more!

Grateful for Grace said...

Oh, we love books too! Such a great 'habit' to have. ;-)