I love to read. I have always loved to read.
I remember some of my favorite Golden Books from before I could read them myself. There was "The Very Best Home for Me" about the woodland animals that lived together in cozy disharmony, mostly over food and who went in search of homes where they could have food that better suited their particular appetites. Another was about the Campbell Soup Kids and the main thing I remember about that book was a recipe that consisted of a leaf of lettuce on a salad plate, topped with a pineapple ring into which half a banana was placed (pointed end up), a dab a mayonnaise on the banana tip and a maraschino cherry on top. I remember making and eating that salad. Now that I think about it, it was a weird salad, to say the least.
I went to the library as soon as I was old enough to go and got piles of books to read. I don't remember what they were, but there were piles of them. I still do that. Once a week, I take my library bag to our local library and fill it with books. I don't read all of them, but I figure if I get enough of them, I'll find one or two that I'll enjoy. Sometimes, I don't particularly enjoy any of them, so I have to go back and give it another try.
I favor mysteries, particularly short mystery stories. I think I've read all of the Mystery Writers of America best picks for every year since the beginning of time. Other times, I love true adventure stories about mountain climbers, shipwrecks, being stranded somewhere and other exciting stuff. I think I've listed some in my Favorite Books list here on the blog.
I'm reading a book right now called "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. I just picked it off of the shelf and it's good - sort of. I've been pretty absorbed in it for two days and I have to say that it is kind of starting to wear on me. It was the author's first book and so it is somewhat too clever and I would say, a little unpolished. However, it has kept my attention for long periods of time, so it must be pretty OK. It started out as a small town memoir and then somewhere along the line I feel the author began a subtle and sometimes not so subtle campaign to really put down her religious upbringing. Once that started, it sort of lost it's charm for me. I just wanted to laugh and be entertained, not assaulted by her need to purge. I don't imagine I'll read another of her novels.
Occasionally, I like a good western. However, I really only like one writer - Elmer Kelton. He is just wonderful. His stories are simple, good hearted, well written and keep your interest. My husband is also a fan. I got him started and both of us have read most of the Elmer Kelton in the library. My favorite Elmer Kelton character is Huey Calloway - a tough old cowboy who works hard, loves his horse, requires little maintenance and doesn't want to be tied down. Elmer Kelton has written a few novels starring Huey - they are super.
There was a time when I wanted to marry Sherlock Holmes. This was a long time ago before I realized that he was a little to anal for my tastes. Plus, he strikes me as probably not capable of any type of romantic feeling, although I think there was one story where there was a woman of interest......... Whatever the case, my love interest in Sherlock Holmes has long been dead.
Think I'll go peruse my bag of books and read.
