A to Z Challenge + Theme

I'm participating in the A to Z Challenge again this year. I participated in 2012, but life got in the way in 2013 and 2014. But I'm back again this year and ready to rock :)

For the A to Z Challenge you post everyday of April except for Sundays, meaning 28 posts, one for each letter of the alphabet. So you start on the 1st April with a post relating to 'A', then the 2nd April is 'B' and so on. The idea is you also visit other blogs involved in the challenge throughout the month. You can find out more about the challenge, and sign up to participate here.

Many people blog with a theme, and I am one of those people. The big theme reveal was on Monday, so I am a little late getting my post up. However, my theme for this year is...  

Inspirational Author Quotes

Are you going to join in?

A New Bookstore

At a time when bookstores seem to be disappearing, it was wonderful to discover a new store had opened in our town. I was very excited to discover Harry Hartog quite by chance recently.

The store has a wonderful feel about it. Heckle and Jeckle immediately wanted to go in and browse. So we spent a glorious time looking over the bookshelves and selecting a handful of books each.

I have an ereader, and it is wonderful to use at night so my bedlight doesn't wake up others in the house. But I still love to hold a book. There's something magical about reading a physical book that my kindle doesn't have.

So I'm glad to find a new bookstore. Now I just need a new bookshelf to hold the books.

Have any new bookstores opened near you?

Little Free Library

I recently found out about Little Free Libraries (LFL). Apparently it is a growing trend with more than 21,000 of them around the world (most in the USA).

The LFL philosophy, to quote the LFL website:

It’s a “take a book, return a book” gathering place where neighbors share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share.

I love the idea. Anything to help people read is a fabulous thing in my world. And that it can create a sense of community is a bonus.

Here are some examples:

New Jersey, USA

Massachusetts, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jo Kelsey is Blogging

My dear friend, writer Jo Kelsey, has joined the blogging community. Check out her debut blog on friendship here.

Books I read in 2014

I nearly doubled my reading in 2014, having read a grand total of 135 books.

ClipartPanda

I 'd love to be able to say it's because I had so much free time that I was able to sit back and read. Unfortunately that isn't the case. I was ultra busy in 2014, working well into the early hours of the morning on most days. I think my body forgot how to sleep. When I went to bed I couldn't shut my brain off so I'd read to get to sleep. I also couldn't sleep for more than an hour at a time. Then I'd find myself wide awake - so I'd read.

Sad to say, but my large reading count is, rather perversely, due to how overworked I was.

2015 is going to be different. I am changing things in my life to try and get a better balance. One that will include reading solely for pleasure.

You can view my reading list here.