I'm turning into a...

BOOK

WORM!

Or maybe just a nerd. I don't know. But I have been reading a lot lately.

My turning into a book worm is probably due to some/all of the following reasons:

1) Reading books is a good way to keep from doing my homework or other things I should be doing, as I just can't get as mad at myself for putting off things I should be doing to read because well, at least reading is a good thing, right? It's like when I was a kid...I knew that if I was supposed to be, let's say weeding the garden or something, but it was too hot outside and the potato bugs and their promiscuity was grossing me out, that reading was a good second option. Because if my mom caught me down in the cool basement reading I'd be in a lot less trouble then if she caught me sleeping or playing Nintendo or fighting with my brothers, etc. Now that I'm in charge of myself I guess I do the same thing. If I don't want to do what I should be doing then I at least try to chose something I know my mom would approve of. Moms do that to you.

2) I'm getting old and I think that old people read a lot.

3) I like reading. Even though it takes longer to read than it does to watch a movie, reading sticks with me more. You get to imagine things your own way.

4) I've discovered the greatness of books on tape (aka books on iPod) and how you can listen to a book and multi-task by cleaning or exercising. Then you really feel good about yourself. And it makes me feel less like a time waster when I'm doing mundane tasks like cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc.

5) I, for the first time in my life, am part of a book club. I can't say we're really too serious about it or professional. We get together at a restaurant once a month and usually spend the whole first 98% of our time just chatting and then we talk about the book at the very end, if for no other reason then so we can call ourselves a book club.

Anyway, this month's book club book is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I just finished listening to it tonight and I loved it. It is kind of a detailed story, especially at the first, but the details really give you a feel for life in Brooklyn in the early 1900's and most of the details become important later in the story. I would highly recommend the book. It is one of the best books I've read/listened to in a long time. I listened to it though so maybe reading it would be different. (5 Becca Stars)

Other books that I can remember reading recently and what I think...

To Kill a Mockingbird: How in the world did I make it to age 30 without ever reading this book? I don't know why I never had to read it in high school as I took an AP Literature class and had to read what felt like every book in the world published at that time. The only reason I even read it now was that I was at DI right before going to Panama, looking for a book to take with me, and it was 50 cents and the DI was closing for the night so I just grabbed it as it was the first book that I recognized the title to. Anyway, I'm sure most of you have read it already but I liked it and would recommend it to those who haven't had to read it. (4 and a half Becca Stars)

The Help: I really liked this book. I listened to it on tape and I thought the reader did a good job and would highly recommend it. It is about the southern U.S. during the 1960's. (4 and a half Becca Stars)

The Book Thief: I really liked this book. It is about the Holocaust but from a little non-Jew German girl's point of view. And the narrator of the story is death, which was interesting. I've read a lot of books on the Holocaust but most are written from the Jewish perspective and from inside the death camps so this was a new good twist. (Warning: Do prepare yourselves to hear/read "Oh, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" about 100 times.) (4 and a half Becca Stars)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: Crazy title but a good book. It is just a simple little story but I learned a lot and would recommend it. (4 and a half Becca Stars)

Things Fall Apart: I really liked this book. It is pretty short and is an easy read. It was written in the 1950's by a Nigerian. It is very famous so you all may have already read it. I will warn you, if you haven't read much about Africa it might freak you out a little. Just some of their beliefs/actions are a little crazy to us, like killing twins and stuff. (4 and a half Becca Stars)

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers: Actually a really interesting book. If you are at all squeamish though I wouldn't recommend it. For those who aren't easily grossed out I would highly recommend it. So, it all depends on you. (4 Becca Stars)

The Family That Couldn't Sleep: I had to read this for a class, but it was pretty good. For other nerdy science types I would recommend it, but for non-science-lovers, I would not. It is about Prion diseases like Kuru, Fatal Familial Insomnia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (human version of Mad Cow disease), etc. Oh, and if you like hamburgers then I would highly NOT recommend this book to you as you will never want to eat hamburger again. (3 Becca Stars)

The Forgotten Garden: Very detailed and kind of weird but I liked it anyway. I don't know if everyone would like this but I liked it. (4 Becca Stars)

The Alchemist: Okay, so it seems that EVERYBODY IN THE WORLD loves this book, but I honestly didn't love it that much. It was okay. It teaches a lot of good lessons and actually has a lot of things that could be tied to the gospel, but I'd rather just read the Book of Mormon. You get more points in heaven for reading that anyway. (3 Becca Stars)

Eat, Pray, Love: I wouldn't really recommend this book to my average blog reader. As an older single woman there were parts of her book that I totally related to and liked, but overall, I wouldn't recommend it. (2 and a half Becca Stars)

The Painted Veil: The book was pretty good, but the movie is better, and the book and movie are pretty different. (3 and a half Becca Stars)

The Female Brain (aka: the new Men are from Mars Women are from Venus): I didn't really like this book. I mean it was okay but I didn't feel that it really taught me anything new. All I really got out of it is that men and women are really different which complicates life. Duh. I already knew that. The science behind why men and women are so different and don't really get each other is interesting, but I felt like I'd already learned all those things in biology class. (3 Becca Stars)

Well, that's all the books I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll think of more as soon as I post this, but oh well. Email me or leave a comment if you have any specific questions/comments about any of the books.

I hope my list gives you some ideas for books to read or not to read this holiday season. Oh, and if you have recently read any books that you have love love loved then please let me know in your comment. I'm looking for some new good reads.