Book Love 7, originally uploaded by birdyonmywindow.

When times get rough, the weather gets cold, when my heart gets broken, when there isn’t enough money, when someone lets me down… all I need is a good book and I will lose myself within a literary world of wonder. I love reading and all that has meant to me my entire life. I am lucky to have found such a passion for something in this world… I am lucky to have many such passions.

What are yours?

“Books are becoming everything to me. If I had at this moment any choice in life, I would bury myself in one of those immense libraries…and never pass a waking hour without a book before me.”
~ Thomas B. Macaulay

Outside, water was suspended in the air like a science experiment–an experiment that had been going on for thousands of years, and constituted the weather…

Nicole Krauss in her new book, “Great House”

I absolutely love the way she weaves words together and stitches complex human emotions into every sentence. This book is definitely worth getting. And if you are not familiar with her work, you will almost inevitably love her first book, “The History of Love“.

I am of two minds about the following uses of books. On the one hand it is very creative and putting to use something that would otherwise be discarded to clog up the landfills. On the other hand they are books! Are we certain these books would never be read again or appreciated? You can help me decide!

A book purse made (and sold) by Rebound Designs

Chair made with discarded paperbacks (hopefully romances!) by http://blog.makezine.com/

Books used to hold up a shelf -- by ThereIfixedit.com

(Photo property of Crowgyrls.com)

Stop whatever you are doing… and read! Pick a good book… go to the library, the book store. Ask me! I can recommend the right book to just about anyone. What are you feeling passionate about? What are you lacking? Tell me and I will tell you what books might fill the voids or compliment the track you are on. I love love love to read and have been doing so frequently. It is the summer of reading aloud for me. I intend on reading at least 10 books aloud. So far, so good.

What are you reading these days?

Want to read it aloud? Why not record yourself reading it and share with a friend or a stranger… why not share it with me?

…a good pair of rainboots and stripey socks can’t handle…no road too broken, no hill too high, no sadness too deep, no situation too mussed.

© BeNonsensical.com / Crowgyrls.com

Oh, the road gets so bumpy and rain falls. Good thing I love rain, love, love, love it. And bumpy roads make for great photographs, don’t they? I will move forward through the muddy times, through the sadness, through the tears and find new photographs to take, new books to read, new friends to make, new adventures, new cubbies to explore.

Life is all about the cobblestone and rubber boots. It is all about the rain and the struggles and the unexpected connections. It is about the frailty and exposed state of being exactly who you are…

…begins with one! I am about to embark upon a reading sojourn.

© Copyright 2010 BeNonsensical.com (Do not use without permission from me!)

Goal: 1000 books.

If you care to follow my journey or to join me, you can find it here…

My campaign to read aloud has been working out wonderfully! I have read 4 books out loud and 1 to myself in the past 1.75 weeks! How fun is this? Today, I read aloud Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern. It is a little over 100 pages long and an easy read and it entertained my house this afternoon for a couple of hours. It was fun. I read it aloud and we laughed together at the crazy things his father says. How fun! If you still haven’t started reading aloud, you should! Come on! Pick a book and a friend or family member and DO IT! =)

What are your waiting for?

I can definitely recommend, Sh*t My Dad Says as a quick, funny read…his father is hilarious and crass. Chelsea Handler’s father would be proud…

My intention is to read aloud at least an hour a day this summer. Every single day. So far, so good. I have read finished reading 3 books aloud this week and half alone: “The Cardturner” by Louis Sachar, “Northward to the Moon” by Polly Horvath, and “My One Hundred Adventures” by Polly Horvath. They are all juvenile fiction but they have been fun to read aloud! =) It has been nice to spend that time with people I love. I have a commitment for a few more books thus far! YAY! =) “Manic: A Memoir” by Terri Cheney starting next weekend and “Welcome to the Monkey House” by Kurt Vonnegut. Woot!

I am also reading to myself as well but it is fun to read aloud and a good diaphragm workout. =) Try it, you might just like it…and I thoroughly recommend all the books I’ve read this week…they have all been worth the read. =) Good stories, strong characters, fun reads.

December babies lose out when it comes to birthdays. People simply do not have enough time, money or energy. And inevitably celebrating our births is lumped in with the holidays. Birthday slash Christmas gifts, Christmas cards signed — “and have a happy birthday” are all too common. So, since everyone else wants to lump my birthday in with the the holidays, I decided…if you can’t beat them, join them. And join them I did.

I decided this year I would celebrate the 12 days of my birthday! YAY for 12 whole days to celebrate my birth! I fully anticipated this would be a solo celebration but I was wrong! HA! I love how those in my life indulge me in my fanciful ideas!

Today is Day 7 of the 12 days of my birthday… the halfway point and here are some of my gifts and fun!

Thanks to my friends for indulging me! =) And playing along! How fun! I also got a new game (thanks to a gifted credit!)! Yay for games! Yay for elongated birthday celebrations! =)

You can read more details here.

Suffice to say, I think a new tradition has been hatched!

I know.

I am drooling.

I need want this soooooo bad!