I have decided I want to do more reading in 2010 – like I used to do way back when before there were other things to distract me (like kids, dogs, computer/internet, scrapbooks, etc.)  I can remember reading an entire novel in a weekend. THAT never happens these days.

Anyway, to get me going on my goal of reading more, I stopped by the library last week. I had planned to pick up a book I’d read a review of on someone’s blog last week. 

That was what I went in to get.  I had even put it on reserve.

But, you know, when I walk into the library, something happens.  It’s that library book smell, I think. It beckons to me from the stacks. I can hear the books calling to me and I can’t just walk in and pick up one book and walk out. That almost seems sacrilegious. 

So, I was off to wander the stacks and see what jumped out at me. I wasn’t expecting to find anything because the last few times I’d been to the library looking for something to read, there wasn’t anything there that I was interested in.  The shelves were full of old stuff that I had read or had no interest in reading.

On a side note, I find it interesting that the libraries are becoming quite the popular place these days. I guess everyone is like we are and can’t afford the luxury of running to the closest Barnes & Noble whenever they want a new book. Every time I go in our library it is packed!  Jeez! Leave the books for me, people! 🙂

Anyway, back to the story.

I was wandering aimlessly and decided to check out the carts of books waiting to be re-shelved. After all, if it was good enough for someone else to check out, maybe I would like it, right?

Lo and behold, I found a book that looked interesting: The Friday Night Knitting Club.  How appropriate, I thought. Especially since I am now a part of a Thursday Night Knitting Club!  I picked it up and added to my pile. (I was still carrying around my reserved book at this point)

Then, I wandered through a few aisles, thinking I would probably find nothing, but I’d look around anyway since I had the time and no little people to distract me.

I stumbled across Malcolm MacDonald. Have you every heard of him? I hadn’t. But the book I picked up looked pretty interesting.  “A Notorious Woman” it’s called.

Here’s an excerpt from the book jacket:

“An orphan since early childhood, Johanna has grown up as a servant to her aunt and uncle, never expecting to escape the confines of their nineteenth-century Cornwall home. But, when she senses … the successful young doctor who has been selected as a husband for her cousin has fallen in love with her, Johanna knows she can no longer remain with her family.

Johanna’s decision to become the companion of the newly widowed… opens up a new world of social opportunity.  … remeets Hal Penrose, a childhood friend who is determined to remain free – despite his powerful realization that in Johanna he has found a soulmate at last.  His passion … does not prevent him from traveling to America to seek his fortune, and she stubbornly refuses to tell him that she is pregnant with his child.”

Sounded interesting, so it got added to my stack.

Then, I was walking out and another book caught my eye: “The Crasher” by Shirley Lord.  
It is a story about a designer who is trying to break into the fashion world of New York City and finds out by accident how easy it is to crash galas. She then uses these events to showcase her creations and penetrates the upper echelons of society. All is well until one night things go too far and she witnesses a murder.  She becomes the prime suspect, having left behind her one-of-a-kind cloak.

It sounded a mystery right up my alley so I added it to my stack.

Then, I decided it was time to head home, so I reevaluated what I had.  Poor old Ms. Phillips’ book didn’t make the cut and was returned to the circulation desk.

Now, I have quite the stack to read!

But, that is ok.

I have one on my nightstand, one in my car, one by the rocking chair… one pretty much anywhere I perch for more than a few minutes. 

Now, if I can just keep the stories straight in my mind, I’ll be doing ok.