I have LOVED reading since a very young age. Can I tell you that for my birthday I was gifted Barnes & Noble (or remember Walden’s Books?) gift cards every year. I would spend hours combing the shelves and seeking out my favorite authors. How would I find them? I would read the best seller list in the New York Times or go with the recommendations of my peers. I looked forward to the summer months when I could read what I wanted…not just silly academic text books. I was that geek. I remember my friends calling me outside to play Double Dutch and I was just relaxing on the couch reading. No wonder my vision is so bad now. You get the point right?
Fast forward to when I was pregnant with my first son. I got some good reading in with parenting books and What To Expect When You’re Expecting. What the book failed to tell me was …. I would NOT be reading! I didn’t expect that after my kids were born! I mean, don’t get me wrong I read… but just when that good part comes I hear, “Mammmmmmmiiiiiiiiii!!!!” Sometimes I don’t get back to the book till hours (or days!) later. I have not been reading the way I have wanted to. Work (teaching) had me reading curriculum and children’s books (which I collect) but nothing that I REALLY wanted to read. I see the updates of many Facebook statuses sharing books that they are reading and I wonder WHERE.DO.THEY.HAVE.TIME.!!!! I sure don’t!
So about a week ago I was given a copy of the novel “Sofrito” by Phillipe Diederich and read it cover to cover since I was participating in a sponsored Twitter Party. I took the time to really read this book. When my boys were doing their homework independently and dinner was cooking on the stove. I read! When I went to pick them up from school, I read in the car as I waited for them and right before I went to bed, I read! The book was so damn good that I couldn’t put it down. Now that I’ve finished “Sofrito”, I am FINALLY getting to the memoir of Rita Moreno (hanging my head down in shame because I have had it for about two years).
I know I pledged to read eight to nine books this summer but it didn’t happen. Reading “Sofrito” enabled me to see that I have to take time for myself and I need to delve into a good book regularly. This was the book that sparked that “ah-ha moment” for me and I said to myself, “I am going to make it a goal to continue to read books like I read Sofrito.” I am a writer but I know I need to read as well. To become a better writer, it helps to see various styles of writing and to be well-read in general. I also want to support other authors by purchasing their books. I am thankful that I read a book like “Sofrito” to get my reading juices flowing again. Thanks so much Mr. Diederich! As a matter of fact let me stop right here…. Rita Moreno is waiting for me 🙂
#tbt What a pleasure & HONOR it was to meet this LEGEND #RitaMoreno #HHA15 #Latism A photo posted by EileenCCampos (@eileenccampos) on
Care to share: Has this ever happened to you? Picked up a book that was so good that made you want to just continue reading and you just found the time???
[…] just like the one I’m sharing with you today. I recently began reading again for pleasure because I read a book that sparked that desire inside me. I’m so glad I did because I now make it a priority to read – it fuels my creativity. […]