In a message dated 10/30/01 5:58:36 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:

>Whenever I 
>go on vacation, I know I will have time to read!!! So I bring many more
>books 
>than I could possibly read in the amount of time I am gone. I take *hours*
>
>deciding which books will go with me......"I might be in the mood to learn
>
>about this, or I might want something light, I might want something funny,
>I 
>might want to get into a juicy novel...."  Then when I have *finally* 
>narrowed it down to 5 or 6 books, they get packed first and I spend about
>10 
>minutes packing clothes. Please tell me someone else can relate to this??

Yes, I can relate.  Vacation...now there is an opportunity to read!  Although 
I read quite a bit normally, there's this thing called "work" that keeps 
interfering.  The selection of books to read on vacation is crucial.  
Sometimes, I want really light reading; other times, I want something more 
inspirational.  I used to read the "Karen" (nonfiction) books over and over 
when my family went to West Virginia on vacation.  I think I have parts of 
them memorized.

A few other symptoms also resonate: having a house full of books, and reading 
several at a time.  In fact, I am notorious for picking a book up, reading a 
little, putting it down, picking another one up, reading a little, etc.  I 
have 20 or 30 bookmarks (I like to buy the pretty ones they sell at Barnes 
and Noble with art, cats, butterflies, etc) and I need all of those bookmarks 
because they are all in various books!  well, that's a slight exaggeration, 
but every so often I'll say to myself 'now, where are all my bookmarks?' and 
I'll start rounding them up.  Which reminds me that I was in the middle of 
such and such a book.  I used to read all books straight through but now I 
will skip around among them as I please.  Yes, I am fickle.  And if I don't 
like a book, I won't finish it.  I used to always finish books whether I 
liked them or not.  

another symptom: I buy books because they have pretty covers.  Am learning 
not to do this.  If it has a pretty cover AND it looks like a keeper, then I 
will buy it.  Really good books are called "desert isle keepers" or DIKs on 
another listserv I am on. 

sometimes I want light reading, sometimes serious, and other times I'm in the 
mood for something really sad.  What I have almost no interest in are those 
"mr. fix-it" books or books on crafts.  They are just too practical for me.  
for the most part, science doesn't interest me either, though I like some 
astronomy.  I like a little science fiction but I get bored when it's too 
"techie".  

another symptom:  when I have business trips I immediately look for the 
book-purchasing opportunities in the area.  I went to Philadelphia in May and 
I was so happy because my trip coincided with an exhibit on illuminated 
manuscripts.  I was in hog heaven.

Mary

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