Recovering Book Addict

The book that stole my Saturday
afternoon and evening.

So what is it about a good book that is so thoroughly addicting?

Why is it some books thrill you so much it becomes impossible to lay them down?

I love the urgency of learning detail after detail until the plot comes to its breathless crescendo and then folds itself up neatly and softly fades away. A book like this is the best way to forget about personal troubles and lose yourself in a far away dream land.

The only problem to this comes in consequence to being a mother, an employee, and (at times) a wife. Only when I read a book of this caliber do I find it perfectly acceptable to let my 5-year old Sweetie Peach make her own lunch of peanut and jelly sandwich, applesauce, and chips. I could care less about the sticky (not to mention crunchy) counter and floor left after this culinary accomplishment was achieved. I must read!

Only when reading addicted books do I find myself able to rationalize the delay of working on my reports expected by my boss. Certainly I can stay up a few extra hours, or get up earlier than usual, to take care of the work assignments due tomorrow. I must read!

Only when engrossed it this kind of literary delight am I able to ignore my spouse's evil eye as he comes home from work to find the children and house in a shambles. "Marriage is a partnership," I think to myself. "Today it is his turn to do the cleaning and caring. He'll appreciate me more for having to do it himself." I must read!

Saturday was like this after I made the decision to purchase a book that looked interesting. I got home from shopping and sat down to read. At six o'clock pm (after three hours of reading) when Kitty complained she was starving I reluctantly put the book down and started a pot of rice to cook (so I would have a reason to get back to reading). I read until five minutes before the rice was done and then threw together the ingredients for haystacks. Fifteen minutes later I had served dinner, eaten my own, and was back to my lovely book where I stayed until finishing it at 10 pm.

I did feel a bit guilty after I finished: I had sent the kids to bed with a call of affection and a reminder for them to say their prayers as they shuffled down the hallway. No tucking in. No bedtime kisses. What kind of mother am I? I blame it all on the book. It was too addictive.

Do you have another one I can read?

Scripture of the Day: #3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain -- Lev. 18:21