64: Books on the bus.

Blogged on Sunday, September 30th, 2007 by Rachael. Filed in Randomness.

One of my jobs is at the district library headquarters over here, which I LOVE doing, and as a result I have been reading more books than I was previously. Even though I’m ridiculously busy, I have actually been READING. It’s quite refreshing.

Recently, I’ve finished The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, which I found absolutely wonderful. Most of my favorite books so far are from the Junior/Teen Fiction section, by the way, which I think is pretty funny. They’re more accessible, the writing, I mean - the styles tend to be more honest and less full of sex. There’s something of innocence mostly preserved, and of life still being explained or understood. I do love the Adult Fiction section too, but the best and most exciting books for me right now are written for a decade and a half below my actual age. Heh. I must be altogether not very sophisticated. I finished City of the Beasts by Isabel Allende last week, who has also written adult fiction that I’ve very much enjoyed - so perhaps I am somewhat sophisticated.

On my ‘Reading Right Now’ list is Think! by Michael R. LeGault, Knitting for Peace (a birthday gift from my sister), Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, and The Great Tree of Avalon: Child of the Dark Prophecy by T.A. Barron. On my ‘Getting To It Next’ list is The Big Red Fez by Seth Godin, and Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas by Chuck Klosterman. (That last book, I picked up based on its title alone. How could you NOT want to read that?!)

Right now, I read a lot on the bus. I’ve been taking the bus to work and school in the mornings, because right now I’m without wheels of my own. Never fear, I’m getting more - but it’s taking some time and in the meanwhile, I’m dealing with it as best I can. I’ve lost a lot of weight from walking everywhere - to the bus stop (a 30-40 minute walk, depending on how fast I’m walking and/or how many school books I have to tote with me), to the grocery store (20 minutes or 40 minutes, depending on which one I go to), to the bank and post office and library (not the one I work at, unfortunately - that one’s further away).

But the nice thing about having to spend an extra hour of time (or so) in transit because of bus times and whatnot, is that I’ve got time to read. I have taken no time at all to read these past several months; I only read my textbooks or my email or the many little papers that come home in the kids’ backpacks. Reading other things has been good for my soul. I’m recapturing my imagination, and some semblance of the creativity that I know still lurks within me somewhere. I even have the idea for my Nano novel this year!

And speaking of Nano, are you doing it this year? Have you signed up yet? Because on October 1st, which is TOMORROW, they are opening the site up again for signups. Let the free-for-all begin! Please say you’ll spend a month writing, you’ll be in wonderfully insane company. :)