For years I would finish a book even if I hated it. Once I started a book I had to finish it. I know this is common among book enthusiasts, though I’m not quite sure why. Regardless of why I felt compelled to finish every  book I started even if it felt like torture, it was something I did ever since I was a kid.

I am happy to say I am no longer in bondage to the “having to finish” syndrome. In the past couple years I have come to the conclusion that life is too short to read bad books. There are hundreds if not thousands of books I would like to read, why waste time reading a book I hate?

So if every turn of the page feels like a tedious chore. Stop, put the book down, and go read something else. No reason to feel guilty, your not a failure, in fact I think you might be smarter than most in doing so.

Yes, I am 28 years old, not exactly considered a “young adult” by the book industry, but I have discovered YA fiction once again.

I’m not sure how old I was when I stopped reading YA. I started reading adult fiction when I was about ten along with YA fiction. I guess I was somewhere around 15 when I started phasing YA fiction out. I’m sure it had to do with the fact that at that age I wanted to be older and wiser; I longed to be an adult. So out with the old and in with the new, and I let go of my favorite authors like Christopher Pike, Lois Duncan and Barthe DeClements.

Then about a 6 months ago I was at the library (trying again to read borrowed books and not my own) and I picked up The Giver by Lois Lowry. I have always wanted to read it, mainly because of the controversy surrounding it, and I loved it. Alas, my love affair with YA began there.

Since then I have read some really great YA books, and added many to my TBR (to be read) pile. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is one of my all time favorite books now and I cannot wait to read the rest of the trilogy. I loved Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and I thought Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was excellent with a good message and great sarcastic humour.

So if you see me reviewing books that your kids are reading, now you know why, and you might want to pick them up and read them too.

Why don’t I just get rid of a book after I read it. What’s the point in keeping it, especially if I don’t plan on reading it again? Why don’t I just check books out from the library?

All valid questions. Why do I collect books? Some people collect coins, some people collect dolls, others collect kitchen appliances, I collect books (among other things) I admire them just as others may admire their stamp collection or G.I Joe collection.

I could say I collect them so my son and possibly other children and grandchildren will have a wonderful library to read from. The thought of that does make me happy, but even if I had no children I would still collect books.

I’ve collected books since I can remember. I have always wanted my own copies it wasn’t enough to borrow. Sure I read books from the library, but I preferred my own. I always kept great care of my books so that books I had read usually still looked unread.

Book fairs used to make me tingle with excitement. LOL! The thought of all those books in one place. I loved them. Of course the Scholastic Fliers that were sent home were another highlight. I would lovingly peruse the flier picking out books to buy. I spent most of my allowance money on books, and always asked for books for Christmas and my Birthday.

Now don’t get me wrong. I did other things as a child, I loved to dance, loved movies, played with Barbies, but books were always there. I remember many nights lying away reading the night away while I was supposed to be sleeping. There really is nothing like being caught up in a good book.

So now here I am, 28, and still reading, still collecting. I mourn for the books I’ve lost through the years, it makes me sad to think of books I used to have. ( yes I know that sounds pathetic, but it’s true. LOL) Every now and again I go to the library and check books out, but I always end up buying the ones I liked and I’d just rather have my own to start with. I will buy used books in good condition, but nothing beats the smell of a new book. When I was a kid I loved the smell of libraries and book stores, well… I still do.

I DO get rid of books. In fact I’m in the middle of a big purge right now. I don’t have a real solid test to determine what books to keep and what to get rid of, but generally if I liked it (even if I don’t plan on re-reading it) I keep it. If I didn’t like it, I get rid of it. LOL! Of course it’s not that cut and dry, but it’s the gist of it.

So half my shelves may be filled with books I may never read again, my son may never read them, but when I look at them they make me happy. They are like old friends, they evoke emotions and feelings that I had while reading them. They are part of who I am.