Today, we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. I am very happy to have found myself in the middle of a circle of people who love books.  We are just starting the second year of our World Wide Reading Challenge. This year the goal is 2026 books. I am currently reading 5 different books, and have bookmarks in several others…research.  The books I am enjoying are:   

• Physical Books: 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – This book is being read by my book club friends and myself.  We are finally nearing the end of the Harry Potter series. It has been a joy to read this book series again, and this time with my friends. I do find it hard at times to read ‘just’ the chapters that we are to read for the week. 

Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales – This is the third book in the Emily Wilde series. I have greatly enjoyed this series. I found them this fall and have already put some other Heather Fawcett books on my to be read list. 

April Twilights and Other Poems by Willa Cather – I am slowly reading through these poems. It would be easy enough to just read through this book, but I want to think about each poem and not mix or mingle things together. There is no need to rush.  I picked up this book when I went to Red Cloud and stayed in the Cather house for a couple of days. 

• Audio book: 

The Queen of Blood (book 1 in the Queens of Renthia trilogy) by Sarah Beth Durst – Last year I read “The Spell Shop”. It was the first book by Sarah Beth Durst I had read. I loved it. So of course, I do what readers do…what other books did she write? Onto my list went this new trilogy. I listen to this while I drive or when I sit and crochet.  

• E-book: 

Quotes on Writing by Writers for Writers by Kevin Berry – I have this open on my Kindle to keep me focused on what I should be doing.  I also use my kindle to write.  There are several books waiting there for me to read as well, but I am currently more focused on reading the physical books piled near my bed. 

These books are also physical books, but I am not reading through them.  They are for some sort of research or encouragement. I pick them up when I need to read just a little bit more of something. 

Reflections on the Magic of Writing by Diana Wynne Jones 

Llewellyn’s Little Book of Dragons by Shawn MacKenzie 

Ogam Weaving Word Wisdom by Erynn Rowan Laurie 

Black Book, Blue Book, Old Book New Book. 

Thank you Dr. Seuss, and all other authors, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, teachers, neighbors, or friends that have shared the love of words and reading.  Pick up a book and read today!  

--Lisa