| There are few experiences in life that match | | | | explore. I'm particularly drawn to online |
| curling up with a good book and losing | | | | bookstores that are the equivalent of |
| yourself in the lives of the characters, the | | | | independent brick and mortar bookstores - |
| exotic settings, and the twists and turns of | | | | those that have a depth of selection within |
| a compelling plot. Reading continues to be | | | | many different genres, but that don't purport |
| one of the great joys in my life, and I so | | | | to stock every book ever published. I've |
| appreciate the effort that authors put into | | | | found that the mega online bookstores are |
| crafting their work. | | | | difficult to browse; keyword searches bring |
| | | | up unrelated titles and I have to dig through |
| As I've gotten older, though, I've found that | | | | all of the wannabes in order to find the gems |
| I am more apt to read fiction, and to stick | | | | I'm looking for. |
| to a set of authors that I know and love, or | | | | |
| to a single genre of books. Personally, my | | | | So far, my quest to expand my reading horizon |
| great escape isn't in literature, but in what | | | | has led me to read non-fiction books like |
| I term "junk food for the mind" - reasonably | | | | biographies (one on Rosa Parks was a |
| well-written murder mystery novels. I enjoy | | | | favorite) and autobiographies (Madame |
| taking the journey with the author down one | | | | Secretary, by Madeline Albright is a winner), |
| dead end lead after another, reading with | | | | as well as African American titles like Black |
| bated breath as the protagonist extracts | | | | Trials, which traces a path of civic identity |
| himself or herself from harm's way, and | | | | through the prism of the legal system. I've |
| finally understanding how all of the puzzle | | | | even read a graphic novel. It wasn't to my |
| pieces fall together and point the finger at | | | | taste, but I can at least say I've given the |
| the book's true culprit. | | | | genre a try. I've also found a new delight in |
| | | | children's books. Some of the classics are as |
| Although I absolutely adore this genre, I | | | | good as I remembered, and there are new |
| also know that I'm limiting myself in my | | | | authors proving that children's books can, |
| reading choices. That's why my New Year's | | | | indeed, be considered literature. |
| Resolution this year was to expand my | | | | |
| universe and read books that I wouldn't have | | | | I'm enjoying fulfilling my New Year's |
| even glanced at twelve months ago. Because | | | | resolution, and look forward to browsing my |
| I've never been fond of browsing the aisles | | | | favorite online bookstore for more ways to |
| of a bookstore, I've turned to online | | | | expand my literary horizons. |
| bookstores to find new areas of reading to | | | | |