So many books...

Caution: if you are planning on reading Marley and Me and don't want the ending spoiled and you haven't guessed it already, skip down a few paragraphs.


Anyway, I just finished reading Marley and Me, and I wonder why people write books where animals die. It's just cruel...to me. I just can't handle it! Yet I read them anyway...

Ok...so granted, this one was a true story, and unless he completely changed the ending to "...and Marley lived happily ever after for ever and ever with no arthritis or twisted stomach and was able to always hear the birds chirp and run up the stairs after his owner and best friend," it had to end the way it did. And I guess I should have known how I would react, which included all-out weeping that started 40 pages before the dog actually gets put down...yes: weeping. When Erik got home from work, I'm sure I was a complete sight to behold with mascara and eyeliner making me look like some crazed raccoon. My only justification for reacting so intensely is that Marley is Laddie. Some of the neuroses were just a bit different, but for all intents and purposes, Laddie is the same, ill-behaved dog. But we love him just the same.

This was the start of my new dedication to reading. I used to read nonstop; I always had a book going. Lately, it seems I've been slacking. I received a couple books for Christmas and got some hand-me downs from my mom, so now I have a nice-sized stack on my nightstand, just begging for some attention. There's a nice mishmash of titles: a spy-spoof by Dr. House (Hugh Laurie) that I just had to try, a romance-slash-mystery, a 16th century murder mystery, and a novel based on the post-war Japanese imperial family. Should keep me entertained for a while.

I've decided there are no excuses: I will get back into the habit every good English major should have. Maybe I'll try Cheryl's approach to make sure I get a good variety going as well as ensure I'm reading something that could actually make a difference in how I see the world, but first I'm going to finish the stack I have and start on the list I made of ones that look interesting. It may take a while, but I'm willing to make that sacrifice.