Hello, hello, hello!

I’m so glad you’re here! If you are a reader (and I am hoping that you are), then you probably already have a “To Read Pile” overflowing on your night table or maybe your stack is tall enough now that it has become your night table. And despite this huge pile of reading material waiting for your attention, maybe you still come home from the bookstore or library with arms overflowing with new books. Or maybe your e-reader holds a library worthy of envy. Maybe you are a secret (or not-so-secret) book pusher, constantly foisting your new favorites onto your family and friends. Maybe when someone asks you what your favorite book is you think, people have just one favorite?  And maybe that thought blows your mind.  Maybe, just maybe hearing about a new, great read sends you scrambling to Amazon or Indigo even though you have at least ten (ok, dozens) of books waiting to be read at home. If this is you, I ask you, dear friend, what is a reader to do? There are literally not enough hours in the day … and the piles continue to grow.  In my case, I realized something needed to be done. I just wasn’t sure what. I am a full-time public school teacher, and my two kids keep my husband and I on the go all the time. It’s no wonder that my to read pile is out of control! I love to read, talk about books, share recommendations and hear about the books others love. And if it can all come with a huge mug of tea, even better. So…

This blog is my answer to the question, “what is a reader to do”? My hope is to read one book a week from my TRP for the next year and share my thoughts with you. Well, that is my current plan, but I may throw in some recommendations of other books that I am always bugging people to read, and I’ll share some Throw Back Thursday love on occasion with  picture books or YA that my kids or students love.

I realize 52 books is a lot, so I decided I am going to arrange each month by theme. While some people think of New Year’s or their birthdays as a time to set some new resolutions, the beginning of September is often that time for me. With summer ending and school starting again, there is just something about those freshly sharpened pencils and blank scribblers that makes me want to try something new. So September’s theme is going to be about trying new things, or at least thinking about some old things in new ways. In case you want to read along with me, the first book I’ll review is the non-fiction book, Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin (If you read The Happiness Project, this is the same author. In this book she tackles how people form good habits and examines why some methods work for some of us and fail for others. As a teacher, a mom, and someone who struggles with habits from time to time myself, this is near and dear to my heart. She also has a great podcast, Happier, if you want a taste of her style before diving into the book.)

So, I hope that you will join me in this little adventure in reading. At the very least, I will make a substantial dent in my “to reads” but I am hoping that you will share your own love of reading here. The first review will be up on September 1 but between now and then, I would love to hear from you so please send me a little note and let me know what you’re reading this summer!