Books are definitely my shiny things. But like others have mentioned, my online time has decimated (and hey, for once I mean that literally) my book reading time. It's something I've been trying to work on a little recently. And the bus ride in the morning and evening has been a big help, too.

THANK you, Joe. That is a wonderful, wonderful poem.

I always think it's very sad when someone comes to my house, beholds the mighty Wall of Books, realizes there's more bookshelves everywhere, and says, as if it's a bad thing, "Do you really read all these books?"

Man, I get that all the time. And then they see the books on every other reasonably level surface, including the bathroom counter, and write me off as a nutjob.

Signed, has not read a work of fiction without pictures for pleasure outside of one or two genre reads that failed to satisfy for since, oh, six months ago.

The last time someone asked me, "So, what are you reading right now?" I was deep in the process of reading all the Batverse TPBs my library system has. And so I said, "Batman." The ensuing attempts at explanation further cemented my reputation as a nutjob.

One of my sisters is not a reader. (She's also the only blonde in the family

Hey, reading makes our (blondes') heads hurrrrrrrt!

Hey, reading makes our (blondes') heads hurrrrrrrt!

Especially when you're reading in bed, holding the book above you, and you lose your grip. Ouch! Explain that bruise convincingly.

I have nine large (3-4 feet x 6 feet) bookcases. They do not hold all of my books. At least if I were addicted to cocaine, I wouldn't have to figure out a place to keep it.

I'm really the only reader in my family. When I was a kid, I was constantly scheming for ways to get more books to read. I get very twitchy if I'm stuck somewhere without something to read.

I have nine large (3-4 feet x 6 feet) bookcases. They do not hold all of my books.

I had Ikea shelving for a third of my collection until last week. I've given up and gone back to bookcases.

Ouch! My bookcases are mostly from unfinished furniture places, plus some yard-sale finds. I dream of a having real library with built-in shelves the way some people dream of Jaguars and diamonds.

Paula Danziger died today. No link; I don't know if it will make the newswires, but the news comes from somebody I trust.

I loved her books. And yes, yet another person who gets "Do you read all those books?" And, from all my murder and cop talk "How can you read all that stuff?"(Because I was Philip Marlowe in another life. :) My family generally gives me books and says things like "This was the dirtiest thing I ever read. Do you want it?"

Paula Danziger died today. No link; I don't know if it will make the newswires, but the news comes from somebody I trust.

:( Very, very sad. She was a genius.