The End

So recently, or at least over the 24 months, I have taken up reading for pleasure. I am not sure why I stopped reading in the first place but I can certainly pinpoint it to October 2005. The month that all things changed. However, I have found the time to begin reading again; and it has become somewhat of an obsession.
I loved the Stephanie Meyer books, and that led to a love of Charlaine Harris. She is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse series and a number of other books, all with characters that I have come to love. I love Sookie so much; I named my kitten Sookie. I have read at least 20 of Mrs. Harris' books. She is a fantastic author, but my love of reading seeps into other authors as well.
Reading for pleasure is fun and I devour books in days rather than weeks. I have found that I am willing to give any book a fair read, but I have some weird habits that I will share with everyone, in the hopes that my habits are shared and not nearly as weird as I think they are.
1. I don't borrow books from the library. Why? I do not know. I worry that the two children in my house may destroy them. I worry that I may not read them fast enough in order to avoid fines. I also LOVE the smell of a new book. The way that the cover looks and how the pages feel are like drugs to me. Also the feeling of ownership that I feel. I love the feeling of ownership. I now own the story, the words, the characters. Weird huh? I know this is odd but very true. I read the books so fast, my habit can be rather expensive. Getting them from the library would alleviate this cost, other than the possibility that my kids could get ahold of it or I could return it late.... oh, it's useless. I really just like new books.
2. I will stay up to finish a book. I will ignore chores in order to read a book. I will read it so fast, as if the story may change or disappear if I don't read it right that minute. If I am reading a series, I will collect them in order to be sure that I have the next book the second that I finish the previous book. I am addicted.
3. I must read every book in a series, and in order. I will not read a book if I don't start at the beginning of the series. I also do not like it if I cannot finish a series, I want to know the character from start to finish. I ordered the new Sookie book 3 months before its release date. This was to ensure that I got to read it as soon as possible.
4. I HATE the end of the book. I start to get sad when I am in the last chapters. I want to read and read quickly, but sometimes I slow down during the last part of the book in order to make it last a few more minutes. I actually dislike finishing the book and especially dislike it when there isn't another book to read in the series. For example: I waited months to get my new Sookie book. I read it in two days. I can not believe that I read it so fast because it will most likely be months or even a year until there is a new one. This is all very frustrating. I mourn the end of the series; whenever that may be. But I know it will happen, so I am going to worry about it now. I know, I am a weirdo.
Call it an obsession, or an addiction, but at least its a reasonable one. I also think it may be genetic because my maternal grandmother and my mother are both avid readers. I am not sure if they share my weirdness, but I definitely share their love of books. I can honestly say that I have 500+ books in my home at the moment. I have 6 book shelves and two rubbermaid totes filled with books. Children's books, teen books, classics and Colin's science fiction and my mysteries. Books are awesome and the ability to write an interesting story from start to finish is a gift that I wish that I had. For now, I will simply share in the stories that authors chose to share!