Summer Reading

You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me. – C.S. Lewis

I’ve always enjoyed reading. I’m not sure if the contests I entered in elementary school were national or regional, but I know that they were a wonderful incentive. Some awarded personal pan pizzas from the Hut while another gave ice cream and hamburgers from Braum’s. Wouldn’t it be amazing if there were reading incentives for adults? Imagine how books would fly off the shelves if Best Buy offered 30% off coupons for reading 3,000 pages. Or consider Jamba Juice stamp cards that reward a free smoothie for every other book you read. Someone should get on this!

I am constantly reading non-fiction for work and personal growth and I do enjoy it. But I can get lost in fiction. I only use my Kindle for reading fiction. It makes packing for vacation much lighter!

So here’s my real problem. I’m currently reading 5 books and listening to another one on CD in the car. I’m not mixing my stories, or unable to follow along. My diet this week contains two spiritual memoirs, a summer dose of fiction, and a double round of spiritual encouragement. This doesn’t sound like much of an issue, until you look and see what’s awaiting me in the pile next to my bedside table. It’s as if someone has dropped off a bag of candy and I have to continue reminding myself to eat my vegetables and wait for dessert until I’ve finished everything already on my plate.