January Books

January Books

I am an avid reader. I remember the very day I decided I was a reader a reader. I was in fourth grade. It was the end of the school year and we were taking standardized tests all week. My teacher said after we completed the test we were permitted to choose a book to read from the bookshelf in the back of the room. I chose Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume and instantly became hooked. I looked forward to returning the the book each day after I was finished testing. That’s when I knew that I was a reader and would always be. I love to read for the simple reason that reading a book transports one’s mind into a different world.

The only time in my life that I have not read regularly was nursing school. Nursing school tends strip its students/victims of all things normal and fun. Reading was too cerebral for me during that time period. I took up cross stitch instead. After I took my RN boards though, it was right back to reading.

I’ve had a Good Reads App on my phone for a few years now. At first I liked it, then I didn’t. I almost took it off my phone until I realized one of my reading buddy fellow nurse coworkers was doing a reading challenge. I decided to give it a try. Last year, 2017 I joined a reading challenge. I challenged myself to read 41 books. I was only able to finish 37 though. I’m human. I know what I did wrong. It’s ok, I’ll try harder. This year I challenged myself to read 55 books. Yes, 55. That’s 14 books more than the 41 books I didn’t get finished last year. I did it it partially to annoy my coworker because she and I enjoy a little competition and I totally upped her number and partially to challenge myself to put my phone and other time wasting distractions down to spend my time on one of my favorite past times.

So here we are on January 31. This month I found myself taking advantage of times I was idle. I picked up a book.  I am pleased to say that I’ve already read 5 books! Here’s what I have so far and some background as to why I chose the book.

1. Lost on the Appalachian Trail by Kyle Rohrig
Obviously when I was in my early 20’s I didn’t get the memo that one should thru hike the AT before they start their adult lives because if I knew then what I know now, I would have started walking long ago. Because a thru hike isn’t in my immediate future, I enjoy reading about others who do. I’ve read several of these personal accounts and have enjoyed each person’s journey, including this book. I was disappointed to see that someone on Good Reads actually gave this book a poor review when I thoroughly enjoy this young man’s writing. Not only do I look forward to his next book, I subscribe to his blog. He thoughtfully places his readers into his experience.

2. Night by Elie Wiesel
My daughter had to read this for English class recently. Because I’ve been known to read what my kids have to read for English, I decided to read it. This book gives a detailed account of the author’s Holocaust experience in concentration camps. Very sad. Some day I’ll get to the other two books in his series.

3. and 4. Books 1 The Walk and Book 2 Miles to Go of The Walk series by Richard Paul Evans. I’ve always enjoyed this author’s books and decided to try this series at the suggestion of another fellow reader nurse coworker. This series is about a man walking from Washington State to The Florida Keys after losing everything in his life. I’m happy this series has 5 books because the author keeps you guessing, wondering and wanting more at the end of each book.

5. The Hideaway by Lauren K. Denton. This is my February book club book. Tomorrow my book club will discuss this book over dinner. This takes place in Alabama when the main character returns home to settle her deceased grandmother’s estate, she uncovers secrets about her grandmother’s past. Coincidentally I began reading this book just last week on the 8th anniversary of my own grandmother’s death. The dead grandmother theme was hard for me at first, my grandmother and I were very close.  I kept going though because my grandmother was one of the strongest women I’ve ever known and as the story unfolds, so was the grandmother in this book. So in a little way I was able to visit in my heart with my grandmother again, who I’d also like to add, was an avid reader. I found myself anxious that I was away from this book and yearning to return to it throughout my work day. Today I brought my nook to work to read over lunch. One of my coworkers was rambling on like Charlie Brown’s teacher  “wa wa, wa wa, wa wa” about what she was making for dinner and at one point, I looked at her with a blank stare and realized I didn’t hear a word she said. Now that’s a good book!

Author: jachristofersen8

Registered Nurse. Writer. Local Hiker. YL Essential Oils Educator. View all posts by jachristofersen8