BOOKS.

I have come across another awkward encounter I have to share my thoughts on with you.  The last time it was about how I hate hugging, this time it's entirely different, but awkward none the less.

So.  I am an avid reader.  I read a lot. I even have a Kindle (which is an obvious sign of a reader...duh).  BUT. Just because I read a lot doesn't mean that I read a lot of good stuff.  I mean...I am definitely not pool side reading Machiavelli's Prince or Plato's Republic...heck...I'm not even reading ANYTHING of literary merit...no Wuthering Heights, no A Farewell to Arms...none of that. That's not to say I haven't read it because I was forced in school...but now that I've graduated from college, I like to keep my literary ambitions on the lighter side.  Which brings me to my point.  I HATE when people ask me what I'm reading.  It's almost inevitably embarrassing.

For instance, right now I am finishing up a wonderful novel by Sarah Dessen.  It is called "What Happened to Goodbye." Nothing with such a title is worth anything in the book world, it is pure fluff and silliness.  BUT.  It's very enjoyable fluff and silliness.  Before that it was "Something Borrowed" which I followed up with "Something Blue." I am not ashamed of my book choices, I rather like them...BUT sometimes I feel a little judged.

A story from my past to illustrate my point:

In college I was on the Spiritual Life Committee, which is a fancy way of saying that I coordinated chapel services and made sure everyone was where they needed to be for our trice-weekly chapel.  However, before I started this job, we were meeting as a group for dinner when our campus pastor asked us the following question:

"Alright guys, in an effort to get to know one another, I want you to go around and say the title and give us a summary of a book you read this summer."

Now. The first thing that goes through my head is...oh thank goodness, I actually read a book this summer...However, the second thought was not as cheery as I thought...FRICK. I did read...but I chose to revisit Harry Potter for the 19th time...half of these people don't even believe it's biblically permissible to read Harry Potter.

We start around the table and I'm sitting at the end.  As we go through people are saying things like, "The Screwtape Letters," "The Shack," "Mere Christianity," Heck. I think one person said that they had dedicated themselves to ONLY reading the Bible for the summer.  I was starting to not feel so good about myself and what I was going to say to these people...I mean I could lie...but to a bunch of people on the Spiritual Life Committee?? I was seriously beginning to question my placement amongst these people.

However, as the person before me answered that they had read the complete commentaries on the book of Acts...it occurred to me that I had read ONE additional book to Harry Potter.  This is what I said:

"This summer I actually read a book called "Pledged" which detailed the lives of sorority sisters at a major university. I thought that since our school doesn't have sororities, this would be a good way to get to know the inner workings of them, so I can better relate to these people in the future."

Most bogus words I have ever spoken.  It definitely still would have sounded better if I had decided to spend more time reading books that would actually teach me something...but I thought I did a pretty darn good job of pulling it off like I actually have a brain.

SO. Maybe it's because of this that I'm so sensitive to the question, but I am always self conscious about what I am reading.  Oh well.

Peace, Love and Sorority Sisters,
Claire