So many things in today's world get in the way of sitting down with a good book--computer time (thinking Words with Friends), television watching (catching up on that television series everyone is raving about), chores.....so this year may be the one to head back to the pleasures of reading.
Besides, we've all heard that reading can be a great stress reliever, right? And we all need that, agreed? Simply by opening a book, reading can relax your body by lowering your heart rate
and easing the tension in your muscles, by up to 68% according to a 2009 study at the University
of Sussex It works
better and faster than other relaxation methods such as drinking a hot cup of tea or listening to music.
So, no hard and fast resolutions here. But it would definitely be lovely to read more for pleasure, and to read more books outside the usual choices (for me that would be more nonfiction). Maybe more of a different genre, maybe some of those books that have been sitting in the TBR pile forever. And, a good year to catalog and rate ALL the books read in 2014, either on GOODREADS or LIBRARY THING or SHELFARI.
If one of yours is to join a book group, think about the offerings at your library. Here at Brookfield, we have at least three a month: Brookfield Reads Fiction, Book 'Em Mystery Group and Nonfiction Book Club. And every few months we have a Cooking the Books get together, where we enjoy good book conversation and great food! Think about coming to one or more of our meetings--we love having new readers join us.
Do you have any reading resolutions for 2014?
~ Katherine
I just finished reading THE SILENT WIFE by A. Harrison, and then picked up BACKSEAT SAINTS by Joshilyn Jackson, not realizing that both books were about mariticide, the killing of one's husband ( I admit to having to look that up). Motives differ wildly, however. THE SILENT WIFE is about revenge, and BACKSEAT SAINTS is about survival.
THE SILENT WIFE is a psychological thriller about surviving a
long term relationship in which one partner is faithful, and the other is a serial cheater. It's about how far a woman will go maintain her lifestyle and keep what she feels is rightfully hers. BACKSEAT SAINTS is about domestic violence, twinged with wit and humor. I will admit my husband is a bit worried about my choice of reading. ~ Katherine
THE SILENT WIFE by A. Harrison
"Psychotherapist Jodi Brett is content with her tidy, tranquil existence
cooking for her husband, Todd Gilbert; walking the dog; seeing a few
clients out of their gorgeous Chicago condo while headstrong Todd works
as a professional renovator. As Jodi sees it, they complement each
other, and she doesn't mind pretending to disregard Todd's indiscretions
(which he clumsily attempts to cover up) in exchange. Accepting the
peccadillos of her adulterous husband is one thing, but when Todd takes
his infidelity to the next level and tells her that he's leaving her,
the existence she's clung to so dearly is destroyed. And Jodi will do
anything to take it back. And she does." ~ Publishers Weekly
BACKSEAT SAINTS by Joshilyn Jackson
"Rose Mae Lolley's mother disappeared when she was eight, leaving Rose
with a heap of old novels and a taste for dangerous men. Now, as demure
Mrs. Ro Grandee, she's living the very life her mother abandoned. She's
all but forgotten the girl she used to be-teenaged spitfire, Alabama
heartbreaker, and a crack shot with a pistol-until an airport gypsy
warns Rose it's time to find her way back to that brave, tough girl . . .
or else. Armed with only her wit, her pawpy's ancient .45, and her dog
Fat Gretel, Rose Mae hightails it out of Texas, running from a man who
will never let her go, on a mission to find the mother who did." ~ from the Publisher
