You Won't Believe This Shhh...

"Are you still reading books?"

My husband asked me this the other night in the car. I instantly replied "Yes!" and laughed, because what an absurd question. Of course I'm still reading books! I love reading books. Books are my favorite.

And then it hit me, I finished my last book in December ('Yes, Please' and it was fantastic) and I haven't started a new one. This isn't taking into account children's books, which I'm constantly reading for work. I'm talking about big girl books.

He was on to something. I used to devour books, I would fall asleep reading and wake up early to get another chapter in before work. I enjoyed eating out alone because it was a reason to read a book. I would have multiple books going at once. I was that obnoxious girl at a party who always read the book before it was a movie. In 2013 I challenged myself to read 100 books, and actually followed through. I don't have enough shelves in my house for all the books I own. Books, books, books. Now I'd let an entire month lapse without starting a new read. What gives?

I did some reflection and came up with this: I recently changed jobs and went from working on a reference desk five days a week to being on the road traveling more. I no longer have a constant flow of books across my desk, and I'm no longer privy to the "new cart" and reviewing books before they hit the stacks. I'm currently on a book award committee so most of my reading is devoted to children's books. I also just planned a wedding and got married, both time consuming. Plus I had the flu. Then there was Christmas and all it's hoopla. Also the husband and I just watched all five seasons of The Wire. I've been busy! Which is to say: I came up with nothing, none of these are good reasons.

My reaction to all this hoopla over Mark Zuckerberg's goal to read 26 books in 2015.