Books Galore!!!

Books have always been my companion ever since I was a kid.  I don’t actually know where I got my passion for reading but I think it was primarily because as a kid, I was already surrounded by books, add that to the fact that cable TV wasn’t “in” yet during my childhood days (spoken like a true adult! Haha!).  Our parents invested in story books, encyclopedia for kids, Bible stories and a set of those cute little stories for kids like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and titles from Dr. Seuss.  Yeah, Green Eggs and Ham was one of my favorites and we still have them up to now.  I can’t count how many times I’ve read them as a kid and now, as an aunt to my nephews and niece. 

I recently made an inventory of my books and found out that I already have a little over a hundred books! Whoopee!!! It’s always been my dream to have a vast collection of books of all types that will fill up a whole room with shelves reaching the ceilings! Phew! I think I’ll have millions more to spend to have those books and billions more to build the library to house them.  Hehe! Owel, at least I have a hundred to start with.  I’ll surely be making Powerbooks rich!  

I realized that mostly, I remember the books I’ve bought with my own money, meaning, when I was working already.  (Now I know where most of my pay goes! Haha!)  At this time, I think I’ve become a mature reader.  I started to be adventurous and read books that no one has recommended to me.  I also started reading chick lit, which I love reading in between the more serious books that wrack my brain, stir my emotions or even bring tears to my eyes. 

My first chick lit, which I enjoyed immensely, is the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.  Chick lit is the feel good type set in the 21^st century, with a heroine that depicts several characteristics of the not-so-perfect modern ordinary woman and of course, with a spice of romance on the side.  I enjoy Sophie’s books very much.  A very light read that would send you loads of laughter at the plot or maybe even at the sheer stupidity of the lead that makes the story more plausible than it actually is. 

I also have the more “serious” books, which make you reflect on life, love, relationships and even sex.  Of this type, I love Paulo Coelho’s work very much.  His books always makes me ponder on things and helps me realize a lot about the realities of life that I somehow deny as true or plainly take for granted. 

To take me to different worlds, I also bought books like Shanghai Baby, Memoirs of a Geisha, and books by Haruki Murakami (Wild Sheep Chase and Norwegian Wood).  My interest in foreign cultures has always been as keen as a teenager’s interest in sex (haha! What an analogy!).  Since I can’t afford to travel the world at this time yet, what better way to immerse in their culture than to read their stories, right? I’m planning to get a copy of Bangkok 8 next. 

Of course, the Harry Potter series would never be missing.  J.K. Rowling is a genius for having concocted the whole series.  It’s as if I’m actually living in the world of witches and wizards while reading her books.  I can’t wait for the last book to be published.  I’d get my copy the minute it becomes available here in the Philippines. 

During my elementary years, I was so engrossed by Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, which is probably why I still look for the mystery and thrill that stories like the DaVinci Code, the Bourne Trilogy and Jeffrey Archer books bring in.  I still have a lot of other authors to try.  In time, I’ll get my hands on you. 

As a finance person, I also grabbed copies of books about money like Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Smart Women Finish Rich and even the Financial Times’ Guide to Investing.  Haha! My geekiness really shows.  I hope the state of my financial affairs will also reflect what I learned on this subject. 

Like every girl, I also went through the stage when romance novels that have those erotic covers are the hit.  Haha! I only have a few of these since I’ve started reading these types at an early age.  No wonder! Haha!

Mind you! I also have spiritual books like the Purpose Driven Life (I have 2 copies, both are gifts) and Crossing the Thresholds of Faith by Pope John Paul II.       

A collection won’t be complete without the classics like Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Milan Kundera.  In fact, the oldest book in my possession is a copy of Pride and Prejudice previously owned by my aunt, which dates back to 1968. 

I have How To books, Psych books, even the text (as in SMS) book, basta lahat!!! I practically grab all the books I can lay my hands on when my wallet permits.  

  

I’m not a TV person.  I can live without TV and the movies but I surely can’t live without my precious books.