Isn’t it funny the different things we all like to collect? My husband and I politely disagree about whose hobby/collection is more expensive. His tools and rock crawler things certainly seem a little more high end than my books, but he disagrees. While our collections are surely opposites, they do share some similarities.
For instance, I believe we have created a sub-hobby out of our main hobby (his rock crawling and my reading). He is looking for deals on forums and marketplace on some kind of equipment or tool most of his time. I know when he walks in the door, grinning, and says, “Honey, do we have plans today?” that he is 100% about to ask me if I’m fine with him running off to go grab a part from some obscure location. It doesn’t bother me too much (unless we really did have plans that we now will be late for or he will be bummed about attending because he couldn’t go get his new toy), because when we go explore new places, I often take a trip to a bookstore. The art of buying things for our respective hobbies has become a hobby itself. Something about the search for it, I guess.
I know my to-be-read list is so long, and my shelves are already crowded and fighting for space, but looking for a new treasure is just as fun as actually reading them. Just as I ask Daniel, “Don’t you have enough tools already?” he can ask the exact same of me when I add more books to my never-ending list. Lately, he believes I like TV more than books and that I should just sell all I have. I then joked the rock crawler is up for sale the next time he comes in after work to relax in his recliner.
He has an entire community he talks to about rock crawling: going on trips, fixing things, and so much more that I don’t always understand. Reading isn’t his favorite thing to do, so he doesn’t understand my fascination always either. I too could talk endlessly about my favorite shows and movies and of course, books. I meet regularly with one of my best friends just to talk about those things.
While some may believe having a hobby is just a waste time when you could be doing something more productive or fruitful, but I also believe it is a good way to relax, unwind, and recharge for your sake (and the health of others close to you). I also believe these hobbies and collections bring one another together.
Not everyone has the same taste in books as I do, and that’s okay. I do enjoy listening to other book lovers talk excitedly about their interests though! Lately, I’ve paid more attention to how often I get swept up in a conversation about something someone had just read or wanted to recommend to me.
At work, I traded tales of my latest book adventures with a co-worker, and he is now bringing me one of his favorite mystery reads. Because most of my co-workers are men, I don’t always share the same interests of what they read. I do find it amusing though that there are about four or five of them who pass back and forth a survivalist series they all got hooked on. My office tends to be the passing ground since it also has the coffee station.
When I get together with my mother-in-law, she shares what she has been reading and she often passes along book titles to me. The latest one I read at her loan was The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. So good!! It is historical fiction, educational, eye opening, and one that will make you tear up and cry all at once. I was hesitant to start reading at first because I have been on a mystery or romance binge lately. I’m embarrassed to say the loan sat on my shelf for probably over a year before I gathered it up for a beach trip this summer. I read it throughout the week, and thoroughly enjoyed it. We then got to discuss our reactions over it, and when I went back to work she had sent along the sequel for me to read. I will probably get around to reading that one a lot quicker than it took me for the first one!
My dad and I share our own little book club, where he is laughably ahead of me. We pass back and forth the Scottish Inspector Rebus novels I discovered through a class in college. My dad and I both love mysteries/detective books and Scotland, and Ian Rankin delivers the perfect combination. Each book gets better and better. As traditionalists, my dad and I like to read them in the order they were written, even though it is not necessary. Because I am so behind, I have to beg him to not share spoilers. The last time we were in Scotland, we were able to take a picture together outside the famous watering hole, a real place in Edinburgh, of the fictional detective inspector.
I’ve shared some of my favorite reads with my sister-in-law and best friends. To be honest, I’ve loaned out some of my books and completely forgotten who currently has them. My husband did get me a beautiful embosser so I could have my name on each book from my personal library, so maybe that will help in locating them all, haha! My mom will only let me give her a couple books at a time because she is so busy and feels guilty for keeping them so long. The only thing I get impatient about is hearing what they have to say once they finish reading!
So, not only do I enjoy the process of finding a book, the actual reading of it, but also the shared experience of discussing them with my loved ones. What I love about books is that they are equally an individual and shared experience, and you get to choose that balance.
I hated reading up until the summer before second grade. My dad got me started on the Nancy Drew series, and I was hooked. Going to the library, participating in reading programs every summer, and logging all that I read and rating them was something I looked forward to as a child. I definitely don’t read as much as I used to when I was young, but the enjoyment and feeling has never changed. I’m convinced those who don’t like to read just haven’t found the right book yet.
As I’ve gotten older my hobbies have expanded to collecting/ watching movies and television shows, going to see plays and musicals, and saving all the ticket stubs and playbills of everything I’ve had the opportunity to attend.
I also still try to write as much as I can, or when the motivation at least strikes. It is still so incredible to think I have my own book of poems sitting on people’s shelves. It is even wilder to know that others have read my words and talked about it much like I’ve done about other books with my friends! My husband who does not love to read as I do, read my book and then shared about it with his rock crawler friends, and several bought their own copies in support. So amazing and meant so much to me!!
When I look back at my pictures, bookshelves, book logs, ticket stubs, playbills, and anything else I have saved I don’t just see the object or junk collecting in my house, but the memories behind it. And to me, those are pretty priceless. Everyone has something they enjoy to do, and when you’re in the mood to share that passion, you’ll find those who do.
Here are some links to my book and other recommendations I mentioned in this post:
Unsent Letters by Raegan Thomas (If you live locally, and wish for a signed copy I still have some available for purchase. You just need to message me)
John Rebus Series by Ian Rankin
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
Mirror, Mirror 