This is why I will never get to the bottom of my reading list...

I have a large pile of books that are to be read and a large list of books to read after I've made my way through the pile. But neither ever seem to go down and not only because I keep adding to them but because I keep going back and rereading books.

You see when I'm reading a book I get attached to the books; the story, the people, the places. They become part of my world: I care about them and I know my way around their world as if I have lived there all my life. So when the book ends I miss the characters and the places. I miss the authors writing style, the little quirks and everything.

Sometimes, after having not read a book for a while, I find myself longing to immerse myself back into the world. To hang out with the characters, see the sights, feel the excitement, travel on the journey. So then I have to go and reread the book, or in the case of series', books. My biggest weak point is Garth Nix's 'Old Kingdom' trilogy. I consider Sabriel, Lirael and Sam to be friends, I feel like I know Mogget and the Dog personally.

I try to always wait until all the books in a series are out before I start reading as I'm to impatient to be left hanging! There have been two exceptions: Harry Potter and Pamela Freeman's 'Castings' trilogy. The latter because I did not realise it was a trilogy! I'm still sitting on the edge of my seat to read the third book and find out what happens to Bramble, Ash and Saker because the book is somewhere among my 'to read' list.

Perhaps that's why I enjoy Terry Pratchett's  'Discworld' books because I can dip in and out of the world that I love so much and meet new people each time.

Books are like Magic

I like books. No in fact I love books. Just as well considering the English and History degree requires me to spend half my life with my head in a book. I can't remember a time where I haven't had at least one book on the go (currently I have three 'Blood of Elves' by Andrzej Sapkowski, Neil Gaimon's 'Smoke and Mirrors' and Henry James' 'Turn of the Screw' and that's not including all the Pirate History books I am using for dissertation research!) and I can't remember a time when books haven't formed a big part of my life.

I use books as an escape - somewhere to disappear to when the world gets too much which is why it is mostly fantasy and classical (Austen, Bronte and the like) stuff although I will read just about anything (with the exception of Twilight and other soppy teenage fiction!). Books are amazing - they can take you away from things or get you closer to them, let you travel the world or visit fantastical worlds. And most of all share in the brilliant imagination of the authors.

I choose what I read based on reviews, reccomendations, browsing the shelves or Amazon's frankly creepy mind reading 'Reccomended for You Section' (which is far better than the Youtube one which frequantly suggests I watch either porn or High School Musical - neither of which I have ever looked at on my account!). From here they all go on my 'To Read' list which just gets longer everyday! I chose 'Blood of Elves' from Waterstones as it was by a Polish author and I was about to go to Poland plus it was part of a 3 for 2 offer and my Mum needed to find a third book for the offer!)

I first got into fantasy when my Dad read one of his favourite books to me and my sister when I was five. It was 'The Hobbit' and I loved it (especially when he did the voices!). I read 'The Lord of the Rings' when I was eight (with only a little bit of help!) and it hasn't left my bookshelf since although the books around it have. The large collection of 'Animal Ark' books have gone and the trilogy has seen the likes of Meg Cabot, JK Rowling, Garth Nix, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaimon share a shelf with it at some point or another!

On a completly different subject I had a fantastic time camping :D Lots of activities were done, large amounts of Cider was consumed and Orange Stilt Men were hung out with (yes I did try my hand (or legs) at stilt walking). Although no wenching was done!!

Today I'm working on making myself a new bag and looking after my poorly kitty.