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Dear Diary, My Passion Is...

By
Real Estate Agent with Associate Broker, Momentum Realty
There are certain truths about oneself that are not always out there for the world to see. My personal truth is that I am passionate about reading--novels to be precise.

I was raised in a family with four children. I was the oldest child--and the only girl.  I was an early reader and found that this acquired skill gained me much parental attention.  Early on I would read to occupy my parents and divert them from my younger brothers and their antics.

As I got older, I found that having a good book gave me something to do when the house got too crazy. It was easy to escape in to a book and ignore my brothers as they wrestled on the ground.

In the teenage years, we were a family with one television set. My mother did not watch t.v. so it was always me against 'the boys' (a category that Dad fell into) for the pick of the television show.  As you can imagine, we never got to watch what I wanted.  If I planned ahead, there was always a good book that I could read instead of watching the latest action show (there was also plenty that I could learn about the ways of grown-ups by reading the right books. I particularly remember Loves Tender Fury and The Cheerleader--if you read either of those as a teenager, you will know what I mean)!

My time in college was the only period in my life that I do not remember having a book handy to read at all times.  I forced myself to spend my reading time on textbook reading and would only read for pleasure during the summer. While I loved college, I remember feeling a little 'put out' by this self-imposed restriction.

Now I am an adult with my own family and to this day I feel a little panicky if I finish a book and do not have one to start immediately.  I belong to a book club that I have been a member of for almost 15 years. I am probably one of the best customers of both my public library and my local Barnes & Noble. My night stand is stacked high with books and my book shelves--on all three levels of my house--are overflowing.

I have recently begun a personal campaign to rid myself of books that I have read for pleasure, but which have no particular literary or personal value.  I am trying really hard to make sure that my library reflects both my tastes and my interests. It is not always easy to part with a book, but I am trying to donate them or use the service Paperbackswap so that they find a good home! 


The quote below from Jane Austen's book, Pride and Prejudice sums up my feelings almost exactly.


I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.
Jane Austen (1775 - 1817), Pride and Prejudice

I know that reading has never been the 'coolest' hobby, but it has seen me through the good times and the bad.  A good novel can take you away from the stress of your life, teach you lessons and feel like a friend.I thank my lucky stars that I have this special passion...

library



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Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Holly - Reading is one of my passions, too!  We have thousands of books in our house, and I consider bookstores to be my main "vice".

Feb 09, 2009 11:33 AM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Oops!  I forgot to mention that my wife LOVES Paperbackswap.com.  In fact, I want her to write a post about it for my blog soon.

Feb 09, 2009 11:34 AM
Holly Weatherwax
Associate Broker, Momentum Realty - Reston, VA
A Great Real Estate Experience

Jason, I always say that buying books is my 'vice' too, and it could be a lot worse! That is the one thing I can never deny my children either!!! Send me to  the school book fair--and I am  their best customer!

Feb 09, 2009 11:51 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Holly, you are a better woman than I.  I love to read, live to read, read to live, etc.  But I can't part with any book that I really enjoyed!  I have a bring and take area at my local gym and I take, take, take, and every time I start a small pile to give, I waffle.  Can I part with it?  I am running out of room!  Nice post.  My neighbor's come over when they need vacation picks and they are now sending their teens here!  The only caveat... they must return.  The odd thing is that I am very hard on books.  Once I read a book, it looks like it's been read 100 times!  I don't borrow many books for this reason, most people read a book and it looks like they just bought it!

Feb 14, 2009 07:56 AM
Janice Roosevelt
Keller Williams Brandywine Valley - West Chester, PA
OICP ABR, ePRO,Ecobroker

Books have bee friends on more than one lonely night. They take me to places and eras I know I will not travel in this lifetime. I also believe they have lives of their own so you pass them on.

Feb 14, 2009 09:17 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Holly...So many of us share your passion.  I can recall many happy hours sitting behind my mom's big chair in the living room and reading to my heart's content.  The chair was positioned in the corner and I was virtually hidden from view.

My mom recently moved in with one of my sisters and her chair will be coming to my home. I will treasure it for all the memories of my mom and of all the books I read sitting in it or hiding behind.

Kate

Feb 16, 2009 08:45 AM
Jennifer Monroe
Indigo Home Team powered by Compass - Charlotte, NC
Real Estate REALTOR®/Broker/Designer

Books are my world too. I know you will relate to the sadness that often acompanies the completion of any great novel - saying goodbye to that little world and the people who I came to know while reading. I have thousands of books and as I am trying to pack them all up and relocate to the east coast, I'm wondering if I should have found my passion in more abstract interests :))

Feb 16, 2009 09:16 AM
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