What I'm Reading Wednesday

I am currently between books. I finished In Cold Blood yesterday, Truman Capote's book about a true crime in Kansas in the late 1950's. It was not what I had thought it would be, but it was a good book. So, I am now looking around for something else to read.

I should be getting a mystery box from my local bookstore today. I ordered it on Independent Bookstore Day, and it was supposed to be waiting for me last week. They felt that it might get rained on, so they delayed the delivery. It should happen today - I am looking forward to it. In addition, I have a stack of new, used books to read from Thriftbooks.com. I also have tons of books on my Kindle so finding a book to read is not going to be an issue. 

People fill out reading journals, but I do not want to do that myself. I was the kid who read Gone With the Wind twice in junior high to get credit for the 1000+ pages and to only have to write one book report. I wrote a separate report each year, but I have never really wanted to spend lots of time analyzing my reading - I just love stories and want to read. Those who rate books on social media seem to be people who like book reports - they do an entire rating system and synopses and topic tracking. I don't even like tracking my reading on Goodreads - too much work for me. I just want to read.

I have been collecting some new children's books because I want to start doing some session strategies around books. I bought The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen, and I can see some therapeutic music experience ideas coming from that book. I would like another copy so I could make visual aids from the other book - I might buy a second copy in a poor condition for just that purpose. (Never scan a copyrighted illustration - it is illegal, especially if you are using it to make money!) If I buy another copy, I can cut it up and use it in my music therapy clinic for educational purposes. Actually, now that I am thinking about it, two copies in poor condition would be better. That way, I can use the illustrations on both sides of the page.

Getting books from bookstores and from Thriftbooks.com helps me find new things to think about in the world. I love getting new books. I am less enamored of my Kindle, but I admit that it is convenient when I am traveling and want to take lots of books to read. I no longer have to pack heavy books - I just take my 7 inch bitty Kindle and my charger, and I am ready to go. The Kindle is convenient, but I still love the way books feel in my hands better.

So, I will continue to buy books - used books, new books, books, books, books! Reading is still my go-to self-care practice. It always has been and will always be the first thing that I think of when I want to rest.

Today is a Kindle type of day. I have six groups of students and then choir rehearsal after school, so my Kindle will go with me to help me fill the time in a way that is not television programs or social media scrolling. Reading is better for me, so reading it is! I even have some non-fiction books that would inform my clinical work, but I will probably not dive into those for self-care purposes. Perhaps I will crack those digital files during work hours. Perhaps not. See you soon.

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