Grateful for books....

I love reading. I just love it. I think it is one of the things that keeps me sane. I have always been a big reader.I love the escapism of reading, the space that it gives me.

I remember going to the library and reading in lunch breaks on days when my friends were being mean in primary school. I also remember countless times when Mum would ask me to do something, and I would say "Just let me finish this chapter," and then I'd read three more! I think I used to frustrate the life out of her but she was very patient with me.

Obviously my baby is a good sleeper because I will quite happily stay up at night for extra time to read... I'm not sure that this habit will be able to continue as my family grows and my tiredness increases.  But even then I still love reading, I have to be very tired before I will not pick up a book for at least 5 minutes before bed. I will even forgo sleep for reading! I also tend to watch very little TV because I would rather read a good book. But I just love the way it clears my head and helps me to switch off.

I rarely have more than one book on the go. I like to finish one before I start another. I am the kind of person that will read almost anything. I enjoy romantic/comedy/fluff books because they require absolutely nothing of me, and they can be reasonably easy to put down. I love fantasy/adventure series and enjoy thriller/mystery books (as long as they're not too gory) and I also love biographies and histories.  I have trouble with study or informative books though... I'd much rather read a story. It is rare for me to not finish a book, even if it's pretty bad I still want to find out what's happened.

I read quite fast. I'm not trying to boast, but it's just a fact. I remember when I got hold of the last Harry Potter book, I started it in the afternoon after I finished work at 4:00pm in the afternoon and finished the book at 1:00am the following morning and I think I did absolutely nothing else in between, just 9 solid hours of reading. When a book is fantastic I have a lot of trouble putting it down and often read well into the night just to finish it.

Take this week for instance. I went to library last week and got some new books out. Last Friday I got six books that I've never read before.  A Jodi Picoult (Vanishing Act), three books by Nicholas Sparks (Dear John, The Lucky One, The last song) one by Sophie Kinsella (Confessions of a Shopaholic), and a Bryce Courtenay novel (Brother Fish). They were not the type of books (for me) that I had to devour, but I have stayed up quite late for a few nights just to have uninterrupted reading time. I have now read all of them except for Brother Fish and am currently on page 71 of Brother Fish. But I know that it will probably take me a couple of days to get through that, as Bryce Courtenay's books are always so packed with information. His books are not the kind of books (for me at least) that I can just read without stopping, they take time to process.

I just love words. My whole family has always been like that, especially my Mum. She had to give up reading when we were younger as she said she used to hide from us kids when she got a really good book. I can see myself having to do the same thing. But I don't know if I could stop reading, maybe if I only read books that I've read before and that are easier to put down?

I am very, very grateful for words. I am grateful that I have the ability to read well, and have so many good books available. I am grateful for the escape and the comfort that reading gives me. Today is RUOK? Day, and I know that for me personally, reading is one of the things that helps keeps me okay. Reading gives me an out, it helps me from being in my own head too much and over-thinking.

What about you? What is one of the things that keeps you ok?

Linking up with Kate for Thankful Thursdays.