Do you have stacks of books all over your house? Do you worry if your 'to be read' pile has fewer than a dozen books on it? If so, you might just enjoy I'd Rather Be Reading: the Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life, by Anne Bogel. I smiled and nodded frequently as I read this book, especially over how to arrange your collection! I laughed out loud when the author explains how designers say to do this, and then to ignore what they say! (Thank goodness, because that advice can be silly). And, I did read under the sheets with a flashlight. I don't pick books just because they are on a list of some sort. There is much to enjoy here! :-)

It's coming up on the time of year when I pull out the dvds to my favorite holiday movies. I play them each year, and in a particular order. Canadian Reader brings some, too, and we add them to the pile. Christmas has long been a popular theme in movies, and TCM has put together a lovely collection on just this: Christmas in the Movies: 30 Classics to Celebrate the Season, by Jeremy Arnold. There's a synopsis, and a bit of history, a listing of the cast and some great pictures for each entry. A very nice read.

Another book on the subject of horses on my 'to be read' pile was The Equine Legacy: How Horses, Mules, and Donkeys Shaped America, by C.S. Purdy. These animals worked everywhere ... breaking trails west, pulling plows, building roads, towing ferries and barges, working on treadmills to run ... well, many things, in mines, cities ... they helped deliver mail and keep the streets safe. The author is convinced they are the unsung heroes of our past. (And that there should be more than a few statues in their honor). Well read, well researched, this was just a great read! Oh, when that fire bell rang? The fire wagon, usually pulled by three horses, could be heading out the door in seven seconds.

Reading Hermit With Dog