elective reading

When you're in school and forced to read books for class, it is difficult to enjoy them.

I remember disliking Grapes of Wrath and Ethan Frome. I was bored by The Old Man and the Sea. Many others are a just a blur. I suppose I should re-read some of them!

A few months ago, I joined my neighbor's book club. As an adult, it is a much different experience reading books that you didn't choose yourself.

Left to my own devices, I will read chick lit or psychological thrillers. I don't have much down time, so most of my reading is done during vacations.

In book club, we have a new book every month and approximately four weeks to read it. I'm sacrificing TV time for reading, but I don't mind at all (that's what the DVR is for!).

This month's book is March by Geraldine Brooks -- a historical fiction. I have never liked history and typically don't like "period" movies, so I wasn't sure how this was going to go over.

But, I am pleasantly surprised that I am enjoying this book, set during the Civil War. Even though this is fiction, the situations are real, detailing the horrors of the war and slavery.

I find myself thinking how I know so little about the history of my country. In all the years of history classes in school, not a lot stuck!

Not that I'm going to start reading history textbooks or anything, but it feels good to stretch my brain and get a little bit out of my comfort zone!