I'm new here.

I must admit, I'm not a blogger. I don't read blogs (okay, maybe Michael Ausiello's... but he's Ausiello!) because I don't tend to seek opinions of others outside my close knit circle of friends and family. So why am I here, you ask? Well, I read incessantly and I think it's a great idea to have a forum to discuss books - so you're stuck with me.

Well, seeing as I'm here to stay, what will I bring to the site? Unlike my fellow Girls Just Reading, I don't read chick-lit very often. I tend to read crime novels and young adult literature. Young Adult Literature?!? [gasp] Yes. I find that there is often a lot more creativity here than in the world of adult fiction, with a lot less grasping for my attention. I also read a few non-fiction books, usually historical in nature, and every once in a while, a fictional classic for good measure.

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

Hi

Let me be honest, blogging kind of freaks me out a bit. I mean I'm in my mid 30s do I want all kinds of people reading my stuff...I guess since it's about books I'm cool with it. Although don't books reveal a lot about you. Just like Lisa, I have about 45 books on my shelf and that doesn't include the 10 my dad is holding for me and the 15 my sister has for us to read on loan from my aunt. Reading is a passion of mine. I read quickly if the book is entertaining. If it doesn't catch me in the first 50 pages I'm putting it down.

I like finding new authors and often buy the same ones over and over even if there books end up sucking (I'm looking at you James Patterson).

Classics are fine for a change every once and a while but I prefer "contemporary" books. You'll find that I do read chick lit and frankly there is nothing wrong with it especially when you've got talented writers like Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner.

Why Blog?

I am not sure of the answer to that question really, though it seems these days every one has a blog. So I suppose the answer here is "Why not blog"?

I am a big reader and I just love books. I frequently spend half my paycheck in Barnes and Noble. I've got 45 unread books on my bookshelf and the insatiable desire to keep adding to it. I am, however, a simple reader, I read for entertainment and I get immense joy from immersing myself in a different world for several moments a day. You will find a lot of chick-lit and contemporary fiction on my bookshelf, but I will pick up a classic when compelled, which I have to admit is much rarer than I would like.

Ultimately, I am on a quest to find well written books by African-American authors, so that will be a focus of many of my posts as I plan to have every other book I read, be something written by one such author.

I am lucky to have a great friend (Julie) who enjoys reading as much as I do and she's kind enough to join me in this little blogging experiment. I will let her introduce herself and her purpose whenever she gets around to it.

Alright then... Let's get on with it, shall we?