Books. Do You Still Read Them?

I am an avid reader. But that comes with the territory of being a writer. Actually, I confess that I used to be an avid reader. 

I used to make it a point to go to the local library's book sale religiously. I'd get a handful of awesome books and then take the next few weeks reading them. But something called work has gotten in the way. Of course this is no excuse because I'm sitting on two books I should read that are work-related: one is The Tender Bar, a memoir by J.R. Moehringer about bar life and the other is Hops And Glory by Peter Brown about the history of Indian Pale Ale.

But for some reason I just can't get myself to crack them open.

One reason is this godforsaken internet-induced ADD that grips me once I log on to my laptop at home. Within no time I'm hoppin' and skippin' around the 'sphere, lost in beer blogs or toiling away on the always lovable JimmyR. 

Another reason is that I just can't seem to find the time. 

I did manage to tackle Donald Ray Pollock's Knockemstiff earlier in the summer, his collections of shorts proved to be an easy way to jump back into reading again. But by the time I finished the book, I had lost my desire to read again. Not that it was the book's fault. I quite enjoyed it. Just that, like some good books, it made you want to write. 

I haven't figured out how to do both at the same time but when I do I'll be sure and let you all know.

And with that said, I think I will try and read something today.

Because reading is fundamental after all.