Reading Into Spring

I love reading. I just do. I love words, well-told stories, ingenious turns of phrase, and brilliantly constructed manuscripts. I used to stay up all night, devouring a new mystery or Victorian novel. I majored in literature in college, which had the yin-yang effects of both slowing my reading speed and sharpening my deeper understanding of manuscripts.

Since then, occasionally when the seasons get "too busy," or my television schedule begins to go a little crazy (I am prone to loving reality competition shows), I forget how much I love to read. Thankfully, I have staved off that lapse this year with a steady diet of new books. This winter I finally read "The Historian," Elizabeth Kostova's first, thoroughly enjoyable novel. I was nervous about how long it was, but fell in love with Kostova's attention to detail and crazy amounts of research that obviously went into her writing.

Much to my pleasure, Kostova's second novel was published this winter as well, and I happily devoured it (though it did take me longer than I had planned to read it). This is a pretty long book, but let me tell you: it's worth it.

Kostova's tale of a psychiatrist on a quest to help a troubling (and troubled) patient is compelling and unexpected. There are a few predictable moments, but in a fun way. Reading it made me consider the powerful effects of art and inspiration anew.

I love that books have power like this, and can't wait to pick out the next one to read!