Whatcha readin'?

I love to read. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine - guilty only because when I get into a book, I have a hard time putting it down and things like laundry, dishes and dinner feel like they can just wait until I'm finished. Maybe that's why I don't read all the time. I read when life is a little slower -- Spring Break, summertime and Christmas vacation.

Since Saturday, I've started and finished two books. The first was a chick lit read called Through Thick and Thin. It was ok. I picked it up for $1.99 at Garden Ridge a couple of weeks ago, so I didn't mind that it wasn't the great American novel. But I am curious as to why so many chick lit books have main characters who are either journalists or in PR?

(Also, a Garden Ridge bargain was Jared, the Subway Guy, which was a quick read and surprisingly enjoyable.)

The second book was Push by Sapphire. Definitely not a fun read, but one I couldn't put down. This is the book that is the basis for the movie Precious. I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie because so often the movie really screws up the story (My Sister's Keeper comes to mind -- I've never seen the movie because I know how badly they ruined that one.).

My brother-in-law gave me Push as a Christmas gift. When I opened it, Annie recognized it and said that she wanted to read it after I was finished. I said, "Sure." That was before I'd cracked the book open. Now that I've finished it, this is a book I don't think I want her reading. There are very graphic incest scenes that I would rather not have taking up space in my not-yet-thirteen year old's head.

It was a hard book to read, thinking that those kind of things really happen to people. But for an admittedly white bread girl born and raised in the suburbs, living and raising her own kids in the suburbs, I think it was good for me to challenge myself with.

So now I have to figure out what to read next. My friend Cynthia gave me a few books to read when I was at her house last week (because you know that I'm on the lam from the library), so I'll probably pick up one of those.

How about you? What are you reading? Got any good suggestions for me?