Nonrequired But Essential.

I am, as they say, a voracious reader. Right now I'm reading one of the Best American Series: The Nonrequired Reading for 2010. If you ever find yourself at a loss for what to read next, this series is perfect for you. Dave Eggers is the editor, and the collection is assembled by two groups of high school students-one from the San Francisco Bay Area and one from lower Michigan. The proceeds from the books go toward 826 National, a network of writing and tutoring centers around the country that serves kids aged 6-18 helping with "everything from learning the English language and basic reading/writing skills to advanced publishing projects with high schoolers."-taken from Editor's Note in book. The selection committee, being high school students, makes for a most eclectic mix...essays, fiction, humor-even a graphic novel or two! The pieces are culled from online publications and blogs as well as print magazines, so I always come across writers that are brand new to me, which I love. All of the Best American Series are consistently wonderful, but I think I love this one just a wee bit more because it's all over the place...not in the mood for an in-depth look at India's new wealth (Capital Gains, by Rana Dasgupta)? OK, just flip to the front section of the book and read Best American Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak. Something for everyone, I promise!

I have, in our home, a shelf reserved exclusively for books that I want to read...I buy everything that looks really terrific, and I know that one day I'll get around to reading them all. Here's that shelf:

I may as well just show you how addicted we all are...and keep in mind that we visit the library every single week. We only purchase books that we know we will want to read, share and read again. Here's a brief rundown of book storage:

Living room:

Nightstand: (these are the VERY NEXT books I'm reading)

Oldest daughter's room:

EDIT: oldest daughter's nightstand-went in and saw that she's reading The Best American Nonrequired Reading from 2002! 

Younger daughter's room:

Family room:

Sunporch:

And I won't show the the stack of New Yorkers that gives me so much guilt...it's ridiculous.

Some people think we are silly to sink so much money into books. And I'm not really sure why we all feel the need to OWN certain books forever. What is it about a wall of books that makes me feel safe, calm, and happy? And don't give me "Stuff White People Like". I really wonder why. I mean, once you've read a book, it makes sense that you no longer need it. But I honestly go back and re-read books years later, and enjoy them just as much, if not more.

If you need a good source of book reviews and recommendations, I suggest you visit Reed Next. Timely, well-read, and smart-as-a-whip, his taste is impeccable and the reviews are spot-on. Or, at least they match my opinions of the books we've both read. Who doesn't love an echo chamber?