A great piece of literature does not try to coerce you to believe it or to agree with it. A great piece of literature simply is. (Madeleine L’Engle, A Circle of Quiet, page 201)

The strongest, most authentic motive for deep reading … is the search for a difficult pleasure. (Harold Bloom, How to Read and Why, page 29)

Photo by RaisinAbout me: I am originally from Chicago, and I have lived or studied in Utah; Seattle; Bolivia; Jerusalem; and Melbourne, Australia. I’m a stay-at-home mom with a preschooler (affectionately called “Raisin” on this site). I like to read and reread fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, mostly long-lasting classics but also some newly published works. I also like to dabble in photography and find joy in a successfully cooked meal. My highest priorities are my family and my religion. Here is my main webpage for more about me.

About Rebecca Reads: This blog is a collection of my thoughts about books and reading, and reviews of books I’ve read. I try to read things that teach me something or get me thinking, including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. I’m excited to introduce my son to good literature!

About my reading: I don’t like to “rate” books because I cannot assign values to books: most books are both good and bad. As Madeleine L’Engle said, a great work of literature shouldn’t have to convince me that it is good. If I don’t like a book in the first 50 pages or so, I might not finish it. I am not in a hurry to finish my books, and I’m often reading a few at a time. I believe books are to be enjoyed!

Some books that I enjoy most include Beloved by Toni Morrison, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, East of Eden by John Steinbeck, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne. I’ve read each of those multiple times and continue to enjoy them.

About you: I’d love to hear your thoughts about reading, books, and what you enjoy. Please join the conversation! If you have reviewed a book I’ve discussed, feel free to link to your review in the comments. I’d love to visit your blog.

Anything posted before May 1, 2008 was previously posted on my personal websites or shared elsewhere.

To contact me, please use the Contact Form, or find me at Twitter, LibraryThing, or Goodreads.

Rebecca Reid