Reading, writing, and…

You know how people who work in a bakery lose their taste for sweets? (Well, in theory. I don’t actually believe that to be true…)

I have led a similar, almost more terrible fate. From my years of editing, I’ve lost the drive (or perhaps time) to read for pleasure. It happened slowly…and then one day I realized my library card had dust settling on it!

Then, recently, I began anew - I realized that while jotting notes on my Blackberry was a conducive way of passing transit time, one could also spend it, well, relaxing. And then I remembered the part of me that was long buried…the girl who would spend hours at a time lounging on her front stoop with a good, steamy romance novel. Or on the beach with…well, the same. A girl who, it seems, was not lost, but repressed, sadly, under layers of CrackBerry obsession.

I’m a little mad at my Blackberry right now (it’s doing weird, weird things, probably because it senses ensuing iPhone-envy), and thus, I’m totally OK with leaving it buried in my bag and turning, instead, for the pages of a good read…and now I have plenty!

I was recently gifted a BookSwim.com membership. BookSwim is the nation’s first and only hardcover/ paperback book rental club — similar to a “netflix for books”. They mail books “netflix-style” with no due dates, no late fees, and unlimited rentals per month. And they have tons to choose from! All of the latest titles abound, crossing genres - and it’s super easy to use to catch up on your (missed) reading. The more you read, the more value you get!

BookSwim (and Alytude!) wish to help you recapture your reading passion as well, and three readers will each win a 2-month BookSwim (unlimited!) membership. To have your chance to win, please leave me a comment with the most meaningful book you’ve ever read - and three things you’ve learned this week in my blog. (You know why….) Deadline is July 15. Good luck!