I love books. I want to be able to go back and re-read a passage, or look for a map or a chart, or something that has important information. I have a well-worn Kindle and use it all the time, but I find it harder to navigate than an old fashioned book.

There are good reasons to have a Kindle. If you travel it’s a great way to carry lots of books with you. I can check my mail or Facebook, or read the newspaper, or play games. But, when I’m at home and I have choice, I prefer to have a book in my hand.

For Christmas, Dear Husband gave me three books. I bought him two more. I haven’t started them yet, but I have Barak Obama’s “A Promised Land,” and Michelle Obama’s “Becoming,” The third book is “Clanlands.” Oddly, the first book I read was one of the ones I ordered for DH, a Clive Cussler Oregon Files pot boiler, “Final Option.” Of the characters Cussler created after Dirk Pitt, I like Juan Cabrillo and his crew the best.

I’m hoping that Christmas of 2021 I will be able to put Diana Gabaldon’s next book on the list, and perhaps Louise Penney and Donna Leon will have new books out, too. And, maybe Lois McMaster Bujold will write one more book featuring Miles Verkosigan! The thing these women have in common is that they have all written multiple books in a series. I love to see a story unfold and the characters develop.

If you love books as much as I do, consider ordering them from your local bookstore. Part of what pleased me about my Christmas books was that I knew DH bought them locally. Now that card files have gone the way of the dodo, the next best thing is to wander the aisles of a bookstore. One day I went to the help desk. I listed four series of books that I loved, to give the ladies an idea of my taste in books, and asked them for recommendations. It was a good way to find new books to read! I’ll have to try that at the library, too.