Rainy days remind me of the joys of reading. When classes were suspended back when I was in college and in high school because of typhoon or heavy rains, I would spend the rest of the day reading a good book over a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.
I usually end (not start) my day by reading newspapers and a chapter or two from a book. As I've always told my friends, my day is not complete without reading the newspapers, Philippine Daily Inquirer, in particular. I can spend several days (even weeks last busy season) without watching TV but I can't live without newspapers. It does feel different reading the news as opposed to watching it unfold on the television screen
I also love reading books. Among my favorites are:
- those authored by John Grisham - I love the way he presents the courtroom drama in his novels. Among my favorites are A Time to Kill, The Firm, The Partner and Runaway Jury. I bought my copy of the Innocent Man, his latest, last January but haven't finished reading it.
- Harry Potter series - I got hooked on this in early 2001. I did not watch when the first movie was shown in Manila. My reason then was that I was not familiar with the story. However, when I went home in Bicol, my sisters convinced me to watch the movie... and the rest is history... From then on, I started reading JK Rowling's series and was always looking forward to the next one.
- Those authored by Dan Brown - Who hasn't heard of the controversial Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons? Aside from these best sellers, Dan Brown has written 2 other equally-nice creations - Digital Fortress and Deception Point. I've been waiting for 3 years now for him to come up with a new one.
- Mitch Albom's - Tuesdays with Morrie and Five People You Meet in Heaven are among my all-time favorites.
- Paulo Coelho's - I started with The Alchemist. I've also read By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept, The Devil and Ms Prym, Veronica Decides to Die, and Like the Flowing River.
- Og Mandino's - My friend from college introduced me to his works. Among my favorites are The Twelfth Angel, The Spellbinder's Gift, and The Greatest Salesman in the World.
- Sidney Sheldon's - I started reading his works when a colleague lent me her copy of The Sky is Falling. Since then, I've read a lot of the books he has authored. There's always a twist - I like it that way.
- Nicolas Sparks' - I've read The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, Walk to Remember and A Bend in the Road. I look forward to reading more of his works.
- James Patterson's - my recent favorite. I started reading his books last January. Since then, I've read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, Judge and Jury, Lifeguard, Sam's Letters to Jennifer, and When the Wind Blows. I'm excited as a colleague who is also a James Patterson fan told me last week that she will bring her books to the office and lend them to me.
Aside from those listed above, I've also enjoyed reading travel books, more-serious stuff such as One Minute Manager, Who Moved my Cheese? 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, The Tipping Point, Your Best Life Now, etc, and Reader's Digest.
