First Obsession - Books

My current obsession has to do with books.  Realistically this started a long time ago but has came back with a vigor about a week ago, so I have a lot of information to share over the next few days.

We read a lot in my house.  My wife has her degree in English and when I first met her she told me, and I quote, "I enjoy good literature."  Not "I like books" or "I read a lot"; she enjoys good literature.  And she's a great writer as well even if she doesn't write as much as she should.

My daughter is 6 and the most prolific reader in our house. She's reading at a level well above her age and easily completes a full chapter book each day.  Because of her age her vocabulary is not as advanced as her mother's but she's getting close.  When she doesn't know a word we always have her look it up in her Macmillian Dictionary for Children, but more and more she's borrowing our Webster to look up words not in her dictionary.

My son is only one and a half, and while he used to literally consume books (they make great teething rings) he's beginning to copy the rest of the family, sitting with us and pretending to read.  Every word is either "E" or "O" but he at least understands the concept.

And lastly there is moi.  I wish I read more but I do read a fair amount and my taste is very eclectic.  But before I get deep into my recent research and many, many tangents I'd like to state a few quick rules I follow;

1. Read multiple books at the same time.  Some people argue that it's too difficult to follow the multiple lots and charcters at the same time but I've found it's a lot like watching different T.V. shows one after the other.  You don't muddle the stories together and you're guaranteed to stay interested because you don't feel forced to finish something just to move on to the next book.
2. Keep at least one book everywhere.  I keep a book in my car (near the drivers seat in case I get stuck in really bad traffic), in my computer bag, on my desk, random rooms in the house, and yes, even the can.  I'm not a proud man but I am honest.
3. Use bookmarks you like.  Sounds dumb but you'll appreciate keeping your place with something aesthetically pleasing.  I personally like the rug bookmarks but I've been known to use scraps that the kids have drawn on as well.  I have not bought from this site before but I like what they have and I use similar bookmarks.
4. Listen to audiobooks while driving.  I keep a handful of audiobooks on my iPod.  Only once did I forget to load more than one book to my iPod and that happened to be the day I finished my book with another 20 minutes left in my commute home.  OTA radio is pure torture.
5. Last but not least, exchange books.  While I enjoy taking books I don't intend to keep to the used book store (I like Bookmans; huge selection and I can always find a Kerouac I haven't read) nothing is more exciting then passing a good book to a friend and receiving one back from them.  It might turn out to be a dud but every once in awhile you read a gem you never would have picked up for yourself.

There are may more insights I want to share about this topic but realistically if I post them all this minute you would have no reason to return!