Reading as a pastime?

College squelched my love for reading which was more of like to start with anyways. Accelerated Reader killed my love for reading. With accelerated reader books are given a grade level and an amount of points. Each student is tested to see what grade level they read at and then given an amount of points that must be earned each quarter. My reading level was higher than the grade I was in and I was forced to read books written on my reading level meaning they were harder, lengthier and the tests were more difficult. Making my life more difficult. Because I would read huge books and test badly on them (not get the points I needed), essentially wasting all the time I had spent reading that huge book. And my grades would suffer because AR counted for 25% of my literature grade.

Then came high school and honors English classes with their huge reading lists and symbolism that no one understood. Huge book reports. Posters. Sock puppets. One annoying project after another.

College. As a nursing major I lacked the time and the zeal for reading.

Since then I had just avoided reading for fun. I tried sometimes but nothing kept my interest until Redeeming Love. Francine Rivers has such a gift.

Redeeming Love takes a look at the story of Hosea and his wife. I loved being able to relate a story I was reading to the Bible and to God's love and grace for me. No matter what I do God will take me in, so willing to forgive my misdeeds. I read this book more quickly than any book in the last 7 years. My husband took notice too. I would find myself compelled to pick up the book and help Angel get back home to her loving husband.

After finishing this story I wanted to see what else Mrs. Rivers had for me to read. I went to our local library I found a couple of books. I really want to read the Mark of the Lion series but all our library had was the third book. I instead picked up the story of Rahab. It's a short book with a Bible study at the end. I've loved reading about Rahab so far. It's made me have a new appreciation for Old Testament stories. I like this new drive I have to learn more about the Bible and the customs that regulated these early believers. Hmm, I think I'll just keeping reading.