Book Worm

I'm having a mild panic. I'm shaking and bewildered: I have no books left to read. None at all. And, unless I start on Mac's, nothing to read when I retire to my boudoir this evening for my customary "Chapter Before Sleep". David is looking quite pleased at this news, so often he's faced with a wife holding a lump of paper and cardboard who rejects his amorous advances. I mean, I do give in eventually, I just have to had my fix of the written word first. I hate not having a book to read, I feel like I've got a limb missing.

I've re-read all my old favourites over the past few months: the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella, both Bridget Jones' by Helen Fielding, Lace and Savages by Shirley Conran, and my absolute favourites of all time Jilly Cooper's Riders, Rivals, Polo, The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous, Appassionata, Score! and Pandora. One after the other! I've just finished Score! About half an hour ago. It's entirely my own fault that I don't yet own a copy of her new book Wicked! - I see the hardbacked version every time I'm in Sainsbury's but never actually get round to picking it up. I've just this moment ordered it on-line but it's going to take a few days to get to me. I've also re-read Ms Cooper's Class, How to Survive Christmas, Turn Right at the Spotted Dog and Angels Rush In. I've even gone right through the Martina Cole series. But I can't find my copy of Two Women. I wonder where it is.

I'm stuck and lost. My mum once said I would "read the back of a cornflakes packet". It's true - I love reading and can be found with my nose in a book at every available moment. Mac has inherited my love of books and likes nothing better than curling up with a good book and a cup of cammomile. I can pinpoint moments in my life just by re-reading a book. For example, I first read Riders while travelling, with my parents to Cornwall for a fortnight's holiday in Newquay. I barely lifted my head out of the book for the first four days after I'd bought it at a motorway service area. It was there, that fortnight in Cornwall, that I discovered Judy Blume. Racy! I kept Forever well hidden from my parents!

The Sweet Valley High series eventually ran into the hundreds and I had every one of them, well read and well thumbed and passed around my little gang. I got rid of the lot one hot and clammy summer when we redecorated the entire house and had a massive de-clutter. I still miss them.

During my pregnancy, Jackie Collins' back catalogue kept me busy - I went into labour halfway through re-reading Lovers and Gamblers and kept pleading with David to bring it with him to the hospital. He didn't of course and I didn't get a chance to start re-reading it until Mac was a month old and slept longer than an hour.

So, I'm now bookless. Mac has offered me Treasure Island which I've got in reserve. David is, even as I type, searching the cupboards and under the bed for Two Women. Mac is helping. I'm blessed that both of my boys understand and are happy to feed my addiction!