Addiction

I have an addictive personality - whether it be good things like being addicted to 'laughing cow' cheese on triscuits or over cleaning or bad things like too many bite sized candy bars and krispy creme donuts! I have now spread this problem to reading. I have never been a fast reader and this trait has directly affected my enjoyment of books. I have always been envious of my husbands ability to read several books in a weeks time or how he would come home from the library with a stack of new books - I never got it. I do love words - can't deny that - but because of the formula lack of patience + short attention span + slow reading = no interest in reading. Simple algebra but luckily I've turned it around recently. I don't know exactly which book started the ball rolling, but I read "The Middle Place" (which I've raved about) back in the spring which led to the author (Kelly Corrigan) recommending two books to me which I read and enjoyed - had to really think a lot following those two books because of the inner struggles the protagonists felt. A few book club books followed in a short lived book club effort - I then read a few other southern kick-tail women books which were fun and recommended to me by my sister-in-law. This lead recently into some books that were a little more heavy and political like 'In the Time of Butterflies' and 'Before we were free.' I feel like those could have given a little more to the content but gave me a great boost in reading. Instead of turning on the DVR'd shows which I had missed, when I got free time I would start seeking out books. I read Chelsea Handler's, 'Are you there Vodka, It's me Chelsea' very funny and well articulated - this is where the danger began and my addictive personality kicked in. I started reading constantly and any chance I got. I've totally neglected my house, writing, research (which technically reading is research for me) - I'd rather sneak a few pages whenever the opportunity presents itself. When my husband and son leave in the morning, I go straight for my latest book! The tip on the acknowledging the problem iceberg was the last book I read (finished it yesterday) - Pat Conroy's 'Beach Music.' A friend bought this book for me several years ago and I never read it because the text of 800 pages really intimidated me. I started on election day (a topic for another day) and took it with me everywhere - to visit my mom in the hospital, doctor's appointments, piano lessons, everywhere! I was so engrossed in this book and the multitude of dynamic characters I poured myself into it. While I look around my straighted just enough house, I am afraid to start another book... I think I should at least give my life a solid effort before my next bought of neglect. I feel like I should join a 12 step program at this point but don't know of any readers anonymous or RA chapters around here. I welcome book discussion for anyone who's interested.