Reading is Fundamental - and Time Consuming

One of my many dreams is to meet Oprah Winfrey one day - and I know exactly what I'm going to ask her:

"Oprah, how the hell you find time to read all those damn books?!" 

Can you tell I'm frustrated?

Here she is, OPRAH, leader of the free world the most powerful woman in television, founder of O magazine, runs her own production company, builds schools in Africa, has her own radio station and television channel and she finds time to not only read but read a lot. So much so, that she helms the most popular book club in the world.  

I work a 9to5, run this blog and freelance on the side. That's it.  And I complain that I can't find the time to read anything.

 

*sigh*

I read two books this year.

The Girl Who Fell From The Sky by Heidi W. Durrow and Platinum by my BFF Aliya S. King.

Both books were excellent!  But I want to read more. I want to be that person who's engulfed in one book but already has the next good read lined up.  I'd love to review more books here on the blog as well.

I've even got a healthy looking bookshelf.

I swear I've read about 85% of these books!

But I want to do better!

Meet Yolonda “Notorious” Spinks.

I forget how/why we started following each other on Twitter but what I do know is that homegirl's reading game is tight.  Every other tweet is about a new book she's reading, or a review she's writing for her blog (www.notoriousspinkstalks.com) about a new book she's reading.  I was starting to get jealous.

How does this chick find the time to get so much reading done?!

So, I asked her.

URBANE URBANITE: When did you become such a book lover?

YOLONDA SPINKS: Must I tell my age? [Laughs] But seriously, I don’t remember. I just remember always reading. I’m not sure how it began.

UU: Why do you love books so much?

YS: I think it came from me being the only child at home. My brother was ten when my mom had me so as he got older, I was the only child left at home. I can remember sitting at home trying to read the Bible. I was about 6 or 7 years old.

UU: What's the first book you ever read?

 YS: I don’t remember. I do remember reading Charlotte’s Web in school. It was my favorite book.

UU: What's your favorite book?

YS: My favorite book is Single, Married, Separated and Life after Divorce by Myles Monroe. My brother died in September 2003, and I had many rocky years after that. That book helped me begin the process of loving life again.

UU: Who's your favorite author?

YS: Are you trying to get me in trouble? They are all my favorites. But seriously, my all-time favorite is Zora Neale Hurston. She was feisty and real - and I love that.

UU: What's your favorite book store?

YS: Why do you keep using that word? I’ll just send a shout out to Mahogany Books. It is an independent, African-American-owned online bookstore, www.mahoganybooks.com.

UU: What are you reading now?

YS: Walk Like You Have Somewhere to Go by Lucille O’Neal 
Mother Wit by Angelia Menchan 
Sistergirl Devotions by Carol M. Mackey

I typically read more than one book at a time. Mother Wit and Sistergirl are in my purse, and O’Neal’s book is in my laptop bag. I’m never without a book.

UU: How many books do you read per week?

YS: It varies. This week I’m reading the three books I just mentioned, but I haven’t finished any. Some weeks, when I’m in the groove, I can throw three or four back . Yep, like long necks Budweisers— but I don’t drink beer.

UU: How are you able to get so much reading done?

YS: On a serious note: Reading for me is a release. It is the one thing that I do that is for me. My life is so busy, and I often find myself in the position of trying to be everything to everyone else. I hate telling people no. My reading time is just for me. I don’t like to be disturbed, and I don’t allow anyone or anything to rob me of it. Even if I only read a chapter or two before bed or read a few pages while waiting in the car, I’m going to read. By any means necessary!

UU: What's your stance on ebook readers? Kindle? The Nook? Or are you a hard copy kind of gal?

YS: I’m a hard copy kind of gal. Actually, I’m a certified book whore. Yes, books are my pimps. I have hundreds of them. When it comes to e-books, initially I wasn’t into them. However, when the airlines went crazy with baggage fees and weight requirements, things changed. I’m saving for a Kindle. Ummm, I’m taking donations.

UU: Any good books on the horizon that folks should have on their radar?

YS: Of course!  

Re-Rambled by Angelia Menchan is hotter than fish grease. Then there’s The World Has Changed: Conversations with Alice Walker; The Book of Night Women by Marlon James; and Glorious by Bernice McFadden. McFadden announced via Facebook that Alfre Woodard has been cast for the audio book. Wow!

UU: Give people a synopsis of what your blog/website is all about.

YS: Notorious Spinks Talks started out as just a book blog. I wanted to share with the world the books I was reading and what I thought about them. Currently, I’m revamping my site to a one-stop shop. I will be discussing books, babies, health, going green, music (my other love) and my rants.

Books And... (www.booksand.net) is my business website. We currently provide virtual book tours for authors of color. Our goal is to help authors of color get maximum exposure and continue to build their brand.

To get familiar with this Memphis based literary maven and all her bookworm greatness, you can follow her on Twitter at:  @notoriousspinks and @booksanddotnet. And visit her websites: www.notoriousspinkstalks.com and www.booksand.net.

Do you get to read as often as you'd like?

If so, how do you make it happen?

If not, what gets in your way?

Did you find Spinks' tips helpful?

Am I the only one who wonders how Oprah is able to read so much?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.