Butterflied Books on the Bedside Table

Jon and I disagree about what activities are appropriate at bedtime. In my opinion, reading is the best use of those last few minutes before sleep. In Jon's opinion, turning off the light and going to sleep is the best use of those last few minutes. We have an ongoing debate about how long I can read with the light on while he is trying to fall asleep.

But I have discovered the secret to solving this domestic disagreement: give Jon a book he can't put down. Pretty soon, I am the one turning off the light first.

Right now I have 5 books sitting on my bedside table. 5 books that I have sought out in the past few weeks to be my before bed reading. 4 of these are butterflied; folded open to mark my page.

One is due back at the library in a few days, and I likely won't finish it. It's the one that's not butterflied.

One is a book I've started a few times and have never finished...it's by Louisa May Alcott. I might never finish it, but it's a good one to start when I don't have anything else to read.

One is a book I read in college and loved: "The Memory of Old Jack" by Wendell Berry. It describes places that are close to places I know and people I wish I knew. I like the familiarity of it. Chances are I won't finish it this time...but I will re-read it at some point.

One is "The Preaching Life" by Barbara Brown Taylor. Her words are poetry. I want to both sip them in slowly and drink them down in big gulps. I seem to be sipping more than gulping.

One is "The Poisonwood Bible." It's the one I'm picking up the most and leaving the light on the longest for. Maybe when I'm finished, I'll pass it on to Jon, and it will result in more time to read the other books before he says "is it time to turn off the light yet?"