I’ve had a few ideas on the back burner for awhile: starting a book club; starting a blog; writing book reviews. It wasn’t until last night that I realized I could do all three of those things from the comfort of my home computer. (I may be well-read, but I’m also slow to process.)

I present to you the following qualifications:

1. I read a LOT. If someone asks me if I’ve read a particular book or author, I would say 4 out of 5 times, I have. If I haven’t read it, I’ve at least heard of it. I browse libraries, bookstores and the Amazon Kindle store about as much as my sister browses Zappos for shoes. Which is to say, a lot.
2. I read fast. The better the book, the faster I devour it. I read “The Help” in one day on the beach last summer. You may think that fast reading means missing details. You would be wrong. (At least for me.)
3. I’m also a writer. I write every day. I’m working on publishing short stories, researching and writing a novel, and keeping a daily journal. I’ve taken fiction writing classes from Gotham Writer’s Workshop and magazine writing and research classes through the DCC online classroom.
4. I am opinionated, but I also try to be open-minded. I enjoy a lively discussion from differing viewpoints, especially about books. You are welcome to disagree with me!

As I write this, we are in the midst of hurricane Irene in the Northeast. It’s the perfect day to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, especially if you are without power. I plan to do just that while I consider which book in my smorgasbord of summer reading to review here first. If you’d like some suggestions for books to read on a rainy day, here are a few from a variety of genres: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (novel); The Importance of Being Earnest (play) by Oscar Wilde; Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner (novel); And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie (mystery); Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster (memoir).