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Reading to Relax

© Paula Dundore

One the most relaxing ways to spend an evening or afternoon may be considered "sedentary" for your body, but the best mind workout around. Reading a good book.

Reading happens to be one of my favorite pastimes and one which I hope my children inherit as well. No matter the genre or forum, reading is a stress reducer, something that we all need in our rush and hurry society. There's no time limit, and no test involved, so pull out a good book, kick up your feet, or better yet grab a loved one and read out loud.

If you need a jump start in choosing a book to start your new stress-reducing routine, here are a few reviews to perk your interest.

Plum Island by Nelson Demille

No horror or gore but plenty of page turning and intrigue. If the name sounds familiar, that's because Mr. DeMille has achieved the New York best sellers list on more than one occasion. His recent, "The General's Daughter" is a title you may be familiar with, but I highly recommend "Plum Island" to see first hand how he can keep your interest with a mysterious plot, while making you chuckle out loud with the wit and savvy humor in Plum Island.

Here is what the editorial review at Amazon.com had to say:

Amazon.com Nelson DeMille's narrative engine is one of the best in the business, and it chugs away in grand style in this story of buried treasure and biological warfare on a tiny spit of land off Long Island. As told by a wry, wounded New York City detective who is drafted to explore a couple of murders, Plum Island is a rich pudding of flavorful (if familiar) ingredients, including a ferocious storm at sea.

False Memory by Dean Koontz

One of the things I like about Koontz is his frequent "conspiracy, big brother" plots. He has the ability to take an outlandish sounding topic and make it horrifically plausible. In "False Memory", you will be shocked, and most assuredly intrigued. If psycho talk interests you, your going to love this one which deals in the topic of "agoraphobia" in a not so conventional way. Not for the squeamish.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

This one is a must read out loud for the children and anyone else you can gather together. Stellaluna is masterfully illustrated, and I would beg, borrow or steal, just for the pictures alone. She is a delightful, awkward bat-- yes, adorable baby bat who faces the dilemma of growing up. Fun and quirky, that's how I would describe this wonderful story.

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