Introducing Palani Gregory

The first thing I would like to share with you about myself is that I am new to blogging, so I will be learning the ropes as I go. If you enjoy reading my book reviews half as much as I enjoy reading the books they were inspired by, then we will have a win-win blog.

I have been a year-round resident in the Iowa Great Lakes area for almost 16 years! Wow! Has it really been that long? It seems like just yesterday I was here visiting from Colorado for my 21st birthday. Needless to say, I had a blast and decided to stick around. I worked in the service industry and the fitness industry before I decided to go back to school and get a degree in business, which I completed about a year ago...and now? I am currently in the domestic wellness industry; yes, I made that up. I am as close as one can get to being a housewife, without actually being married. Ahhh, I don't mean for it to seem so complicated, so I'll just tell you; my boyfriend brings home the bacon and I fry it up in a pan, so to speak. I guess I just haven't found my life's true calling yet. I have heard it said that these things don't just come and knock on your door, but I prefer to challenge that notion. Lazy, unambitious, whatever...I'm in limbo and I like it here, for now anyway.

Meanwhile, I read. I have always loved to read. What was once a means of escape in my youth has grown into a truly enriching hobby. I am a genuinely open-minded person and I think the things I have experienced vicariously through books have contributed to that. Imagining yourself in someone else's shoes gives you the ability to empathize with others, and the world needs more of that. I also believe that reading is knowledge. It is like exercise for your mind. I prefer to read fiction over non, but I have learned something from every single book I have ever read. Sometimes the lesson is moral or ethical. Sometimes it is historical or scientific. Often it is a lesson on how to properly use a semi-colon, how to spell ornery, and what the heck superfluous means.

When you stumble across a really great book it is difficult to say goodbye, but one thing I love about finishing a great book is sharing it with someone. Sharing a great book with someone is like giving them a peek into your soul; sharing with them a few of the things that make you tick and maybe in turn finding common interests.

I have one more thing to say about my love of books: I am captivated by them. I cannot step foot into a bookstore (especially the really big ones with coffee shops inside) unless I have hours to spend there. I'm like a kid in a candy store suffering from sensory overload. This can range from mild to severe depending on whether I hit the coffee counter on my way in or on my way out. I get a tactile gratification from books, I like the way they smell, I like the cover artwork and illustrations, I like to fan the pages with my thumb, I like the way they line up neatly on the shelves like puppies begging to be selected and taken home. I am not a fan of this thing called the Kindle. I have plenty of techno gadgets that I enjoy and use frequently, but for what it's worth, little I'm sure - I think this thing is an abomination of literature. I want pages to dog-ear, spill my coffee on, and find dog hair inside of; but that's me. I encourage everyone to read regardless of the chosen medium, and I hope to make some good suggestions for you!! Happy Reading!!