Readers are part of a culture all their own. Their are different types of readers, but I am referring to the die hard, three or more books, mostly novels a month. If that number seems a little low, it is because I do not have enough hours most months to read much more than three or four books a month. If the number seems high, you are not a reader. We are a snobby bunch. Magazine readers don't count, nor do newspaper readers. You must have a low self-help book to novels ratio.

We tend to find each other in crowds. In families, the bonds are especially strong. I have a cousin who has taste similar to mine. We have been exchanging books for years. I sent her out of my home one time with her arms loaded with books. She returned the favor when we went to her home. Another cousin has the weirdest taste ever, but I love it. She gives me haunting esoteric tales that I never would read otherwise. Because of her, I had to buy Lolita by Nabokov online. I was too embarrassed to go into our little independent bookstore and buy it. It would have been worth the embarrassment as it turns out.

People who are not readers are often resentful and jealous of the time the readers in their lives spend reading. I is an uneasy thing on both sides because most readers do not spend nearly as much time reading as they want to.

I had known a woman for about eight years when she lent me a book called Gloria. She never lets you know her opinion unless you ask. I inquired about the book all she would say was, "It's hard to say what exactly it is about." I knew she was a reader, we were even in a book club together. I read the book not even knowing if this friend liked the book. I was enthralled by the story. When I talked to BK about it, I found out she loved this strange lovely book too. I saw her in a new way after that. We have become very close in the three years since then. When I found out she loved that book, I felt like I found someone who spoke the same language as me, or saw the same strange colors I did. Like I found someone from my tribe.

My very best friend grew up in a trailer park with a mother who liked to date ex-cons. She grew up dirt poor, and with no real positive influences, but she is one of the most amazing people I know. She reads all the time. I think reading changed her life. I know it changed mine. It exposed me to worlds I never would have known existed.