Is reading new books on your agenda this year? For me, the answer is a definite ‘yes.’ Reading books by others not only provides me with pleasure and often useful information, but they often inspire me in my own work. Even when I’m involved in my writing, I always keep an interesting book nearby for those occasional idle moments. It is an accepted fact that reading is food for the mind and soul. My late mother, Lillie, described reading as her favorite candy.