the coles

Yesterday, I got the family-holiday email to fill out my Christmas wish list. You know the one. It goes something like the following:

"Dear Family,

Mom has asked that I send out a request for Christmas wishes lists. This year, to make it simple, please try to include a direct online link to the gift you want, if you want something specific... Santa is busy and is working hard this year, and wants to keep Christmas simple!

These are the categories from which you may wish!:

Some thing you want.

Something you need.

Something to play with. (ex: Games, crafts, iTunes $, golf clubs or balls)

Something to read or view.

For each category, decide on your top three options."

Ok, so maybe that's a direct quote from the letter I received, but you get the idea! Well anyways, tonight I started brain-storming for Christmas possibilities (knowing that if I had to pick my top three choices, then I had better get my priorities right the first time!) - and found myself sporadically perusing wikipedia and random author blogs. And then it happened, I found a great list of "suggested readings." And it got me thinking - is there a word or phrase that describes how I find new and exciting books to read? I'm talking about the discovery of writings, authors, and series that eventually fill your bookshelves and are frequently exchanged by word of mouth. But its not only that. Its the "author's inspirations list" or "book recommendations" at the end of books that your already own or check out from the public library that lead you onto fantastical new findings! Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

I'd like to call it a reading tree. Maybe that term already exists and has been coined away for some other linguistic meaning but it just popped in my head and seemed surprisingly appropriate! It parallels the underlying principle of genetic inheritance pedigrees or family trees or more appropriately, coaching trees. For example, from Lavell Edwards' coaching career came numerous coaches including, Mike Holmgren, Steve Sarkisian, Dave Kragthorpe, Norm Chow, Kyle Whittingham, Brian Billick, Andy Reid, Robert Anae, etc. These trees are a type of informal recollection of how certain items (or people) are connected and can be traced to a common heritage. A reading tree (whether recorded on paper or mentally captured) shows how one book or author, or even a friend led you to additional literature.

I look at my bookshelves now with a refreshed sense of enthusiasm, realizing that I can link the majority of the books we own to a few awesome reading trees! I also wonder how or when I'll find the next great reading tree. Call me a nerd, but I know at least some of you out there know to what I'm referring. So the next time you look at a book, ask yourself if you know to which reading tree it belongs. Or maybe your planting afresh. Regardless, here's to more joy in the next great book you find.