I'm a sucker for flattery. When a friend of mine assured me that my voice is just what the reading community needs, well, if asked, I will serve. I will be writing about books, reading, and words.

Books have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, my mom took me to the library once a week without fail, and my dad read to me every evening. As I got older, the library would be my mentor providing my first library card (made, in those days, of cardboard), my first job (shelver) and my first crush (a fellow shelver who did not reciprocate). As an adult, I had the opportunity to be a book buyer for Borders (no, we don’t read every book we buy) so my love of books is tempered by a well-trained commercial eye.

Besides books, and reading, the other cornerstone of my upbringing, is humor. In my house, we did not have a religious tradition unless you count humor. If you were funny, you were in. If you were humorless, we hoped you would not linger. We listened to the records of Bob Newhart, Shelly Berman and George Carlin with reverence. My parents’ marriage would eventually crumble, but to this day, they each quote with affection the other’s funniest lines.

At a minimum, I hope these posts will guide you toward something terrific to read. In my egomaniacal moments when I envision myself sitting on Oprah's couch, I hope these posts will help you think more about words and the way they shape our lives.

Leah Rex has worked in some aspect of the book business for more than half her life. When given the choice between food or books, she will always choose books.