For those who may not know, I absolutely love reading. I’m particularly a fan of young-adult fiction (what can I say? Though I’ve certainly passed my YA years, it’s generally light, it’s easy to read and overall, it’s fun), but I also enjoy historical fiction from time to time, as well as…. well…. pretty much anything.

A few years ago, I picked up a true treasure at a library book sale in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: the collected works of William Shakespeare, hardcover, for $4. What an amazing find! I absolutely had to buy it – how could I pass up such a treasure, and at such a low price?

Thus, it became one of my reading goals to dive into more Shakespeare, and to eventually read all of his works.

Instantly, I could check three works off the list. In high school, I read Hamlet, Othello and Twelfth Night. Three down, plenty more to go.

It wasn’t until last week that I really decided to pick up on this project and get it going, even though a) I’ve had the collected works for several years and b) there’s been absolutely nothing stopping me from doing it until now.

Last week, I began my endeavor with The Comedy of Errors. I tend to be a pretty fast reader, but I gave myself the whole week to really dive in and absorb what I was reading. Some may say that even a week is too short a time, but I don’t know that I could bear dragging it out any further. If I have the time to read – ie., on the bus, on my lunch hour, etc. – I’m probably going to be reading.

This week, my piece is Romeo and Juliet, which I decided upon after seeing the play performed live at Buffalo’s “Shakespeare in Delaware Park” this past weekend. It really was a lovely show – my first time seeing it live – and made me choose the play as my next Shakespeare selection.

I’m not going in any particular order; I have no idea what title I’ll choose after Romeo and Juliet. I try to read a little bit each day, but then again, I’m in no rush. If anyone has any suggestions as to what my next Shakespeare piece should be, please feel free to leave it in the comments! I’d also love to hear what your favorite work of his is as I continue on this Shakespearean mission.

“My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.”