I know that feeling. There's plenty of things I want to read, but don't have the time (and when I do have free time, I'm generally exhausted and want to do anything but read).

Well, I don't think you necessarily had to process it that way at the time...I just know that looking back at what I read as a kid, there are a lot of things that point towards my future interests, without me thinking of them in those terms as a kid (see: Tolkien). Though talking animals are always awesome. I'm still drawn to those now.