This week I was thinking about books. I was thinking about people I meet who do not own books. Or who do not read. Times are rapidly changing and many people read only online sources for leisure, but I still love the smell and feel of an old, hardcover book. I relish the moments I receive books as gifts or I come across a first edition hardcover in some used bookstore somewhere. I miss reading for leisure.
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I have loved reading since I was a child.
One summer my great-grandmother came to live with us when we lived on a farm in Maryland. My mom says my great-grandmother read to me constantly that summer and she thinks that was the beginning of a beautiful hobby. I do not remember that summer because I was only in preschool. But I do remember my mother reading to me as far back as kindergarten. My mom read to me or we would read together EVERY night before bedtime until I was old enough to read on my own. Books will also hold a deeper meaning for me because my grandmother and I shared a love of reading. We shared books with each other every year. When I see a book, I see my grandmother.
Reading was not always easy for me, but I loved it enough that reading slowly did not bother me. I was usually one of the last people to finish reading anything in class in elementary school. Still, I was usually placed in Gifted classes and read books well beyond my grade’s reading level.
As I got older, reading aloud TERRIFIED me. I would read ahead so I would not stumble over my words when it was my turn. Remember when we would read plays in school? That was my first taste of social anxiety and panic. My stomach would hurt, I would sweat, and I would read aloud slowly so I would not make a mistake.
I was reading every word one at a time. I was reading in my head like I was reading aloud. Even as I type this, I can feel my tongue move in mouth as I say the words in my head. It is not that abnormal, but it is limiting enough to be a learning disability. I did not recognize this limitation until too late because I had already developed severe test anxiety. Unfortunately, my inability to read quickly interfered with my ability to do well on standardized tests.
In college, I learned to read faster out of necessity. Eventually I was able to scan sentences and comprehend paragraphs without too much trouble. I did well in college and learned how to manage my test anxiety (for the most part). I still constantly read for leisure, sometimes multiple books in a single week. In grad school, I continue to learn strategies to comprehend as much as possible in a short amount of time. So far so good. But my desire to read for leisure has slowly disintegrated during grad school. I read all day. Empirical journal articles, textbooks, manuals, dissertations, reports. My leisure reading takes place every day when I catch up on Google Reader. I love reading all of your blogs, but at the end of the day, I prefer to unwind by watching movies or television now.
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These are just a handful of books I tend to read every few years because they have touched my heart so deeply.
The Phantom Tollbooth – Norton Juster
The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho
Neverwhere – Neil Gaiman (my favorite author)
The Undiscovered Self – Carl Jung
His Dark Materials Trilogy – Phillip Pullman
The Upanishads is an Indian spiritual text that guides much of what I now believe to be my core values. The Undiscovered Self by Carl Jung opened doors for me that I wished had not been opened at first, but doors that made me a better person. It began a journey of self-awareness that made me embrace all things in myself.
But the other books are fiction… fantasy, in fact. I adore fiction.
“Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.” ~ Jessamyn West
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I want to start reading again.
I read a few books over my Christmas holiday. My family and friends gave me a handful of books for Christmas. Those books are all sitting on my bedside table. I have already read a few of the ones I received as gifts, but I enjoy reading good books multiple times. Here are the books sitting next to me, begging me to read them any day now.
The United States of Arugula – David Kamp
Up in the Air – Walter Kirn
Lamb:The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal – Christopher Moore
Eat Pray Love: – Elizabeth Gilbert
Crow – Ted Hughes
Wicked – Gregory McGuire
http://www.amazon.com/Lamb-Special-Gift-According-Childhood/dp/0061438596/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0
I read an insane amount–I read myself to sleep, and I’m pretty sure some of my insomnia is due to getting caught up in a book. It’s my catharsis, and I’ll never turn down a good ghost story or historical novel a la The Mercy of Thin Air.
Love this.
I’m going to be looking up the Upanishads. …Aaaand adding some other books from above to my reading list.
That is, of course, for AFTER grad school. ^_^
yes, indeed, AFTER grad school. 😀
I like how this is tagged “free time”, what grad student has free time? 😉
I love to read, but I read far fewer novels now. I pick books that interest me and stretch me in some way, and aim for a chapter every day. At the moment I’m reading “effective java”, but I just finished “what I wish I knew when I was 20″ by Tina Selig, which was a wonderful, inspiring, empowering book.
Sometimes when I’m really overwhelmed and need a break, I’ll buy a new novel and just spend a day reading it. Buying new books and reading them is the best thing about long haul flights.
Haha, I know… I make free time though. Every day. I have to or I’d lose my mind. 😉
A chapter a day is good, but I get so obsessed when it’s a good story! I want to read it all in a day or so. Long flights are the perfect time for reading.
“…but I still love the smell and feel of an old, hardcover book.”
ME TOO
The school I work at is in the process of giving away a lot of older books that haven’t been checked out in the past 10 years. Everyday I check the shelf for any I might be interested in, because they’re used, and broken in, and beautiful.
I recently joined a book group – and that’s been a great way not only to meet some fun people, but to have an “excuse” to read a great book that has nothing to do with school.
But I’ve also found myself reading things for leisure that are more relevant, but still fun – some great examples are “proust was a neuroscientist”, “the language instinct”, and “wednesday is indigo blue.” One pop science book that I read recently and loved was “outliers.” It was a fun read and very inspiring to continue working as hard as possible to reach my goals.
Also, I’m addicted to academic lit – fiction books about professors or grad students, the best one by far is “straight man” hilarious from start to finish – makes fun of all the neurotic politics of academia.
That is a good idea… to read academic lit or books that may be relevant to school, but still fun. 😀 A book group might also be something I can do once I start my PhD.
I do love to read, but i certainly didn’t have a chance to read much for leisure during grad school. If i ever cracked a book for pleasure, i felt guilty for not studying. It was that first week after graduation that i was able to sit down and start reading all those books i had accumulated.
It isn’t too bad to read after spending the entire day in front of a computer screen processing information. However, i do find that my attention span is a bit less in the evenings, as compared to my lengthy 90 minute commute in the mornings via metro. If i want to read a book, thats where its going to happen. This being the case, it is why the comic book medium has been so good to me over the past few years. One issue of a comic (unless its really deep and requires a lot of introspection) only takes a few minutes, and with 5 or 6 books that i read coming out weekly, its like a serial TV show that i get a new episode of every month.
As for what i am reading now. I am about to be starting your man Gaiman’s The Sandman (which i embarrassingly haven’t read yet). I have been going through a lot of Matt Wagner’s Grendel, and various independent comics, in addition to always checking out new interpretations of Batman. The past few months of comics only has been really enjoyable, although i am sure i will return to my personal finance books, and ancient roman historical fiction titles soon.
Finally, these days i don’t think you can tell something about a person from their “collection” per se, but you can tell something about what they have read and what they like to discuss. With books becoming more and more digital and with a movement between myself and my peers to live a more minimalist lifestyle, my book collection is getting smaller instead of larger. That doesn’t mean i am reading any less. Although, i will admit, first time at a chicks place, when she goes to the restroom, i make my way over to her bookshelf to see what she has there.
The Sandman series is amazing. I also recommend Gaimain’s Mr. Punch and Black Orchid. I’m a bit partial to those because Dave McKean is one of my favorite artists. I can see why you like to read graphic novels and comics during a commute. I have to drive when I commute, so I listen to music. I tried books on tape, but I just can’t get into that for some reason. I like to totally immerse myself in a book, like in Neverending Story (haha), so audiobooks don’t allow me to do that.
I agree that now it is more difficult to judge people on solely books. But I think magazines, journals, blogs, etc. say a lot about a person. If someone can carry on a good conversation about something, it obviously means he or she cares about it.
I used to read a lot, but only buy hardcovers of books I really love. So, I think one can be more minimalist and still have a nice book collection. OF course, most of my books are in storage because I move all the damn time. One day I hope to settle down enough to have a full library in my house/apartment.
I read “Alice In Wonderland” and “Black Hawk Down” at least every other year. “Alice” because I discover something new every time (I’ve been reading it regularly for 20 or so years) and “BHD” because it is so well written and such a lesson on teamwork and loyalty.
I want to read “Atlas Shrugged” again, but damn it’s a long book!
Right now, am reading “The 8th Habit” and an online self-growth program (Ultimate Success Program), to get my head out of a bad job.
Rick Carter
STRESS JUDO
I love to read. I read approximately a book a week last year, some were meaty, some were easy peasy. But I don’t care. I love to read. I’m currently reading “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follet, and “Mary of Magdala” by Margaret George.
I just bought a nook, because while I love to hold a book in my hand while reading, I decided I’d rather collect beautiful hardbacks of my favorites, and save money, space and trees on the silly paperbacks. So far, I really enjoy it. It’s so much easier to hold than a 2k page book. LOL!
I think that a persons book collection (or lack thereof) speaks volumes (hah, I’m so clever) about who they are and also the kind of person they want to be. I’m always wary of someone who doesn’t enjoy reading. I have a hard time thinking that I will get along with that person.
Reading is a lovely escape for me, but when in school and reading constantly, I enjoyed shows and movies for my escape. Now, it’s back to reading. Words feed my soul.
And I know we share that, and it’s definitely one of the reasons we get along so well.
Yep, reading is definitely something we share. 😀
I think you have a point with the Ereader/Nook idea. I tend to only want to buy hardcovers, so it would be nice to have a cheaper way to read books before I buy the actual copy.
I think once I am done with my core coursework in grad school, I will start reading more often for leisure again.
i just went to Powell’s (which is any reader’s dream bookstore, it’s sooo big!) on Thursday and was wandering through the kid’s and YA section w/my friend, looking through all the books we read as kids. i wanted to re-read them all right there. you and i are pretty much the same in our love of reading 😛 phantom tollbooth is still one of my favorite books ever. i don’t have anything against kindles but i can’t imagine ever buying one. if i read a book, i pretty much want to own it, but i can see how people who travel a lot would want one.
someday when i have a job and some money, my dream house will have an entire wall (or 2 or 3!) of bookshelves. i think people’s book collections say SO MUCH about them. i know i shouldn’t, but i totally judge people on their books 😛
you’ll love united states of arugula! i’m reading ‘left hand of darkness’ by ursula k. le guin and next up is a YA book series called ‘cycler’ & ‘re(cycler).’ the one good thing about unemployment is the loads of free time i have for reading
though i still get caught on the internet for hours.
Hah, yes we definitely do love the same books. 😀
So many of my books are still at my mom’s house in storage bins because they would not all fit at my current place. I cannot wait to have my own place and a good job so I can have walls and walls of books. There is nothing like buying a hardcover book… especially when it is old.
I agree books (or whatever else is on someone’s bookshelf) says so much about a person.
I really thought I would never love an ereader, until I used one.
I’m not saying we should all be converts, because I do love the look, the feel and the smell of a book in front of me. But so far, I don’t feel my nook has taken away from that experience.
But my old worn out copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” will never be replaced, that’s for sure.
And I think it’s fair to judge people by their books. LOL
Also? Christopher Moore is one of my favorite authors. I’ve read Lamb, but it was probably my least favorite. If you haven’t already, I suggest checking out A Dirty Job, Bloodsucking Fiends and Love Sucks. They’re laugh-out-loud funny
Thanks! I love Lamb and have wanted to check out his other books.
I remember having to read aloud in school. I would sometimes whisper to my teacher that I couldn’t because I had lost my voice. Of course by lunch it magically returned. It’s weird though… when we started reading Shakespeare in high school I was suddenly strangely comfortable reading aloud. Maybe it was because everyone stumbled over the words so I didn’t feel as scared.
I absolutely love reading and though I am a self-proclaimed geek, I refuse to let reading become something one does only through a screen. I will never own a kindle. I love the way a book smells and feels. I love the way it sounds when you flip through the pages.
I haven’t spent nearly enough time reading lately. Most of my reading is done in the air right now. My work schedule keeps me pretty busy, but I do make some time on weekends for me and a book. Currently I’m reading Up In The Air, Helter Skelter and The Alchemist.
I hope you enjoy The Alchemist as it is definitely one of my favorites. I started Up in the Air after I saw the movie, so I look forward to comparing notes on that one.
I am glad that even though we didn’t like to read aloud in class as kids, we are geeks now and are successful.
I’m really enjoying Up in the Air. I was iffy about it in the beginning, but I’m slowly getting sucked in. I hope I finish it in time to catch it in theaters still!