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Why I Read - my anti-manifesto
If you are a reader, books are your burden. You may love to read, or say you do, but the obligation of the books you know you must read will not be denied or even delayed.
I admit it. I read more because I have to than because I want to. Watching television and films and leafing through magazines is easier and often more enjoyable. I can stand or slouch or sit with one leg over the arm of the chair, or lie on my back or hang upside down when I do these things, but reading forces me to sit awkwardly for long periods of time, which does not please a 61-year-old, semi-arthritic body.
So...why read? I get more joy from children, more beauty from nature, more affection from people and more ideas from inside my own head. Book clubs hound me, literary blogs intimidate me and Barnes and Noble overwhelms me. Lowe's is more fun and has toys.
Books are frustrating because they won't go away until you attend to them, which means reading them, which is work. If I knew why I read books - all the time - maybe I could stop. Then what would I do?
That's it.
I admit it. I read more because I have to than because I want to. Watching television and films and leafing through magazines is easier and often more enjoyable. I can stand or slouch or sit with one leg over the arm of the chair, or lie on my back or hang upside down when I do these things, but reading forces me to sit awkwardly for long periods of time, which does not please a 61-year-old, semi-arthritic body.
So...why read? I get more joy from children, more beauty from nature, more affection from people and more ideas from inside my own head. Book clubs hound me, literary blogs intimidate me and Barnes and Noble overwhelms me. Lowe's is more fun and has toys.
Books are frustrating because they won't go away until you attend to them, which means reading them, which is work. If I knew why I read books - all the time - maybe I could stop. Then what would I do?
That's it.
Comment
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Comment by Peter Silwamba on July 10, 2009 at 4:19am -
I really liked this book too. I grew up reading this author since my high school. My newly published book; True Love Is Not Common, has similar main characters like this author. Hope one day my book will reach many reraders as this author; www.eloquentbooks.com/TrueLoveIsNotCommon.html. Peter
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Comment by Holly Christine on June 20, 2009 at 4:45pm -
I couldn't agree more. I have a tendency to hoard books, like rubies and gems and letters from the past. I can't let them go. My collection is borderline, proud, guilty and embarassing. It's an addiction in itself. Once a year, I clear the shelves and attempt spring cleaning on my collection. It never works. I end up with four or five books which I am willing to part.
I like Andrew's quote: "Letting your imagination take control can be addictive."
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Comment by Andrew Snyder on June 10, 2009 at 7:22pm -
I'm young, only 20 but I love reading. I do have the same probably though of never being able to get comfortable, which makes me find excuses not to read.
"Books clubs hound me, literary blogs intimidate me and Barnes and Noble overwhelms me." These ideas are preventing your reading from becoming fun if you allow it. Book clubs? Don't join or quit. I've never been in a book club, while I do like the idea of talking about books with others I don't want to feel forced to read something I do not want to. Ignore literary blogs. Take them off your bookmarks, forget the site, and move on with your life. Barnes and Nobles: find out what you want to read before ever stepping inside the door. Friends, family, the internet, there are plenty of places to search fro books at your own pace. When you find the one, heck just order it online and avoid the drive.
"Books are frustrating because they won't go away until you attend to them, which means reading them, which is work. If I knew why I read books - all the time - maybe I could stop. Then what would I do?"
If the book won't go away in your mind then that means your mind is in the world of the authors. It's very simple to just toss a book aside and never read it again. Once your mind enters the authors realm you can't help but want to read the next page, find out what happens next.
Letting your imagination take control can be addictive.
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Comment by Diane on June 10, 2009 at 5:38pm -
Interesting but not my view at all. I find very little joy in watching TV/movies and have no desire to leaf thru magazines most of the time. I LOVE Barnes and Noble - and I love sitting up in bed with my special reading pillow and getting lost for hours. Don't get me wrong, I love my children but aftter about 9pm, I'm done with them!
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