Joseph Addision once said (by the way, I HATE starting out writings with a quote...), "Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body." Well, I can tolerate exercise but I'm not a huge fan of it. I would, however, describe reading as one of my passions in life.
As a kid, I read the "required reading" for girls of the late 80s and early 90s, The Babysitters Club. I loved those books and when the movie and tv versions came around, I got into those too. The books were similar to more current series like Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and The Clique. Problems were simpler in the Babysitters Club though and there was a character for every girl to relate to. Even though I haven't read them in years, I still have a pretty clear recollection of the characters.
Other than Babysitters Club (which I read through 7th grade or so), I recall reading Sleeping with the Enemy and a biography of Pablo Picasso in my high school years. I wasn't really a reader in high school. I didn't mind reading novels in school, but books weren't something I pursued outside of school. My main love was writing.
When I got to college and majored in English, I found out that along with writing a paper a week, you had to read a paper a week. It makes sense-- in order to create written works, you have to have something to respond to. Quickly, I got absorbed by the world of reading. I found contemporary poets that I loved (Charles Bukowski, Thomas Lux, Stephen Dunn, Anne Sexton, Sylvia Plath) and authors that I loved (especially Hemingway and other post-WWII lit, and contemporary lit).
Since college, I've gotten into reading tons of different things. I read a lot of YA/teen books so that I can suggest them to my students. I've read a few graphic novels because of John's influence on me (no superheroes though, more realistic fiction graphic novels, especially Craig Thompson). I've read some non-fiction (mostly pop culture and sociology books). I've fallen in love with memoirists (Augusten Burroughs!!!). Reading has been enhanced by websites like amazon.com, where I can read user reviews and be led to links of other books that I will enjoy. i keep a journal of books that I want to read "someday"-- it quickly has been filling up. i hope I live to be 125, otherwise all the desired books won't get read!
I like to read because of my love of language. I also love reading because it is such a portable activity. I wouldn't describe myself as having ADD, but I do know that I HATE having nothing to do. I get antsy. I hate sitting in doctor's offices, etc. Reading helps with the doldrums of waiting.
3 comments:
if only we could find a way to instill our love of reading to our students.....
You are a serious reader. I think it's a good idea to have a journal. Maybe we could use that idea with children. I think a journal can serve as a reminder to continue to read, especially books that are of your own interest. I don't remember my texbooks being that fun or interesting. It just seemed like work to get through them. I read for the test or the homework. NOT FOR FUN.
Reading definitely makes the time go by... I remember being a little girl and reading books all the time... I felt like I was the characters or I was in the place... Reading definitely took me to places... I wish my students could allow themselves to really read and not just read because I said so....
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