In case you haven’t noticed by now, I review books. I review books, because I love books as the stacks of books and the look of fear on the librarian’s face, everytime I show up, can confess about a never dying passion of mine….reading.
There are times, when I have read a book, that I couldn’t completely finish, or
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maybe didn’t get past chapter one, that I found myself going, “Well that was interesting, time to find you a new home or return you (the book) to the library” or I’ve only hated, just ONE book, that I know of….or care to remember.
Most of the time, there has never been a book, I absolutely didn’t like or found myself, “encouraging” someone, that they absolutely have to read it or it may end up mysteriously as a gift, because it’s just that great of a book.
In the chapter, “Stain Glass Books” from the book, “Stained Glass Hearts” by Patsy Clairmont, Patsy wrote,
” Focus is a diminishing attribute in our electronic world of fast-flickering games and abbreviated text. It’s hard to read a book or have a lingering conversation while we thumb-scroll through our texts, blow up pigs (a game), and scan rooms for new faces to tweet about. It’s not just that studious art of reading and meaningful conversation is disappearing, but the courtesy of our undivided attention has been replaced with a few disconnected glances. Besides sending the wrong message to people we truly care about, all this eye flitting and mind scampering is robbing us of the gift of focus.”
I enjoy books. I enjoy the challenges, reading what a writer is thinking brings and the fresh perspective that someone’s work brings; I also enjoying re-exploring classics, I read in school or just personally love and in the midst of everyday life, for a brief time, escaping to a far off world and time.
The books, I enjoy varies.
I enjoy reading biographies, non fiction, fiction, christian living, christian inspiration, devotionals, and yes, I have even enjoyed reading comic books (gasp, imagine that), but the biggest thing that they all, have in common, is a love for the written word.
I haven’t really gotten into the e-readers, though I like the conveniences they offer, but its just not the same as the printed page.
Holding an actual book in my hand, listening to the sound of the page being turn, the feel of the paper and reading the words that come off the page, just doesn’t feel the same on a cold winter’s night, or if sitting out by the beach and the sky is overcast with rumbles of rain.
The ebook ‘may’ survive a downpour better than a printed book, but there is still a nostalgia that I hold with the printed page, and laying on the bed, late at night, pouring over the words that are flowing from the page.
Like Patsy Clairmont shares in the chapter, “Stain Glass Books” of her book, “Stained Glass Hearts”, I have a similar ‘formula’ when it comes to reading books:
1. “If after thirty to forty pages, the book hasn’t caught my attention, I pull back.” 1
I’m like that with the books I review.
If the first, two chapters, doesn’t really grab my attention or slow going, its hard not to have an “oh boy, what do we have” feeling and I find it hard to continue with a book, but I give myself permission, that a book, its not always a firm commitment. I can mark the spot, put it down, walk away and come back, though, if the book can’t grab my attention, sometimes its hard to return back to it.
2. I’m a book scribbler. I can hear people grabbing their chests and passing out at that one. Me? Write in books. The sheer horror.
There are times when I’m reading, though, and a passage just leaps out at me, or a quote, or just I find myself marking in the footnotes and in the margins with references to other books, or authors to explore regarding what I just read.
This makes it a bit awkward if the book was really that good, and I find myself going, “Uhm, that’s awkward, how can I lend this book out now”?, particularly out of concern of , “What if I never get the book back, then I lose all my notes as well”, along with, “Its pretty annoying to get a used book with notes and highlights and underlining, that often doesn’t’ make as much sense to me as it may have to the original owner, and now subjecting someone who wants to read this book to that as well.
E-books. Yes, I know…you can write and highlight and do all this fun stuff, but the written pen…in the hand….just not the same…and the e-book, when highlighting and underlining and scribbling notes, its cleaner in the e-book, then a paper book, but……..there is the nostalgia card, I’m throwing in.
There’s something about re-reading a book, and in my hands, or maybe someone else, at the same time, the insights and thoughts of that time, of what someone else is thinking.
3. As you can tell, my reading topics is very diverse and much more diverse than I’ve listed. I’ve read cookbooks (yes they are readable as well as usable), fiction, non-fiction, poetry, literature, art, biographies, magazines, comic books (again readable). I love history, science, have been bored enough to read technical manuals, inspirational writing, christian living and of course, always, the bible itself.
I don’t limit myself, because there is SO much out there to learn and to explore and to challenge and to grow.
Through it all, as you can see, I enjoy reading. I enjoy sharing new books with others and part of this blog, well…..its part of pursuing life by growing, learning, challenging, and going, where am I now or need to be and what is out there.
How about you?
Do you enjoy reading and if so, what genres do you enjoy? Do you use an e-reader, regular book or both?
Leave a comment and share your thoughts about reading.
© 2011, Sunflower Faith. All rights reserved.
Notes:
- Patsy Clairmont. Stained Glass Hearts. Dallas: Thomas Nelson, 2011. 116 ↩
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says:
well you know we’re twins right? LOL
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amydeanne,
ROFL! Yes yes we are!
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