I am slightly suspicsious of ‘people who don’t read.’ Especially when they admit to it freely. It seems almost shameful; something that you would want to hide. But people often tell me – “Oh, I don’t read” – when I mention what I am currently reading. The first time it happened was when I asked the mother of one of my daughter’s friends in elementary school if she wanted to join my book group. She said “It sounds like fun, but I really don’t read.” I was frankly stunned speechless. It seemed almost paramount to admitting that she didn’t brush her teeth.
More recently, a friend told me that the last book she read was “Fifty Shades of Grey” (over a year ago) and that she’d only read that because of the hype. ?!?!? I want to be clear that these are nice, seemingly normal people, but they have a dark and dirty secret. Actually, no, it’s not a secret because they freely admit to it.
I am really sad for ‘people who don’t read’ because of everything that they are missing. I absolutely LOVE to read!! The best think about having an e-reader is that I am never without a book. My bookshelves are literally overflowing with books, but I’ve been know to get panicky if I finish a book and don’t have something at hand to read next. I am currently reading four books simultaneously. One hardcover, one on my iPad and two audio books. If I am driving and listening to an audiobook and am in a really good part, I’ve been known to sit in the parking lot of my destination and even be late for an appointment so I can listen to the story, And that is really the crux of why I love reading. It’s the magic of story.
Story can take you places and make you feel things you’ve never felt before. It can open you up to new thoughts and ideas. It can challenge you and also take away the cares of the day. Although I admit to being a yarn snob (read some of my craft blogs) I’m not a reading snob. I’ve read my share of bodice rippers and People magazines in addition to “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “A Farewell to Arms” and enjoyed them all for different reasons. So it doesn’t always have to be fiction, but it’s my favorite.
My current book group is small, but composed of avid readers. In my last group, some of the members wanted to take the summers off from reading because they wouldn’t have time….isn’t that when we are supposed to have more time? We just finished “The Orphan Train” by Christina Baker Kline. It’s a wonderful tear-jerker which also provided information on a part of US history that I wasn’t aware of. I listened to it on audiobook and if you’ve never listened to an audiobook, I highly recommend it. The readers are talented performers who use different voices for all the characters adding another dimension to the story. I’d love to hear what you’re reading. I may have to add your recommendation to the pile of books waiting under my bedside table to be opened and enjoyed.
