On Reading

I never have time for reading. Although that's not entirely true, is it. Because free time does come around. I just choose to do other things, like play guitar or go watch the Cavs lose a game or work on my current writing project (which is almost complete!). When I moved into this house, I pictured myself reading all the time. Even set up my front room as a 'reading room' of sorts. It's full of books and holds the most expensive piece of furniture I own...a two-part square-shaped reading chair. It's probably not meant to be a reading chair, but when I saw it I imagined curling up with a blanket and a book and watching the snow fall from the big front window. In two and a half years, I think I've done that once.

Because choosing to read means choosing NOT to do something else, it's important that what I read be worth it. Meaning really, really good. And since I'm completely out of the loop on what's out, what's new, and what's hot, left to my own devices I'd be scouring the library shelves for interesting-looking covers. Because everyone knows you absolutely CAN judge a book by its cover. Lucky for me, I've got my good friend K and my sister L. The last several books I've read have come as recommendations from them, and as they both have very high standards for literature (as they should), I can always count on having phenomenal reading material. L and K are both very busy people as well, and it's inspiring to me that they make time for reading anyway.

I most recently read 'Orange is the New Black,' and I absolutely loved it. Memoirs are my favorite thing anyway, and when they're as well-written as they are inspiring, I can't think of anything I'd rather read. Chronicling a woman's experiences in prison, the book is surprisingly positive. Sure, prison sucks, and several things about it were utterly horrifying to read. But the hows, whats, and whens of prison life seemed to take a back seat to the people and the experiences the narrator has with them. To me, this was a story about life, love, and loyalty, and I found it hard to put down. Hard to put down meaning it still took me 2 months to get through. But that's because I never read. See paragraph 1.

Since I commute, I've thought books on tape might be a way to increase my 'reading' time. I have never in my life listened to a book on tape. Not that I can remember anyway. I resist because something about it seems fraudulent. Because you're not actually reading, not actually holding the book in your hands and turning the pages. And I like holding the book in my hands and turning the pages. Can you still 'get into' a book the same way if you're not actually reading it? Still take in the same meanings, reflect on the passages that blow you away, re-read what doesn't make sense? For any of you with experiences in the realm of books on tape (CD, whatever), are you a fan?
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