This saddens me because I think more and more people are growing up without an interest in reading. I feel like most people my age and younger are more interested in movies and video games. It's sad to say but very rarely can I hold a conversation with someone I meet about what books they've read. I could be wrong but I think that probably has a huge affect on society. Yes we've been launched into a new age where things are hugely media driven...people are more interested in reality TV and American Idol type shows than they are in politics or classic literature.
The truth is that there are a lot things that you can learn from books that you can't learn from TV. Visual things are very influencing and it is hard to portray things without a bias, it also takes away the creativity of your own imagination. By reading things you can imagine for yourself what things look like, and can emphasize and pick out words that are important to you. Thus being able to analyze and think about what the words are really saying. It teaches a different mode of thinking and promotes creativity. So yes I'm pro-reading books for sure.
I guess I'm lucky in that most of my friends read, I guess that that's what really got me into reading as an adult. I love hearing about good books and thank goodness for goodreads.com so that I can keep in touch with all that.
This month in Book Club we are reading "The Alchemist" which was my pick. I highly recommend it. It's an excellent, motivating book, and an easy read.
3 comments:
Greetings, Wormy. So did you discuss "The Alchemist" this week? What did the other readers think? I read it, at your suggestion and thought it was worthwhile...an allegory with a good moral. I went to my R.S. Book Group tonight. We (all 5 of us) read books about handcart pioneers...most read "The Price We Paid" or parts of it (story of Willey and Martin Handcart Companies.) I read "Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860--Mary Ann Hafen", a much smaller/shorter book, luckily. We spent 2 hours talking about their awe-inspiring life experiences, often tragic, but full of faith and courage and charity. Kay Percival shared a lot of insight and experiences from her mission at Martin Cove. Thanks for your essay on the importance of the "dying art" of reading. I agree. I'm pro-books. Just wish I could read faster. A couple of books a year is about my speed.
Hey Autumn, I totally agree about books. As you probably know I am a huge reader and try and read a book a week but most of them are guilty pleasure mystery's that read fast. If I am reading a classic or historical novel I chew on it a bit longer. I love the freedom to create my own world with the help of the suthor. With TV etc. they tell what to see. So what is your altime favorite book? Mine is by far 'Jane Eyre'. I just finished reading 'The Bolynn Inheritance', it is in the same series as 'The Other Bolynn Girl'. Pretty good but you sure get a feel for how distusting King Henry VI is. Anyway, I enjoy your blog. Love, Donette
Hi Donette!! My favorite book to date would have to be Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead". It's superbly written, with awesome characters strong moral messages. It's a bit long though, and some what political as well, but I really enjoyed it. I've never read Jane Eyre but now that I know it's your favorite I'll have to check it out.
Post a Comment