True Confessions

My daughter Geetha just got home for a much too short visit. As often happens, our talk has already turned to books. I was telling her how much I was enjoying (thought I am not sure that is the correct terms) reading Black Boy by Richard Wright which I remembered was on her high school reading list. She said, "Oh, I never read that. In fact I did not read many--if any--of the books on my high school reading lists." She did manage to turn in papers on these books that were good enough to consistently garner the praise of teachers along with a solid 'A' average. I don't know how she did it.

That got me to thinking of how many classics or well-loved books I have never read. (Though I do not think that I ever did not read books assigned in high school and only skipped a few in college. I can't say I always wrote papers that got and A either.)

Here is the short list of books I have never read, a probably never will. I know the list could be much, much longer, but not having read the books, I can't think of what they are.

• Other than The Old Man and the Sea I have never read anything by Ernest Hemingway.
• I have never read William Faulkner but one of my book clubs is curing that with As I Lay Dying which I will begin as soon as I finish Black Boy which is another book I have should have read years ago.
• I have never read much Jane Austen and what I did read made so little impression on me that I can't remember which one I read that led to my rejection of all things Austen.
• I know that Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is loved by the multitudes but my mother tried so hard to get me to read it that I dug in my heels and refused to read in my youth and still can't quite bring myself to try. Alcott and her family were fascinating people with interesting friends and beliefs. I am probably making a mistake in being so pig-headed.
• Herman Melville is someone else who has never appealed to me, even though I know that he shaped American literature.
• Speaking of American icons, I have to confess that I have dabbled in Mark Twain but never really enjoyed his books.
• Alexandre Dumas is another author that never called to me. I am always surprised when folks tell me how much they like The Three Musketeers or any of his other swashbuckling novels.
• This is probably heresy of some sort for a children's librarian but I have only read the first Harry Potter book and, while I can see its appeal, did not feel compelled to read any more the series.
• Likewise, I have never been able to find anything to draw me to Eragon by Christopher Paolini despite the many, many students who have begged me to read it.
• Jerry Spinelli is a children's author who gets high praise. I have struggled to try to enjoy a few of his books with no luck. Wringer and Maniac McGee were not my cup of tea, so how can I expect to enjoy those of his books that did not get wild praise.

Am I missing great things? Possibly. Is that going to change my mind? Probably not, though being "forced" to read things for book clubs has certainly exposed me to things that I might not otherwise have tackled.

The essence of this post is that not every book is for everyone. I know I have previously praised books that others will not enjoy at all. Just winning a prize or getting the classic label does mean that a book is for me or you. (There are some prize winning books that I have trouble believing anyone would enjoy at all, but that is another blog entry.)

What Others Suggest

I just discovered a Nicholas D. Kristof recent New York Times column in which he made his suggestions for kid's summer reading. He has some great suggestions so take a look at this article.

From there you can link to his blog and offer your own suggestions.

The good news is that while I might not of selected exactly the same dozen books, I have no argument with any of the suggestions. Needless to say, there are myriad other books that are well worth reading.

When to Read

For me, the answer to the question "When do you read?" has always been something along the lines of "Whenever I can." I worried for awhile that my daughters were going to think that it is not humanly possible to go to the bathroom without a book because I always take a book in there with me. Sometimes that means I spend a lot more time there than nature requires, but I also get a lot read that way.

When I was about 10 or 12, I declared to all who would listen that I would read at least ten minutes before bed every day of my life. (I was prone to major declarations in those days. There were giant sandstone rocks on the hills behind our house that I had to climb before I could get married; I had to find a certain kind of agate stone or be cursed; and many more restrictions I put on my life.) I have been fairly true to the pledge to read before bed, though I know children and other life events have forced me to skip a day here and there.

I also like to sneak off into quiet corners during the day to grab a chapter or even just a page or two. Of course, it is most enjoyable when one can devote an hour or more to absorbing the joys of the book at hand. Airplanes are perfect for these long reads because there can be no guilt about not addressing other pressing concerns. There just is no way to clean the house, do the dishes, or mow the lawn when you are flying. I also read in the car, but that is something I learned to do later after years of reading-induced car sickness. (Note: I only read in the car when someone else is driving. I don't even read at stop lights when I am driving, though there is generally a book on the seat beside me just in case.) I take a book with me everywhere. The doctor's waiting room has provided many an hour of good reading.

I have trouble reading in places that are two quiet--like a college library--because sometimes the quiet can be a distraction in itself. I prefer my reading to be done where there is some kind of white noise, easily ignored because you already know what it is and expect it to be there. Traffic, birds, the wind, the refrigerator cycling through are all examples that I soon can ignore when I get lost in my book.

What brings this discussion to mind was a recent revelation by a friend who declared that she has just discovered that she enjoys books more when she can read without distraction. By that she meant that she has just learned to turn off the radio or television when she settles down with a book in hand. For many of you that concept may seem obvious, but I bet there are many folks out there who believe that they can multi-task while reading. I will up the ante on that bet and say that there are people who believe that can't read--or do much else--without that drone in the background.


Here are a few points that may convince those of you who don't seek a quiet place to read, to at least give it a try.

• My friend says that the last two books she has read have both shot to the top of her favorite books list. They are also the first two books she has read without other distractions. She says it was all she could do while reading poolside not to ask the couple next to her not to be quieter.
• Most people would agree that serious "study" should be done without distraction. Serious enjoyment desires the same consideration.
• In a some goofy psychology class I took years ago we were told to read a paragraph while someone lectured to us on an entirely different topic. Then we were tested on both pieces of information. Everyone had gotten bits of both, but no one felt they knew either topic well. I could not tell you why we did this exercise, but it makes one realize how little outside noise we can successfully filter out of our minds.
• "Don't bother me. I'm reading." has worked for years to get a little more alone time. It is much more believable if your room is quiet.

When, where and how you read is a very personal experience. The most important part is that you enjoy it. If reading without distraction, increases the enjoyment. I say, go for it.

Quote of the Week--#010

"If you wish to be a good reader, read."

Epictetus

Last Tuesday, Emerson teachers attended a full day workshop where we learned about the human brain. We learned all kinds of things about the reptilian brain, the cortex, and more. The most interesting part to me was how the brain stores information. We have just a short time to start growing those connections that will serve us throughout life. Most of those connections (for reading, language development, and so many other things that are related to what are generally considered to be academic skills) are formed by the time you read the age of 10. Many have to be firmly in place before age five to be acquired without a lot of extra work.

For me, life without reading is impossible to imagine. I read for pleasure and for information. I made a pact with myself when I was about 10 that I would read every night before bed. With few exceptions I have held to that pact for nearly fifty years. It may be no more than ten minutes, but reading gets me ready for bed and my mind processes what I have read while I sleep.

As a librarian and as a mother, I put a great deal of effort into getting the world to be a place full of readers. Read on, read on, and enjoy all that reading has to offer.

Quote of the Week--#005

"There's no thief like a bad book."

Italian Proverb.
Quoted in 1,911 Best Things Anybody Ever Said
Selected and Compiled by Robert Byrne


Often people have the belief that once one reads the first page of a book it is somehow "The LAW" to read the rest of the book. Wow! Doing that would mean that I would miss reading bunches of books that I truly enjoy. There are too many good books to read. Why waste time on something that bores or scares or confuses you?

Nancy Pearl, the Seattle librarian who gained fame by talking and writing about her favorite books, has a rule of thumb that appeals to me. With the exception of books assigned as classwork, there is no book that you HAVE to read. (It is good to try to finish a book for a book club, but sometimes you can add to book club discussions simply by telling the group why you simply could not finish the book.) Pearl suggests that you read fifty pages of a novel. If you don't like it by then, quit and find a book you do enjoy.

I would augment this idea in a couple of ways. If you are reading a book of less than 200 pages, read about a quarter of the book before making your decision about finishing the book. Further, if you really, really dislike the book after even fewer pages, don't waste your time unless two people tell you that they were glad they kept going and finished the book.

Remember that this is different from selecting a book using the famous Five Finger Rule . Simply put, the Five Finger Rule suggests a simple check to see if the reading level of the book you are considering is just right for you. Open the book to a random full page of text. As you read, hold up a finger every time you find a word or concept that you don't understand. At the end of the page, if you have 4 or 5 fingers up, you may find that this book is more difficult than you want. This doesn't mean that you can't read the book, but it does suggest that you have a found a book that may not be much fun to read if you are struggling with reading it. If you only have one or two fingers up, the book may bore you because it is so easy. Of course, sometimes we all want to read a nice, relaxing book, so don't toss the book aside if that is just what you are seeking. If you have put up 2 or 3 fingers, this book may be the perfect degree of difficulty for you. It will have enough difficult words and ideas to challenge your thinking but will still be an enjoyable read. Some folks call this the Goldilocks part of the rule. If you have 2 or 3 fingers up, the book is not too easy. It is not too hard. It is just right.

If you have other ideas for selecting a book, please let me know. We could create our own rule.

The Emerson library has one of Nancy Pearl's books in the collection. Book Crush: For Kids and Teens--Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment & Interest can't please everyone. Avid readers will find many favorites missing and will question why some of the titles got into this extensive list. It can offer a jump start to thinking of new books for you to read. Many of the suggestions are exactly the same the I or your parent or your best friend will give you. Maybe with the word of an "expert" will convince you to try.

The library also has another item for which Nancy Pearl has become known around the world. Ask me to show you my librarian action figure which supposedly looks just like the real Nancy Pearl. There were many people (mostly stuffy librarians, I suspect) upset about this figure because, with the push of a button, it raises its hand to say "Shhhhh" . Most of the world's librarians want folks to think of libraries as welcome and open to a little talking and a lot of happy looking. I know that is how I view the library. (I do enjoy watching my action figure though.)

How quiet do you think a library should be? Should I say "Shhhh!" more often?