Sarah Palin gets inspiration from C.S. Lewis, and Joy Behar scoffs. This incident took place over a month ago, but I’m a little behind. It just shows that some people are sadly ignorant, the incident, that is, not my tardiness in reporting it.
15 Books To Read Before They’re on the Big Screen. Did you know they’re making a movie of Rosemary Sutcliff’s Eagle of the Ninth? And Maze Runner by James Dashner?
I found another list or two that I want to hang on to, after I closed the January List of Lists at the Saturday Review:
Good Spiritual Reading in 2010 from HouseBlog. I saw several recommendations here that I’d like to check out.
I have a couple of reading problems that I want to air and get advice about:
1. I got a new Kindle for Christmas. I was excited, and I downloaded several books and read a couple on the Kindle. I also started two books on my new device, but I’m finding that I keep making excuses and reading “real” book instead of finishing the ones on the Kindle. I think it doesn’t feel right to me to read on the Kindle, not as satisfying somehow. Did any of you who have an ereader find that there’s a learning curve or a time of getting used to the device and starting to feel comfortable with it? I feel as if I’m not really reading or something.
2. I think my reading has been negatively impacted by the computer. I love blogging and computers and the internet. I’m not an anti-technology person. But I find myself skimming and rushing through books lately because, I think, I am so much more aware of all of the books that I want to read. I have to get through them fast because there are so many good books out there yet to read. Of course, that attitude isn’t conducive to good, relaxed enjoyment of the book I am reading right now. Have any of you experienced the “reading rush”, and how did you begin to slow down and enjoy the moment?
Finally, what have you been reading? And have you taken the time to slow down and enjoy your reading and other activities?
I gotta admit, I love my Kindle. I completely forget that I’m reading on the Kindle. So much so, that sometimes I go to turn the page, forgetting for a moment that there are no pages to turn. I’m sure it’s different for everyone, though. I just wish I could read it in the bath tub.
I’ve had a similar experience with my Christmas Kindle. I did finally finish a book on it. But I find it less satisfying somehow too. A lot of it is the feeling of being isolated on whatever page is in front of me. There are things about physical books that I seem to need. Maybe you’re right that it’s a learning curve thing. I want to make the Kindle work — there are books on it that I can’t read any other way!
I can also relate to what you say about the computer having a mixed effect on my reading. On the one hand, it’s motivated me to read with more discipline, and it points me to all kinds of great books. On the other hand, I feel a pressure to “get through” what I read.
It takes my husband a long time to read a book because he’s forever setting it down to stare into space and think about it. I used to do that more than I do now. My memories of a book were from those moments. Now my memories of a book consist more of what I write about it on my blog.
I’m rambling, aren’t I? And not providing any solutions. I’ll check back later and see what other comments you get on this!
I had issues starting with the Kindle when I first got it as well. I downloaded a bunch of young adult books and started off with some lighter fare while I was sick one week and worked my way up to heavier books. It seemed to work well!
That rushed feeling is so frustrating! I can’t remember how I’ve fixed it in the past, though, sorry!
Yes I had a definite learning curve on my ereader. If I hadn’t been forced to read it for a length of time, I don’t know who I would have gotten over it, but I have now (there’s hope!) and I love it.
I know what you mean about rushing through books or even having shorter concentration. I suffered majorly from reader burn-out last year, and had to reevaluate everything about the way I read. Recognizing you’ll never get to every book you want to is step one. 🙂
In spite of having a husband who keeps offering to buy me one, I don’t have an e-reader yet, and it’s mainly because I’m afraid I’ll have the same experience you’re having with yours. I do think that will probably go away though. My other reason is the opposite – maybe I’ll love it so much I’ll never read all the unread print books waiting on my shelves! 🙂
I’m finishing Certain Women today – really looking forward to the discussion.
My son-in-law has a commute of over an hour each way to work. He uses the voice activation on his Kindle to listen to books, he especially loves the theology classics.
I’m reading Marriage to a Difficult Man by Elisabeth Dodds. So far I love it but I’ve only read a couple of chapters. Many books have been written about Jonathan Edwards but this one is about the marriage of Jonathan and Sarah.
The era prior to and during the American Revolution has always fascinated me. This year I want to learn more about Edwards.
I had just started The Lord of the Rings when I found out this was available at the library. As soon as I read this, I plan to spend some quality time in Middle Earth. 🙂
I am the same way with my Kindle. I have only read a handful of books and am still gravitating to “real” books. That being said, it has been nice to have on trips and I do take it for church and use the Bible on it. Also, it has been life-saver for home school since I can get so many out of print books for free or low cost.
I am currenty reading Today Matters by John Maxwell and am going to start Sharpshooter in Petticoats by Mary Connealy.
I’m very interested in your response to Kindle. I am very attached to my ink and paper books. Another blogger noted that she read too many less than excellent books because they were free on Kindle. I’m not saying I’ll never have one, but I have enough conflictedness about books as it is.
I can relate to your “speed-reading” dilemma. I don’t attribute my own desire to rush through books to computer related technology as much to the fact of my own mortality. There simply are so many good books!
I just finished two books bound in one by the food writer M.F.K. Fisher. While I usually found something worth reading in every chapter, interesting vignettes, I was anxious to get to the end. I briefly considered abandoning it, but I couldn’t. I finished and while I’m glad I read it, I’m glad I’m finished.
In response to this race to read more books, I alternate between two opposites: 1) only read the *best* books (as I perceive them before having read them) first and 2) try to get through the dross on my bookshelf and get rid of those mediocre books so I can read all the good ones.
I also get impatient with an OCD tendency in me, the youngest child, normally easy-go-lucky. I have this “system” for reading books, one I greatly appreciate on many levels. In short, I read a book, making marks in the columns while I read; then I go back and copy the best quotes into my commonplace book; finally, I write a post about it. And the ultimate response is to decide if it stays on my shelf or gets listed on Paperbackswap. The problem is that it takes time. The good thing is that it takes time. I feel compelled to do this because I feel that I get the most out of a book skimming it for quotes after I have read it through.
As always, you provoke me to think, Sherry. Thank you!
Janet’s comment about her husband staring into space while he reads just slays me.
Oh and what am I reading? Belinda Rathbone’s memoir called The Guynd about living in a Scottish manor with a Scottish laird in the 1990s. One of the Saturday reviews got me stoked to read Les Miz in February.
Sorry for the long comment,
Carol
Carol:Not too long at all, and do read Les Miserables. It’s my favorite novel in the world.
Beth: I don’t have a Bible on my Kindle yet. What would be even better would be a commentary, since I usually write inside my Bible.
Brenda: I wish I go to Middle Earth with you.
Janet: I love blogging about books because I can go back and remind myself about the books I’ve read since I started blogging. Without the blog or a reading journal of some kind, my failing memory would never retain anything.
I am going to persist with my Kindle because I think eventually I’ll get used to it. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Hi Sherry. You got me thinking about Nicholas Carr’s ‘The Shallows.’ It inspired a blog post; I linked you!
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