I may have stirred up a bit of controversy yesterday with my comment about how "I don't read novels" and then how I'd never read any of the books Alyssa noted as must-reads. Also not knowing anything about Jodi Picoult or how to spell her name put some negative points in the Jessi-is-awesome column.
Nobody shamed me but they'd love for me to see the light in the stories that are out there that can change a life. I had a serious heart-to-heart with Alyssa, followed by Kristen's heart breaking over the facts. I felt like it was finally time to share...
I can't read.
Just kidding, haha. Somehow it's still in my head that confessions are synonymous with April Fools. I play.
But really, I can read despite the way I often misuse grammar/punctuation. It's not that I don't like reading. I really enjoy reading! It's a way to step out of the present and into the lives of the characters. It's a way to decompress. It's a cuddly way to spend cozy time in the winter. It's a peaceful way to spend sunny time in the summer. I understand all of the wonderful things about reading, I do.
It's just that I don't make time to read stories.
Like I said yesterday, my interests gravitate more toward self-help books, like any of the following titles I've purchased on Amazon in the last 4 months:
I do want to make time to read stories, the ones that will make me feel or think or understand. The ones that I can find myself within or the ones that are just as intriguing because I'm unable to find myself in them.
This is why I was so ecstatic and so public about joining Plucky's book club. It really is a huge accomplishment for me to read a ~300 page story in the course of a month. It takes dedication and willpower and wantpower!
The last story I read was Eleanor & Park in March with a few other lovely blogger ladies, and I really enjoyed it!
Nobody shamed me but they'd love for me to see the light in the stories that are out there that can change a life. I had a serious heart-to-heart with Alyssa, followed by Kristen's heart breaking over the facts. I felt like it was finally time to share...
I can't read.
Just kidding, haha. Somehow it's still in my head that confessions are synonymous with April Fools. I play.
But really, I can read despite the way I often misuse grammar/punctuation. It's not that I don't like reading. I really enjoy reading! It's a way to step out of the present and into the lives of the characters. It's a way to decompress. It's a cuddly way to spend cozy time in the winter. It's a peaceful way to spend sunny time in the summer. I understand all of the wonderful things about reading, I do.
It's just that I don't make time to read stories.
Like I said yesterday, my interests gravitate more toward self-help books, like any of the following titles I've purchased on Amazon in the last 4 months:
This is why I was so ecstatic and so public about joining Plucky's book club. It really is a huge accomplishment for me to read a ~300 page story in the course of a month. It takes dedication and willpower and wantpower!
The last story I read was Eleanor & Park in March with a few other lovely blogger ladies, and I really enjoyed it!
Before Eleanor & Park, it's unfortunate to say that the last novel I read was either The Hunger Games or - don't hate me, Melissa - Fifty Shades (#2, because I didn't finish #3), neither within the last year. Likely back in 2013 when I'd read a book while a former love interest of mine would play video games.
You'd think that with all the cross-country flights I've been on - especially in the middle seat - that I'd have a bit more reading under my belt but somehow I've passed that time with internet browsing, napping or scrolling through the 2,000 photos on my camera roll. Productive? Never. Entertaining? Always.
Next up for Plucky's book club is The Opposite of Loneliness, but I guess there are a few other books out there that will strike my fancy?
Oh, remember that time I faked you out that I was getting a puppy? Sorry if you missed it but that was an epic April Fools prank!
What are you confessing with Melissa today?
14 comments
hey, as long as you're reading something, right? i fell out of reading for a long time (like, 4 years!) but have recently gotten back into it and have not stopped. i'm on my 9th book and waiting for my library to get their act together and send me the rest!
Glad you're reading. It's tough to find the time sometimes, but to me it's my special wind down time. I need to be more like you though and read books that will make me better. I like to read fun books too much.
Hey read whatever makes you happy, I say! I'm pretty much the opposite, with the exception of a few I have a hard time getting into nonfiction/self-help books but I constantly read fiction.
Is now the time to confess that book club is actually an elaborate intervention concerning your non-fiction habit? ;)
I love fiction, but I get that not everyone is able to lose themselves in stories. I think I prefer it because I have such a hard time falling into movies/TV... I always think, "wow, this is a really well-written scene" or "so-and-so is really acting this part very well" when I watch a movie, but when I'm reading a book the characters are as real as the people I know. But that's not everybody, and you DO read, so I think you're doing just fine. (Although I always enjoy book-talking with friends who read and love the same titles I've gobbled up, so I'll keep making recommendations anyway ;))
guh-ross. fifty shades of LAME.
Reading is reading! I have everything from trashy romance novels to the Kiterunner to Anna Karinina to Hunger Games on my recent reads list and think its rude for people to snob others on their reading choices! I'm super intrigued by your "self help" purchases and will be looking into a few of those!!
I'm all over the place with reading. Sometimes I do it, sometimes I just flat out dont at all. oh well. I really want to read eleanor and park ever since you mentioned it!
I totally missed your prank, and you definitely had me fooled! I was already getting excited for adorable puppy pics! Le sigh. I was the same way with reading- I definitely read more whilst my ex played video games! I'm very slowly getting back into it, but it really has to grab me in the first few pages for me to commit.
I loved reading as a child, and then when college rolled around I didn't have time to read anything other than text books so I sort of dropped the hobby. Over the last year, I have really dove back in to books and reading regularly and not just at random. I love getting lost in a story!!
Now that I am working full time I rarely read and it makes me so sad :(
Well I just saw this (oops) but my heart is ok. I think at the end of the day, you gotta make yourself happy. and books should make everyone happy. haha just kidding.
I think if you're reading, whatever it might be, that's all that matters :) I'm a total book-geek for stories, but have never really given self-help books much of a go. Maybe I'll add one of those to my list and give it a try!
Hey Im a reader of ally types of things. I love fiction and non fiction. As much as it breaks my heart that many people don't read, I know its not everyones cup of tea and more importantly, it doesnt make you any less awesome. like at all lol
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