I used to
be a reader, I mean a real reader, one that started a book, finished it, and could
discuss it, whether it was good or not, why I found it so, even if I didn´t
like it talk about some redeeming quality, or if I did like reveal some of its
not so redeeming qualities. Because, I can say, I have read books that I loved,
but I would not call literary treasures or books to emulate, and books I
disliked, but would tout as being of the highest quality writing.
Now I am a wannabe reader, I start many books; I download or purchase books for my iPad and Kindle; I read bits here and there; I read the beginnings of the books I download the samples for, or the ones we publish in the self-publishing company I work for, or 2nd hand bargains of ones I always wanted to read - but I seldom finish any of them. The result is I don´t feel like I read anything. Nothing pulls me in and takes me to those imaginary worlds with those loveable (or hateable) characters we die to meet (or pray we never do). So it is unfulfilling this jump-about reading, like a frog looking for the warmest lily pad but never landing long enough to feel the rays. Instead of feeling relaxed and de-stressed after a round of reading, I feel unsettled and anxious after a bout of book hopping.
Is it the
quality of the books I choose? The subject matters? The shallow characters, the
flat language, scenarios I can´t relate to? All of the above perhaps. Or is it
this multi-tasking high paced digital world we live in where we read in “soundbites”
to get the gist because we must get on to the next thing to read in case we
miss something -whether it´s a book, Facebook,
a blog, or a publications webpage. We have become excellent scanners, marathon skimmers,
but the skills of reading, old fashioned concentrated reading become harder and
harder to maintain. It takes time to practice them and keep your reading edge,
and a great book, or at least ONE that captivates you, to keep you working at
that exercise.
I want to
practice at being a reader again, and progress beyond my wannabe reader
plateau. Should I search for that great book that hooks me, or go back to the one that is masterly written but doesn´t quite captivate me and just stick with it?I´ll let you know soon the decision I made.
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