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Post by gilmoreandbasketball on Mar 28, 2009 18:22:06 GMT -5
Hey, I just thought that it might be cool if people discussed why they read. In Gilmore Girls Rory reads a lot! And obviously everyone here in this book club likes to read...but why?
Personally I like to read as much as I can for a couple of reasons. One is that I really like to travel and books can bring you anywhere for a a lot cheaper than actually going. And also I know this is alittle extreme but I really aspire to be like Rory Gilmore.
Anyone elses thoughts on why you read?
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Paige
Collection of short stories bought by Random House
Posts: 1,787
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Post by Paige on Mar 29, 2009 12:58:15 GMT -5
The main reason I read is to get away from everything for awhile, but I also read now to find books that I can recommend to my future students that will hopefully affect them in some way. I also like reading to learn about different cultures and historical events--that's the best part of my Latino/a Lit class this semester.
I find it interesting to hear why everyone reads. We spent a significant amount of time discussing this in my Young Adult Lit class last semester--why young adults read. If you can understand why someone reads, it makes it easier to pick out books for them that they'll enjoy.
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Bad Kitty
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 127
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Post by Bad Kitty on Mar 29, 2009 16:33:08 GMT -5
I think I read mostly in the hope that, if I read enough, someday I might just stumble upon the answer to life within the pages of a book and I'll be happy. (I know that sounds kind of heavy..)
Or perhaps just to be cleverer? To give my imagination a work-out? To help me to understand the world and other people better? To give me access to the minds and eyes of people (some long dead) who had unique views and thoughts?
I wouldn't say I read to relax.. I work quite hard at my reading. I can't skim or rush it. I take it quite seriously, I suppose. I read words on a page and try to imagine it all, construct it in my head, understand what is being said and WHY.
Ultimately, I think I read in an attempt to be "better". To wake myself up, to improve my general knowledge, understanding, imagination and appreciation of the world. I really believe that reading is/can be revelatory.. on many levels. I feel it is important.. because of its depth and the time that has been taken on it (on a novel, for example. The thought, the effort it must take to create a world within a world! It makes me think of some writers as almost like gods. Like they must possess some secret knowledge about how things work and why people are the way they are to be able to do what they do. And I want that. I want that kind of insight and ability. And with non-fiction books, I admire the research, the dedication to exploring a subject in depth.. and the ability that some writers have to give it new life on a page.)
A desire for enlightenment, perhaps.
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Halie
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
Posts: 982
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Post by Halie on Mar 29, 2009 20:01:49 GMT -5
I generally just read to escape. To travel to other countries and times. It just feels good.
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Post by Hanna on Mar 30, 2009 8:58:17 GMT -5
I guess I read for different reasons - to get away - to learn new things and broaden my horizon - and, last, but not least, at least not shortest. I'm like Rory in the episode when they go to Harvard. She says she wants to read books on different subjects to be able to converse with different people, and I guess I'm kind of like that too. I want to understand people.
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Isa
Administrator
Posts: 6,995
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Post by Isa on Mar 30, 2009 12:01:35 GMT -5
Like most of you, the two main reasons why I enjoy reading are because it allows me to escape and travel to different times and different countries, and because it allows me to learn new things and hopefully improve my general knowledge and judgement. And because reading is fun!!
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lindsay
Collection of short stories published by an independent editor
"I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us." - Franz Kafka
Posts: 741
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Post by lindsay on Mar 30, 2009 14:32:26 GMT -5
Sometimes reading is pure escapism, but most of the time I read because of my desire to experience something beyond my own life.
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Michelle
First novel published
Posts: 2,563
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Post by Michelle on Mar 30, 2009 15:01:47 GMT -5
I love this question. So much so that I wrote a whole paper on it last year. I posted it in parts on vox. You can read the first post here and then find the rest in the following days: michellen.vox.com/library/post/books-and-the-good-life---part-1.htmlBasically, I read to learn new things, to escape life, to cure boredom, to learn about different people and relationships, and to have something to talk about with others. I just love the feeling a good book gives you and I hope to catch that feeling everytime I pick up a book.
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Lu
Administrator
Posts: 5,469
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Post by Lu on Mar 31, 2009 16:26:07 GMT -5
I'd give the same answer as Michelle: Basically, I read to learn new things, to escape life, to cure boredom, to learn about different people and relationships, and to have something to talk about with others. I just love the feeling a good book gives you and I hope to catch that feeling everytime I pick up a book. I love that feeling! And I definitely recommend to read Michelle's paper, it's very interesting.
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Post by neveralone on Mar 31, 2009 18:25:16 GMT -5
I just wrote a blog post about this! Here is what it says:
"-Reading is free if you only get books from the library. -Reading isn't a competition to be the best like sports are. -Reading doesn't require expensive equipment like cars or scrapbooking do. -Reading is very easily portable. -Books come in many formats to suit whatever situation. -There are so many books out there that anyone can find their niche. -Reading doesn't take a certain talent or skill. -You can't get injured reading. Paper cuts don't count. -There are always second chances in reading. If you lose a sporting event, you have to wait another whole year! -You don't get your clothes all messy with grease or mud when you read. -Reading doesn't make noise that annoys those living with you. -You don't have to go to practices for the hobby of reading unless you are in elementary school."
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Post by Carma on Apr 1, 2009 11:54:54 GMT -5
I mainly read to escape into a different life. Where anything could happen, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I also read so that time goes by, like when I'm on a train, or waiting somewhere. Sometimes I read to relax though, when I'm reading a light book, some chick lit or something . I don't think I read to be able to learn more, I don't think I read the correct books for that, and I also don't think I read to be able to talk to different kind of people. But I do think I read to see how other people think and do things... My mom once said that some people read to have a life, cos their own life is boring (she was referring to me, thanks.. ) and that you read to experience things. I do think I agree though...
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Katelyn
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 177
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Post by Katelyn on Apr 10, 2009 22:06:07 GMT -5
I agree, I think your paper's very interesting and insightful too! What a great choice of topic! Just to add to those list of reasons which everyone's mentioned, most of which I agree with myself, I also read to learn more, but specifically, I read to learn more about myself, and in the process, to somehow grow deeper in my understanding of myself and my place in this world.
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Katelyn
First short story featured in regional newspaper
Posts: 177
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Post by Katelyn on Apr 10, 2009 22:07:50 GMT -5
And neveralone, your blog post is hilarious, especially the bit about paper cuts! lol
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Post by whitegold on Apr 12, 2009 13:18:24 GMT -5
I read for the reasons mentioned already. To learn, to escape, to relax, to travel (especially since i do little traveling in my own life), for conversation topics and sometimes I just read for something to do, to kill boredom.
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bookishgirl
First piece published in the school’s newspaper
"Love all. Trust few. Do wrong to no one." --Skakespeare
Posts: 74
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Post by bookishgirl on Jul 5, 2009 18:45:19 GMT -5
I read to shut myself out of the world. I love to loose myself in stories and forget about reality. It just...cleanses me in a way a guess you could say. and i just enjoy it! and i love learning about things which is why i like informational texts, a genre that isnt so popular. Reading broadens your mind and extends your horizons. It makes me feel good
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