To the Contrary...

I'm musing on a topic that has cropped up more than on a few occasions on the book social forums. It's that thing about speed-reading. When I first moseyed over to online book activities and caught sight of the large availability of books, I must say speed-reading didn't have all that bad of a ring. I can't count, and really still can't count the number of books I want/ed to read. It's like walking up to an all-you-can-eat buffet of seafood. Scallops, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and fish...fish...fish! Boiled, broiled, shelled and skinned, dipped in batter and fried...oh man! Yum...Yum!!!

Initially when I started buying books, that being as opposed to checking them out of libraries, I did quite a bit of skimming, looking for convincing clues before making the purchase. Synopsis, maybe the author's blog or website, just something that would give me an advance hint of either the author's wit, or writing style. For the times I was disappointed, wanting to squeeze at least a dime out of the investment, I thought about speed-reading. Maybe I could figure out how to skim the book so that I wouldn't feel as if I wasted my money. I can't even attempt to do this with food. It either is, or it isn't. No in between growing there.

But then it didn't work when I tried it with reading either. Nine out of ten times I dozed off, or thought about dozing off. And on the rare occasions when I wasn't nodding off, or thinking about nodding off, I was doing that thing I frequently do. Thinking. Thinking about why would I want to rush through reading a book.

Curling up in bed, or on the sofa wrapped up in a fluffy blanket, or reclined in my favorite chair, sometimes sitting straight up at my desk, or standing outside (once in the rain), as I sink between the folds of a book is the whole point of reading.

I mean, there are some things you just don't rush through. Life should be one, and reading for me is the other. (Food now might be the third). Rushing through reading has to be like rushing through a vacation. Who, or rather why on earth would anyone want to do that? Nudge the pilot to crank up the aircraft's speedometer to get us to our destination quicker, but please don't rush the pleasure.

All that to say this. My appetite for reading remains constant, however my want list is still increasing. I think my mood is ripe for Fate is the Hunter, next up to read. I have my fingers crossed on, Come on People. And I'm really rooting for How Do Rumors Get Started. I hear the book, about the rise and fall of a mid 80's rap entrepreneurial group, has a humorous slant. I'm hoping my reading experience balances out the fall. Shit My Dad Says I've added on my next up to read pile too. Sometimes I need to laugh about something that means absolutely nothing. Hopefully this book will provide that laugh. And, The Last Train from Hiroshima I've had on my wishlist for over a year (I think). Finally the price dropped from $1??.00 down to a price I could afford. So in the cart this 'puppy' went too.

Growing up they used to tell me to eat all my spinach. It was the 'only' way I would grow to be strong and healthy. Come to find out, it was only half the truth. Though I love spinach today, I actually grew up alright without it. What helps most, especially nowadays, is taking my time to eat balanced meals. Taking time to taste the food, and not rushing through meals.

Next up. Things I have given up trying to work at.