When I was growing up, I was a reader. That’s how people described me. I could be content for hours to sit with a book and let myself slide into a world different from my own. I could read in cars without getting carsick. I could read by a window until the light was nearly a memory, not noticing that my face was six inches from the page, and I was squinting, until my parents came into the room and flipped on the light, their eyes aching in sympathetic pain. My bedtime had a built in 1/2 hour reading time. One of the greatest thrills of my life was when we moved to Portland and I finally had my own room. It meant I could sneak the light back on after my parents came in and said goodnight, so that I could read a little longer. I never traveled without a stack of books, and at just about all times, a book could be found on my person.
I remember once, being at a Thanksgiving potluck dinner at the Unitarian church in Portland when I was around 11. I was sitting at a table, waiting for dinner to start, reading a book. I was so absorbed in that book that I didn’t hear Lynn, a past Learning Community (the Unitarian version of Sunday School) teacher of mine, walk up to me and start talking. She had to tap my shoulder three times to get my attention, and when I gave a start that brought me back to the Parish Room, she laughed and said, “I can’t believe that in the noise and bustle of this room you are so totally engrossed in that book.”
I still love books and love to read, but as I’ve gotten older and my life has gotten busier, my dedication to reading has slacked a little. So I’m embarking on a project that involves both books and a blog. It’s My Book Project. I’ve made a goal of reading a book a week for the next year. It has to be a book that I already have in my possession, and one that I’ve never read. Since I have approximately 150 of those in my apartment (and I’m expecting another box of books via media mail from my mom any day), I’m not going to run out of things to read any time soon. I’ve started the accompanying blog because I need some sort of public accountability to keep me going. Also, I want to keep track of the books I read, record the experience and have a record of how the year went when 2007 comes a knockin’. Right now there’s just an introduction to the project up on the blog. I finished the first book last night, and hope to complete the second tonight (it’s a short book).
Please, check it out. I’ll probably post over there a couple of times a week. If you want to read along with me, let me know.
That’s a great idea, and might actually get me through my own stack of 150 books lying about the house. How do you intend to find time to read now though, presuming that your busy adult schedule is what derailed you from your childhood book habit?
I’m cutting back on tv and computer time. Giving up my Stargate SG-1 rerun habit alone has made a huge difference in my reading time. I’m also trying to make sure I take a little time out of my workday to eat lunch and read.
holy crap! one book per week!?
It’s not that many. I read 150 pages of a book last night.
Hi. I’m a silent (until now) reader from Brazil. I found this site and thought you would like it.
http://www.storycode.com/
When we read, it’s always nice to have people to talk to about it or to get to know other people’s opinion on the book. So… I hope you find it useful.
Hi Ione, thanks for stepping out of the woodwork to share that site. It looks really cool.