Reading vs. “Reading”
May 27th, 2005 by becReading vs. “Reading”
When I first met my study abroad roommate, I tried to make conversation by talking about Bastard Out of Carolina (which I’d read on the plane). She responded, “Yeah, I don’t really like books.” I love books – reading them, talking about them, planning to read more (and that comment should have been my first clue that the roommate was psycho, but I digress).
I took a brief reading time-out right after I graduated (I’d effectively OD’ed on lit from some mandatory English major classes senior year). It was tough to get back on track, if only because for the first time in 22 years, I didn’t have anyone telling me what to read. Eventually, I settled on a pattern of ‘real’ books (tough novels, nonfiction) alternated with ‘fluff’ (chick lit, diy… ok, mostly chick lit). And when I started listening to The Namesake on my iPod, I was faced with where, exactly, it fell on my booklist. The Namesake is thought-provoking and complex; like other Lahiri writing, it deals with merging South Asian traditions and American daily life. At the same time, I couldn’t justify listing it as a ‘real’ book when I’d listened to it for days on the walk to work. This Times article addresses listening vs. reading and the growing popularity of audiobooks.
In other book news, I’ve been inspired by Jake’s project and Jason’s 52 books in 52 weeks project (he loves can’t stop won’t stop, which has been on my to-read list for a while). The Times also reviews Sean Wilsey’s memoirs – the New Yorker printed an excerpt recently and it was enthralling.
May 28th, 2005 at 11:09 am
I find listening to books especially conducive to long drives where there isn’t too much traffic…like driving up to North Jersey, I listened to O Pioneers! by Willa Cather and The Great Gatsby. But mostly I read. I like to reread passages that are either beautifully written or difficult to understand. I also have to go back a lot in books to try to remember what happened or how characters are related to one another. Right now I’m reading The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant. Beautiful. Maybe for my next book I’ll try listening instead… if nothing else it would be a good excuse to get an iPod.
May 28th, 2005 at 6:08 pm
As if you need an exuses to get an iPod.