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I like books. When I was eight I read all the Kirsten books (American Girl) so that I could get the doll for my ninth birthday and I've been hooked on reading ever since. But for the past while, I haven't had much time (or enough discipline) to read much. I did get a chance to do a little bit of reading yesterday between classes. That was nice. But anyway, here are some of my thoughts on books and reading. I find that reading is more fun in big chunks. I like to read a whole book all at once, but that hasn't been working out for me lately. I read a chapter one night, then a week later I go back to read on, but I end up having to refresh my memory and read the last chapter over again and by the time I catch up to the new chapter, it's time for bed. It's a terribly slow process and it creates a problem: The Problem of Library Fees. I logged onto my library account yesterday and found that I had $1.50 in late fees! $1.50 seems like a lot of money when I think of handing it over to the scary blond librarian, but not so much if I think of the other (nicer) librarian. Making friends of books. Mabel Hale devotes an entire chapter of Beautiful Girlhood (a book that every young lady should read and take to heart) to discussing the importance of choosing good books over poor ones. You become like the people you hang around with and characters and attitudes portrayed in books work the same way. If you are careful and choose your book friends wisely, you are choosing to shape your mind constructively. I know I haven't always chosen the best books, not that they have been really bad, just worthlessly entertaining. My dad always tells me to stop reading about other peoples' adventures and have my own. He's right. Plus there is a danger of expecting things in real life to happen the way they do in fiction. Of course there are really worthwhile books to read. Hale asks "Who would not count it an honor to have among her friends the wisest, noblest, and best of the earth...?" This isn't to say that I have sworn off all easy reading or entertaining books. I love the Squire's Tale books, By the Great Horn Spoon, Emma and many others. I just hope I think a little more now about the affect reading has on attitude and expectations. I read Beautiful Girlhood in junior high and I wish I had paid better attention to what Mable Hale had to say. This is getting a little off topic but I had to get a blue book for a midterm I had yesterday. Mine was actually one I hadn't used last semester so it was a few months old. I got to class and everybody else had a green book. 100% recycled paper. Blue book gone green. But here is where it gets good. There were four questions on the test, each could be answered in only four or five sentences. So, recycled paper or not, 15 of the 16 pages were turned in totally blank. Don't tell Kirsten, but I got her a spiffy journal for her birthday. I am trying to be stealthy now because Kirsten is in the very next room, but she is going up the canyon with Janine pretty soon, so my blog will be out of reach. Journaling is cool, but I never remember to do it and it always sounds so cheesy to go back and read over it. "One must have something sensational to read on the train." Now, how to conclude? "I am not a great reader and take pleasure in a great many things." I also play piano very ill indeed, and I plan on living at Pemberley someday. ~Jessica~ P.S. I was driving to school today and I realized it was February 29th, leap year! I'd been writing the date on stuff at work all day and I hadn't noticed what a special day it was. So in my car I thought "wow! this day won't come again for another four years!" And then I thought "wait, this day won't happen again ever..." Then I lapsed into contemplative silence (or perhaps thoughtlessness?). Just kidding, and yes, I think in all lowercase letters. |
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