Discussion
Does Anyone Read Anymore? 11/18/08 by
If you watch the news, or listen to talk radio, or know anyone in the newspaper industry, you'd think the entire nation had suddenly become illiterate. People frequently come into my book store and say 'I don't know how you stay in business, no one reads anymore' as I ring them up for a few books.Many people fear that while some adults still read, the kids don't. Yet, at least once a day, I see kids burst into the store excited at the thought of taking some books home, whether it's the latest Harry Potter (an unprecedented phenomenon) or a couple 'Goosebumps' (a series of scary kids books). Of course, kids, parents, and everyone else have more ways to entertain themselves than ever before, more ways to access media and less time to do it.
Do you read? What do you read, and what do you give you kids to read? What did you read last? Or are you just too busy?
Only registered users can comment in discussion
I love to read. Tom Clancy is one of my favorites but I also like the James Bond novels by Ian Fleming. I know he is no longer with us, but I catch myself going back to those novels again and again. I like a lot of the mystery series. The only thing is, I've had to take on a second job so time is kind of short right now. But I do enjoy a good read.
I always find that interesting that there are classics, like the Brontes, or Hemingway, which are great books, but then well written 'genre' books, like Ian Fleming, or even the old John D. McDonald mysteries, never get their due, even though a well written story with characters you care about is worth it's weight in gold.
I love to read. My favorite writer is Janette Oke. She writes the Love Comes Softly Series. I have always loved the old pioneer book series, including Little House on the Prairie.
I do struggle to find time to read, and so I buy out time whenever I can. I always keep my current book in the bathroom, and that helps.
The last thing I read was Terry Pratchett, Thief of Time.
I love the Left Behind Series. There were a lot of books in the series and I found it hard to put each one down. Once, I had caught up with the series it was very difficult waiting for the next book to come out. They have also made a Left Behind Series for teens that my son loves.
I read, a lot in fact, but the majority of my book buying is for my daughter. At three years old she has over three hundred books, and is already reading at close to a first grade level. She cannot get enough of books and reading, and I support that as fully as I can.
I know for teenagers, they're drawn to what they think are adult books that might have 'adult' situations just out of curiosity. But I'm often asked at the store 'is it appropriate for my child' It's a tough question to answer since different parents and children have such different boundaries. I read Animal Farm when I was 14 and missed alot of the subtext, then I read World According to Garp when I was 17, and that certainly gets into some off color subject matter, but it still ranks as a personal favorite.
I love to read! I've read the entire Harry Potter series, the Anne McCaffrey White Dragon series and now am into the third enstallment of Christopher Paolini's Eragon series-Brisingr. I would rather read kids books than books that are targeted to my age group. For one thing they are "clean" for the most part. You generally don't have to worry about language or "adult" situations and such. It's refreshing to not have to "edit" my brain as I read.
I'm also a long time reader who's new in town. I discovered the library rather quickly as I always make that a point when I move to a new area. I'm afraid that I haven't seen The Book Rack yet. Do you deal strictly with new books or do you have any kind of used book exchange?
It seems like parents find themselves 'pre-reading' a book their child has chosen to make sure it's appropriate, then they find that a good story, is a good read, no matter the target age. But finding challenging reading for young adults that is actually age appropriate is difficult
I am an avid reader with extremely eclectic tastes. Funny you should mention Harry Potter as I am reading that series now - for the third time. I thought that it was going to be just for children but Rowley has a very engaging style and I find it refreshing and fun to read.