Yes sirree! I just finished my new years resolution for 2006 last night. You see, last year at about this time I had made a resolution to myself to read more, and I laid out specific things I wanted to read. The Harry Potter Series, The Chronicles of Narnia series, Pride and Prejudice. That was my goal for 2006...to get through as many of those books as I could. January to April 2006 didn't leave much time for reading as most of my evenings were spent traveling back and forth to my then fiance's home and not caring about much but the wedding coming up. This past summer, however, when I was out of work and waiting on grad school admission, I started to read.
Reading has always been a bit difficult for me. I have been a slow reader ever since I learned how to read. I can remember in elementary school always being the last one done with reading assignments. I remember one time, too, when we were taking the TAAS reading test section. I looked up from my paper and I was the only one not finished cause I was a slow reader. The same thing happened on the SAT. I didn't finish any of the reading sections just cause I ran out of time and didn't read quick enough. I have always wanted to take a speed reading course, but never got around to it. Not only am I a slow reader, but I never really knew how to pick out a book either. I would find something at a book store, start to read it, and hate it about 2 chapters in. This left a shelf full of books from my childhood that I ended up selling to Half Price Books upon graduation from high school. Anyway, all this to say that making a resolution to read was a big deal to me. Because I wasn't very good at it, I had always told myself I hated to read, but secretly inside, my inner reader was screaming for attention. When I was in college my roommate loved to read, and she got me into Nicholas Sparks books (The Notebook , A Walk to Remember, Message in a bottle, etc). Again, I would read through her books, but then didn't know how to pick out a book of my own to enjoy.
Well...2006 turned out to be a wonderful year of enrichment for me in literature. In the summers I would go out to the pool around 10am before it got too hot,take my Harry Potter or whatever it was at the time, and stay for a few hours tanning and reading. Last night I finished The Last Battle, book 7 in the Chronicles of Narnia series (I actually shed a little tear). I can't imagine my life without a book by my bed now. I can actually say that I love to read now, and I think starting with some young adult books was a good way to get into it. When mom was moving I took a bunch of her books that I wanted to read, and am really excited about them. I started one last night, a book that was turned into a movie I always wanted to see...The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I am going to Netflix the movie after I finish the book. I also borrowed a bunch of novels by Anita Shreeve. I read her book The Pilots Wife after my roommate recommended it to me in college, so I am hoping to enjoy her other novels too. I also asked for The Devil Wears Prada for Christmas and am looking forward to tearing into that one too. I have always come from a family of readers....my mom reads novels, my sister and sister in law poetry and the classics, my brother is always expanding his mind by reading about philosophers....I think I am going to follow in the footsteps of my mom with some good novels. I can't wait to share how my new hobby will expand my world. And...if you have any recommendations, please let me know!
Read on!
8 comments:
Hurrah for reading! Hurrah for you overcoming an old hurdle! Hurrah for hours of immersion in another life while reading!
I am so proud of you! Keep it up. Read LM Montgomery's books, Janette Oake, Tolkien, Catherine Marshall, Jan Karon ... all wonderful authors with rich storytelling.
Franchine Rivers is my favorite Christian author. Whether it's her Voice in the Wind series, or The Atonement Child, Redeeming Love, The Scarlet Thread, they're all good! Happy reading! I'm so proud of you cousin. And I LOVE the Nicholas Sparks books too, talk about making you want to cry=)
Way to go Karen! Congratulations.
I think I told you that I reread the Narnia stories in 2006 as well; we'll have to talk more about them when I see you next time. And sortof like you described, I was nostalgic at the end.
And don't worry about the speed at which you read - it doesn't matter one bit. In fact, I think slow reading is probably better, where you can really take your time to think.
When you finish you should start posting some book reviews on your blog.
Hurrah for you!! What a fantastic accomplishment. I am so glad that you are enjoying the wonderful and magical world of books. You will be so enriched and discover so many more must-reads that you will despair of ever getting to them all. Have you ever read the Little House books by Laura Ingells Wilder? Those are a treasure. ... I will have to ponder on more recommendations for you. I've been working up my own reading list for 2007, too. Top of my list is the book you and Dave gave me for Christmas!
I am totally excited for the last installment of Harry this summer. All other activities will no doubt cease as we read late into the night!
Have fun =D
Beany,
So glad that you have fulfilled these personal goals! I have never thought of you as a poor reader at all, and in fact, I agree with Mike: reading slowly is much better - you get to enjoy more of the particulars.
One book that I would recommend to you: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. It is a classic narrative, a love story, and one of my most favorite novels. I have read it three times and never tire of it!
What am amazing family I have...talk about one PROUD mom!!! I love to read, too...
I need to pick up Kristen Lavraansdatter again....I finished the first section, and put it down. I'm reading more of Picoult right now,and a nonfiction book by Dr. Timothy Johnson, "Finding God in the Questions". Dr. Johnson is the ABC Medical correspondent, and also a practicing physician in the northeast.
I started the Narnia series Dec. 21st and completed the books this week. It was awesome. I had read a few as a kid and very much so appreciated them more now as an adult. I'm on to H.B. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. I love reading, everyone should! Glad you found yourself to be a bookworm!
P.S. What were your thoughts re: The Last Battle. The conversation between the Calorman and Aslan about Tash vs. Aslan. I believe they were making the connection that Tash was Satan and Aslan of course being Christ. But what confused me (and maybe this is just my views vs. Lewis') but was Aslan saying that when he did good in Tash's name he was really doing good for Aslan. And when he might have thought he was doing bad for Aslan, it was really for Tash? Not looking for a hugely deep answer, just curious what your thoughts were. Also, if it was the second coming...wouldn't it have been too late for the Calormen to have come to faith in meeting Aslan at the last battle?
Post a Comment