Sometimes I measure the 'success' of a book by how devoted I am to finishing it. For example: Randomly picking up a book late in the evening...and then reading until 2 or 3 am...(I didn't check---I didn't want to know!) Falling asleep was difficult because I couldn't get the story out of my head. (...ghosts...creepy unpredictable people...walking around in foggy/rainy gardens at night...) This morning when I woke up (late) I simply reached over and grabbed the book. To continue reading. Read through breakfast. (I like books which need no encouragement to stay open--leaves hands free for cozy coffee cups!) Read all morning. Tried to read while emptying the dishwasher. (Managed to clean up the kitchen before my urge to keep reading got too strong!) All the while with the day's plans sort of in mind, sort of postpone-able, sort of dismiss-able. (Continuously checking cell phone for text messages concerning today's trip to Toronto...) Somehow I enjoy reading a good book more when there's something else I need/want to/should do. Even when there are people I love to spend time with. And yet when there's the slightest thought that it might be a better idea for me to stay home and read the book, I jump at the opportunity! Guilty, of course, at breaking commitments and avoiding things, but still enjoying the reading. (I bet, if I didn't finish before tonight, that even at the TSO concert I'd be thinking about my book...)
I don't know---is reading a cop-out? (heck yes it is.) But I love it! This book was about someone who lives for/with/through books. She grew up working with her dad in a bookshop. Was still super single and surrounded by the same books when she was 30. (Living in a flat above her dad's bookshop) I laugh--because her life didn't really amount to much--yet I really admire/share the love she had for those books. Admire/share the love she had for reading and rereading really good stories. Classics. Less-than classics. Her own favourites. (I've read another book recently about book-crazy people. I really respect them!) Yet reading and rereading isn't always such a good idea--especially when you do it the way I do it, which involves avoiding life because of a book you're reading. Needing to finish the book before you can go on with the day. It's not really enough of an official obsession to cause long-lasting problems (or so I like to tell myself!)--because I have other things I like to do (beading--about which I'm not obsessed enough) (music--in which I'm not skilled enough to love as much as I'd like) (and other things) and because of this variety of interest, reading binges only happen...well, less often than I'd like...which, I suppose, somehow says something about the extent of this obsession...
I went to Chapters last week, and it was really, really hard to walk out of there without treating myself to some beautiful new books. This is where Margaret (the person in the book I just read, who lives in a bookshop) and I are different: she loves those old classic books, the ones which are the valuable first edition, no longer in print, rare, dusty, attic-smelling, (which IS on my list of good-book qualities, outside of my love for new books...), inscribed by previous owners, collectible, must-wear-gloves-while-reading sort of books. The ones that no one else really ever reads. But I go to Chapters and walk through (well, haha...) just the kids' section! And the teen section... And all my old favourites are there! The ones I borrowed many times from the school library or the public library! The ones I read as a kid and will continue to reread... But all those old favourites...they've been transformed. They've been given new artwork, new designs, new formats...they're gorgeous. (well, most of the time) They look like they taste good. Really good. I really should just get a job at Chapters. The employee discount probably wouldn't do me much good, I'd probably come home with a new book every time I worked...
I don't know---is reading a cop-out? (heck yes it is.) But I love it! This book was about someone who lives for/with/through books. She grew up working with her dad in a bookshop. Was still super single and surrounded by the same books when she was 30. (Living in a flat above her dad's bookshop) I laugh--because her life didn't really amount to much--yet I really admire/share the love she had for those books. Admire/share the love she had for reading and rereading really good stories. Classics. Less-than classics. Her own favourites. (I've read another book recently about book-crazy people. I really respect them!) Yet reading and rereading isn't always such a good idea--especially when you do it the way I do it, which involves avoiding life because of a book you're reading. Needing to finish the book before you can go on with the day. It's not really enough of an official obsession to cause long-lasting problems (or so I like to tell myself!)--because I have other things I like to do (beading--about which I'm not obsessed enough) (music--in which I'm not skilled enough to love as much as I'd like) (and other things) and because of this variety of interest, reading binges only happen...well, less often than I'd like...which, I suppose, somehow says something about the extent of this obsession...
I went to Chapters last week, and it was really, really hard to walk out of there without treating myself to some beautiful new books. This is where Margaret (the person in the book I just read, who lives in a bookshop) and I are different: she loves those old classic books, the ones which are the valuable first edition, no longer in print, rare, dusty, attic-smelling, (which IS on my list of good-book qualities, outside of my love for new books...), inscribed by previous owners, collectible, must-wear-gloves-while-reading sort of books. The ones that no one else really ever reads. But I go to Chapters and walk through (well, haha...) just the kids' section! And the teen section... And all my old favourites are there! The ones I borrowed many times from the school library or the public library! The ones I read as a kid and will continue to reread... But all those old favourites...they've been transformed. They've been given new artwork, new designs, new formats...they're gorgeous. (well, most of the time) They look like they taste good. Really good. I really should just get a job at Chapters. The employee discount probably wouldn't do me much good, I'd probably come home with a new book every time I worked...
***
TSO TONIGHT!
heck yes!
***
TSO TONIGHT!
heck yes!
***
Another thing I have to say is this: Jaklyn and I studied Psalm 23 yesterday for small group. Which was a very, very small group, but that's beside the point.
Have you ever NOTICED what Psalm 23 SAYS!???!
I think I've just never read it for what it is---because it's such a popular, well-known psalm---I think I considered it cliche and overdone. Sad eh? That with all the reading I love to do, what I really need to read gets overlooked...
Anyways, print out Psalm 23. Get out some colours, and check it out.
Have you ever NOTICED what Psalm 23 SAYS!???!
I think I've just never read it for what it is---because it's such a popular, well-known psalm---I think I considered it cliche and overdone. Sad eh? That with all the reading I love to do, what I really need to read gets overlooked...
Anyways, print out Psalm 23. Get out some colours, and check it out.
5 comments:
Hi Justine,
I didn't have my cell phone with me today! I was assuming you'd show up anyway, but I think I was wrong. I'm so sorry!!!
I love you very much, I just seem to not love my cell phone quite enough.
Hi Mari!
I'm sorry too! I'm just being super lazy, I don't love you less than reading! :P Do you have your phone now? Hmm. I might still come, like, in time for chapel?
you make me laugh....lol It's funny how standing agreements become not so standing sometimes...lol See ya Sunday good buddy. Oh, dude, the beer store near my house closed. Go figure. Just when I decide to try beer, it's gone...lol
Wow ... that was almost a book in itself! Took me almost all day to read it ... hehe ... kidding of course :). Anyway, have fun at the concert!
Hey Justine
Sometimes it's good to spend all day with a good book, like when you're sick. It's good to just lay at home and curl up on the couch with a book and a kitty. Very splendid. Besides, you wouldn't want the books to feel neglected. My knitting is feeling neglected...I haven't done it in eight days! Eep.
Have a good time at TSO!
Ding
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