Thursday, September 6: Femme Fatale
WHO’S READING?
by Deborah Elliott-Upton
“I’ve never known any troubles that an hour’s reading didn’t assuage.†— Charles De Montesquieu (1689-1755)
I’ve just returned from my favorite bookstore with a copy each of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. I’m happy to say that in both Criminal Brief is mentioned. James Lincoln Warren’s cover story graces AHMM and it was fun reading it and seeing the changes JLW made since the original version he’d let me see before he submitted it. A darn good story and it’s one of those whose last lines stay with you.
Both magazines are packed with great stories and I am looking forward to spending some time with the mysteries and forget my troubles.
Luckily, my troubles aren’t all that troubling, but sitting down with a good short story is like taking a leisurely walk or a fifteen minute cat nap or having coffee with a friend — all invigorate the mind like a mini-vacation from day-to-day stress.
Recently, I watched a televised interview with author Pat Williams. He said the average man, upon finishing high school, will not read another book the rest of his life.
What?
Personally, I can’t imagine not reading just about everything that comes within reach. Being female, I’m not in the demographics of the study, but it seems so improbable. Could it be true and if so, why aren’t these men readers?
Williams says reading is the ultimate mental workout. He challenges every person to read one hour a day, whether it be in a single 60 minute period, two 30 minutes period, six 10 minute periods or even sixty one-minute periods. This seems rather simple, so why aren’t more people reading?
At the bookstore, I also purchased a copy of Bridge to Terabithia, the wonderful Newberry Award Winner by Katherine Paterson.
“Isn’t that a children’s book?†a friend asked.
It’s amazing to me that some people limit themselves from good storytelling because of age or genre restrictions bookstores place on books. The bookstores need to set distinctions due to sales tactics, but no one says we have to keep within certain perimeters. I enjoy chocolate, too, but it isn’t the only food I consume. Why should our reading material be any different?
I once asked a children’s writer what made her book a children’s book instead of just a good story? Supposedly, the stock answer is: the age of your character deems it a children’s book or not.
Hmm, I still don’t understand. I don’t consider To Kill a Mockingbird a children’s story.
“About the Terabithia book,†my friend said. “Didn’t you see the movie?â€
Yes, and it was so wonderful, I wanted to see how the author wrote the scenes taking place in Terabithia. I learn to be a better writer by being a better reader.
I read the acknowledgments and the author’s notes and whatever is between the covers. I read backs of cereal boxes at breakfast, newspaper editorials and humor columns. I thought everyone did. Now I find out more people don’t read than do.
I have noticed more people are dropping newspaper subscriptions, but I supposed that was due to cable news 24/7 and the Internet. Why when books are more plentiful would society read less?
I don’t understand.
But, I am making a pledge to do what I can to help. A local writer’s group already has a literacy council in place and I am passing along books to the Veteran’s hospitals and nursing homes; magazines to my elderly neighbors and most importantly, reading to the young ones in my family.
Let’s hope the next study on American reading habits reveal a need for new libraries because the existing ones are overwhelmed by too many readers. Maybe reading for an hour a day will help all our troubles to assuage for just a while.
I believe reading unfortunately been surpassed in passing of time for the young in television, game boys, video games and such. My daughter has time limits for tv and games for her children (my adorable grandkids!). I did that with mine. They had to have reading time, even as teens. They are both avid readers. It is easier, I suppose to allow them game time. Good babysitter, but what happens later when you can’t read. Teachers can’t do it all. I think we are beginning to find out the results.
I do fit the demographic, but no one polled me. Like you Debbie, I read constantly. A novel or two a week, cerail boxes. The back of the air freshener can in the bathroom, cause things just flow better with a bit o’ reading.
My boys are young 4 and 6 but they see me and my wife reading and they just think that is what people do. We do not watch much telivision in our house and I’m proud to say my oldest can read the level three books and the younger can read a bit as well.
People are just lazy I think and they see reading as work.
Debbie, growing up, I watched my parents and my brother reading and as soon as I could read, I joined them. Mom read Bible stories to me each afternoon at naptime. I remember a particular book read to the class by my 4th grade teacher in Quanah, Texas. It was the Boxcar stories and I would love to find that book to read to my grandchildren. They love it when we sit together and read and it’s a wonderful way to relax after playing out in the yard together.
I didn’t realize that reading was considered “work” – I have always thought of time spent with a good book as a very necessary part of maintaining mental health. In fact, if I don’t have a book waiting for me to have a bit of time, I start to panic…the same type of panic that hits when the chocolate supply is running low, you know.
Hopefully, parents and grandparents will realize, once again, how important it is to share a love of reading with the children.
I read some research somewhere (the source of all wisdom) that said the second most important determinant as to whether a child would grow up to be a reader was whether he/she was read to by parents. The MOST important factor was whether he/she saw the parents reading themselves.