Once, at the library, I saw a woman browsing the paranormal section. To be precise, she was looking at all the books by people who claim to speak with the dead.
I asked her “Sorry to disturb you, but… How do you choose which book to read? Do you just pick whoever describes the nicest afterlife, or what?”“Well,” she said, “you pick a book, and if it turns out to be bad you just need to pick another one.”
I can’t imagine life without books. Even audiobooks are acceptable to me. When my grandmother went blind she got her reading fix with audiobooks. Never an excuse to not “read” a book.
My kids and grandkids would have rather gone to the library than a candy store, and they are raising the great-grandchildren the same way. I’ll use an audiobook when I’m doing house work, or slip a disc into the car on a long trip.
You open any book and start reading. If you don’t want to know what happens next two to three pages in, pick another one.
As a kid I’d take out five to six books a week from the public library and start reading them on the way home. Always looking up when crossing a street, though :-) After bedtime I’d read with a flashlight underneath the blankets and the only punishment my mom could think of was to cut the TV – so I’d just have more time to read, then :D
When I am faced with an unread book by an author I haven’t read before, I usually open it at random and read a few pages in the middle. If the author’s writing style intrigues me, only then will I go to the beginning. If I do that, usually, I will read the book through to its end. For me, the mark of a good book is one I can pick up and read a second or third time and it still engages my imagination..
Over a period of approximately 40 years, I’ve been buying & borrowing books to read. I’ve come to the conclusion that the subject of the books doesn’t really matter, so long as it written interestingly and well. I remember something that was said about author Isaac Asimov, to the effect that he could write a phonebook and make it fun to read…
Sorry to hear your local library is inadequate..I live very near a county line and have access to libraries in both counties..It is amazing how different the book choices are from one library to the next.One close to me is heavy into mainstream “best sellers,” while another has shelves and shelves of religious offerings.Even though I was brought up to support libraries, I prefer a good used bookstore.
I’ve been keeping a database on my computer, so I can keep track of which books I’ve read. I also make a note if it would be a good book for the males in my family. (They don’t like “chick lit”) Then, when I know a long road trip is coming, I’ll find audio for one of those books. They used to have me read books aloud (during our homeschooling years), but after they were older, I switched to CD’s for road trips. I didn’t like missing the scenery, and my voice would get tired reading aloud for hours on end.
Katsuro Premium Member about 9 years ago
Once, at the library, I saw a woman browsing the paranormal section. To be precise, she was looking at all the books by people who claim to speak with the dead.
I asked her “Sorry to disturb you, but… How do you choose which book to read? Do you just pick whoever describes the nicest afterlife, or what?”“Well,” she said, “you pick a book, and if it turns out to be bad you just need to pick another one.”
Nicole ♫ ⊱✿ ◕‿◕✿⊰♫ Premium Member about 9 years ago
I can’t imagine life without books. Even audiobooks are acceptable to me. When my grandmother went blind she got her reading fix with audiobooks. Never an excuse to not “read” a book.
Dani Rice about 9 years ago
My kids and grandkids would have rather gone to the library than a candy store, and they are raising the great-grandchildren the same way. I’ll use an audiobook when I’m doing house work, or slip a disc into the car on a long trip.
Adele Derwald about 9 years ago
You open any book and start reading. If you don’t want to know what happens next two to three pages in, pick another one.
As a kid I’d take out five to six books a week from the public library and start reading them on the way home. Always looking up when crossing a street, though :-) After bedtime I’d read with a flashlight underneath the blankets and the only punishment my mom could think of was to cut the TV – so I’d just have more time to read, then :D
ellisaana Premium Member about 9 years ago
When I am faced with an unread book by an author I haven’t read before, I usually open it at random and read a few pages in the middle. If the author’s writing style intrigues me, only then will I go to the beginning. If I do that, usually, I will read the book through to its end. For me, the mark of a good book is one I can pick up and read a second or third time and it still engages my imagination..
AtypicalReader about 9 years ago
Over a period of approximately 40 years, I’ve been buying & borrowing books to read. I’ve come to the conclusion that the subject of the books doesn’t really matter, so long as it written interestingly and well. I remember something that was said about author Isaac Asimov, to the effect that he could write a phonebook and make it fun to read…
ellisaana Premium Member about 9 years ago
Sorry to hear your local library is inadequate..I live very near a county line and have access to libraries in both counties..It is amazing how different the book choices are from one library to the next.One close to me is heavy into mainstream “best sellers,” while another has shelves and shelves of religious offerings.Even though I was brought up to support libraries, I prefer a good used bookstore.
Smiley Rmom about 9 years ago
I’ve been keeping a database on my computer, so I can keep track of which books I’ve read. I also make a note if it would be a good book for the males in my family. (They don’t like “chick lit”) Then, when I know a long road trip is coming, I’ll find audio for one of those books. They used to have me read books aloud (during our homeschooling years), but after they were older, I switched to CD’s for road trips. I didn’t like missing the scenery, and my voice would get tired reading aloud for hours on end.