At the risk of being labelled pompous and pretentious once again, I'd like to write about why I read and why I think it's so amazing to read. I read "The Fault in Our Stars" two weeks ago. I then moved on to reading Slaughterhouse 5, and have since finished reading it as of 3 days ago. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it made me realize how much I really liked Vonnegut as an author and as a person - a lot. However, I must admit that I haven't been dutiful in my reading of the Great Gatsby. 50 pages a day, none the next, 10 with most of the story forgotten the day after. But here's the thing: I've managed to realize something unbelievably awe-inspiring and profound on a personal level.
The character Daisy who I recall to be the wife of the burly guy Tom is an exceptionally easy character to hate, and this is because she is pompous, fake, and superficial. She is a reflection of the character of an average human being. And once I realized this, I discovered one of the inherent phenomena of novels (and reading them) - they allow us to look at ourselves and the people around us as an observer. And with this gift, we can become more empathetic and lovely and kind because we will not only gain a better understanding of the travails and the flaws of others, but our own.
That was the first time I was able to appreciate text in a way other than relishing the music that occasionally rises above the words carefully deployed on paper. It made me happy, it made me smile. I was smiling like a fool on the bus and people were staring. It made me feel this crazy and fuzzy feeling inside, it made me want to just talk about this thing. I wanted to just talk to someone and get so excited that I just rattle on and on and on like a Chinese bullet-train.
So there. That's how it is. Reading is amazing. It's sick and cool and awesome and all the other over-used adjectives that people use. The act of reading itself is just glorious when you realize that all that you've read and all the emotions it evoked and all the ideas you've explored came from a dizzying combination of 26 symbols. Just think about how crazy it is that we can read something that contains the thoughts and dreams of a whole other person that does not have to exist now, but a hundred or maybe two hundred years ago.
I'm just so inspired to start reading properly again with this little nugget of an epiphany (or something) so that I can be more empathetic and lovely and kind. I also want to write properly or something. I feel like a baboon with a typewriter.
I've really gotten a lot of enjoyment out of reading too. I remember Fitzgerald's "Tender is the Night" turned me on to reading the classics. I felt understood and less alone. Gatsby was actually my least favorite novel of his, strangely enough. "Brave New World" and "The Jungle" also hit me hard emotionally. If you're tired of all the brooding, try Alexander Dumas... his stories are action packed and fast paced. "Don Quixote" is a good one too, lots of humor.
Haha, that stack of birthday money turned books resonates with me, as well as the general idea of your post. I seem to have developed a habit of acquiring books and gift cards quickly converted to books at a considerably higher rate than I can actually find time to read them. It's wonderful living in my own personal library. Nice blog!
It's far more important to own books you haven't read, than to own books that you have read An enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder to remain humble before your own ignorance.
On February 10 2013 06:54 sam!zdat wrote: It's far more important to own books you haven't read, than to own books that you have read An enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder to remain humble before your own ignorance.
You vastly underestimate the power of the human mind. For some people, an enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder that you need to fix that chair leg.
Also, eBooks don't pile that well.
Further, Azera... Read more. Read widely. Read everything. Don't just read the "classics". Read it all. A book in three days? Not good. How about a book a day? (Assuming familiarity with the language used, clear prose, and a median length.) The best thing I've generally found to do is just... always have a book that you are reading. Not all of them will be "Great Literature" (whatever that may be; it's subjective even if everyone thinks it is great) but modern authors are still telling tales worth reading, investigating concepts worth pondering, and looking at things in new old ways. Always, always, there's a book to be reading... and when that book is done, there's going to be another one to read. Give authors you don't know a chance. Poke your nose out of whatever genres you're most comfortable in from time to time and try new things.
Reading is great. (Wait... Reading is Power? What was that old commercial?)
On February 10 2013 01:56 Azera wrote: At the risk of being labelled pompous and pretentious once again
It's great that you've taken note of this, but I feel you're not quite sure what pretentiousness really is, in essence.
Pretentiousness doesn't stem from having an affinity for classical music, or old jazz, or abstract paintings or any particular genre of literature that happens to be highly rated in general. I can think of two kinds, not mutually exclusive and possibly not completely comprehensive either, but here goes: there's the pretentious person that tries to establish their particular taste in art as vastly superior for the purpose of making themselves appear intellectually superior to their peers, whether they actually enjoy their claimed preferences or it's just pretense. And then, there's a similar yet quite different kind that will try to convince *themselves* that they like classical music or prog rock or any of the aforementioned art forms that people generally associated with refined taste and intellectuality, that try to validate themselves in their very own eyes through this, using these preconceived notion that X or Y art form is inherently superior. The 2nd kind also tries to be perceived as more intellectual and mature, but by their very self, not so much by their peers, basically they're not as overt about the whole "worthier/brainier/classier than thou" attitude.
Be aware. Look at yourself, think about it, draw conclusions. If it feels natural to you, if the enjoyment is real, if your taste just so happen to coincide with what pop culture considers to be a standard of classy, refined taste, then anything else doesn't matter. All that matters is being true to yourself. Fuck what others think. This is the best advice one can receive, yet the most ignored one too. Fuck what others think.
Pro-tip: this might help you with girls and just social status in general; the less you care about other people and the more you focus on yourself, the better for your confidence and self-esteem. Seriously. Fuck other people.
Long rant, tangential, maybe irrelevant, I don't care. Had to be said, you deserve the advice etc.
And yeah reading is quite awesome and people should indulge more in it, myself included.
On February 10 2013 06:54 sam!zdat wrote: It's far more important to own books you haven't read, than to own books that you have read An enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder to remain humble before your own ignorance.
You vastly underestimate the power of the human mind. For some people, an enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder that you need to fix that chair leg.
Also, eBooks don't pile that well.
I don't understand what you're saying, and screw ebooks.
Reading is great. The best books are the ones that leave a lasting impression. That's really all that matters. As long as you get something from the book, it's gold. If not, it's trash. You can usually tell after a few chapters whether to drop it or keep going. And it'll always be on a personal level of whether you'll enjoy the book. Fuck the critics and people who say novels should be read as a literary exercise. Go do a math problem if you want to be analytical. In the end, art is about "feeling." If you don't feel the point, then there is none.
And thrillers are like one night stands. You go through 'em just to hit the climax then forget about it the next day. Only read 'em for a plane flight.
Yeah, it takes time to actually enjoy reading. But once you do, it's fucking great.
Portrait of the artist as a young man is actually shitty
ninja edit: also gatsby is pretty bad overall but I really do like daisy's interactions and her big quote (it seems OP isn't quite done with gatsby yet so spoiler) + Show Spoiler +
.....And I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.
pretty poignant at showing how stupid people are (and iirc daisy was really sad saying that, so she knows she is shallow and that life sucks.
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/423wO9D.jpg)
An enormous pile of unread books is a daily reminder to remain humble before your own ignorance.
