Picture by Daniel Pennac from Learning by HEART
The part of learning by HEART that stands out the most to me is reading. In order to read a lot, I usually have to start by forcing myself to read at least a certain amount per day. After I start this, I usually find myself getting so caught up in my book that I spend most of my free time reading until the book is finished. Unfortunately, then I have to start a new book, which is definitely my least favorite thing about reading. I hate that I don't know the characters yet and I sometimes have a hard time even keeping all the characters apart!
This is why I like the above infographic so much. I love to reread books because I already know the characters and I understand their relationships. Sometimes I feel guilty for rereading when I feel like I should be reading new books, but this infographic with all of the "Rights of a Reader" shows that a person should be allowed to read however they want, or to not read! I love to learn new things by reading books, but I think it's important to remember that one can also learn new things by rereading an old favorite. After all, every time I reread a book I have new experiences under my belt that will probably change my worldview (and bookview).
I really need to start back on my reading binge again. I used to read all the time, but school and work has taken up a lot of my time. It's funny that you say you don't like to start a new book because I don't like rereading books! I've tried rereading books but I already know the plot and how it ends! Do you know what books you will be reading next? I would love to hear some suggestions!
ReplyDeleteI just started Lolita half expecting to hate it, but I really like it so far! Next on my list are some more books by Toni Morrison. I've read Beloved and Song of Solomon and I really liked them and thought they were amazing in really different ways. I've found that if I listen to an audiobook even my short drive to class it helps me stay in the habit of reading, so maybe that could help you get back into reading!
DeleteI love reading! And I definitely know the "pain" of starting a new book! I'm horrible with names, and getting the characters straight is always annoying. And, like you said, you're just not as "into" it yet, so it's hard to make yourself pick it up the first few times!
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot of authors hate writing the beginning of the book, because that's where they have to do a lot of scene-setting and character-building, and they just want to get to the thick of the plot. BUT, when I'm WRITING a book, I've realized that's actually one of my favorite parts! I feel like the beginning always flows really easily for me, and I enjoy developing my characters and getting the reader interested (and, conversely, I kind of hate writing action scenes. Go figure.)
Glad to meet a fellow reader!
Alexandra, I can totally relate to you on this with movies! A lot of the time I will just want to watch movies again because I know I will catch more things than I caught the first time around. Like books, I have usually found that I find out something new every time I watch a movie again. I hope you enjoy rereading some of your favorite books just like I do when I watch my favorite movies again!
ReplyDeleteAlexandra,
ReplyDeleteAwesome that you love to read. I know that college can really get in the way of that, as backwards as that may sounds. There are just so many other assignments and textbooks we have to read that there's hardly any free time. But I also like that info graph. Rereading old books really does make you feel like you know the characters personally, sort of like rewetting one of your favorite movies.