I love reading. I’ve always loved reading. I vividly recall one New Years Eve when my dad and I stayed up past the fireworks even to finish the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. He sat in an an old, green lazy-boy recliner and I was young enough that the two of us fit just fine on it together. I’m not sure exactly what it was about reading that got my attention, but to this day I can get lost in a book.
I’m not into flowery prose, artistic language–though to be fair, I appreciate a well architected piece of language as much as the next falla–I operate on a plot basis. I want to hear fantastic stories. Show me new worlds, fantastic creatures and people, and I’ll be happy. It’s no surprise then that I’ve grown up loving Science-Fiction and Fantasy.
Finding a young reader who is looking for good reading and shares a similar mindset is high on the list of things that bring me joy. When a parent suggests the sort of books their child likes, I have to desperately control (not always effectively) my desire to start them with a shopping list of books that are similar but better, or similar, but more grown-up as their child matures. Working at Borders gave me that experience a number of times, and it always made my day.
Tomorrow, I get to share that love of reading with others. I’ve thought quite a bit about what to read. I’m interested in copyright, free culture, technology, hacking. Should I find something especially engaging to read on those topics? Do I read a literary masterpiece that has delighted readers for centuries, or an especially vivid piece of prose that struck my heart?
In the end, I’ve got to go back to what makes me so happy with reading. I threw a a handful of favorite sci-fi books in my backpack, and as I’m sitting waiting my turn to read tomorrow, I’ll be flipping through them, looking for a scene that strikes to the core of the child in me still longing for adventure, excitement, and amazement. Maybe I’ll even get lucky and find that perfect passage before it’s time to read. Even if I don’t, I’m armed with enough stories that have caught my heart over the years that I’ll be smiling and enjoying myself no matter what I read.
Since it’s Children’s Day, you clearly need to read excerpts from Perdido Street Station.
Left by Dave on March 27th, 2006
Specifically, something that describes in excruciating detail a half-human monster. It’ll help them sleep better.
I would have signed up for children’s day if any slots were still available. I love reading kids books, and it helps to have kids to read them to or you get stared at.
I ended up reading from Ender’s Game. Specifically, the discussion between Graff, Anderson and Ender where they’re discussing Ender’s first seven wins and then they immediately shaft him with a battle against Bonzo that where Bonzo was given advance notice and is already in the battle room. I ended after Ender has his late-night discussion with Bean where he opens up a little to Bean and asks him to come up with new ideas to keep him fresh.
Left by Jordan on March 28th, 2006
Very cool. Ender’s Game is one of the books that really got me hooked on reading, and is one of the few books I specifically took with me to China.
Left by John B on March 31st, 2006