Warren Bull's Blog - Posts Tagged "reading"
How Do I Read Thee?
FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012
HOW DO I READ THEE?
How Do I Read Thee? Let Me Count The Ways
I recently picked up a copy of John Lescroart’s Betrayal, which was published in paperback by Signet
Books in 2009. It was fun to be reunited with the characters of Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky who I
have enjoyed for years. Much of the action took place in the vividly described chaos and horror of the
war in Iraq. I was engulfed in the story, I could not predict the turn of events, and the ending was
satisfying and completely fair to the readers. Now, I’m not just recommending John Lescroart’s
Betrayal, although I do recommend it highly, I am also commenting on my own behavior. Toward the
end of the book I found myself taking time to read my e-mail and putting the book down and trying,
unsuccessfully to guess the end. Much as I wanted to know the ending I stretched out my reading
because I wanted to savor the book, like a gourmet meal.
In contrast, when I read Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow I did not savor the book. I
thoroughly enjoyed it from the first page to the last. Again I recommend it highly.
Interestingly, a good deal of the back-story was set in Afghanistan during the war
between natives and Russian military forces. Toward the end of the book, if there
was any change in my pace of reading, I read faster wanting to see the confrontation
between Jack Reacher and a small army of fanatics. The clique description for this
sort of book is a “page-turner.” I wanted to eat it up like popcorn.
There are authors whose style I linger over as I read like Carolyn Hart, Nancy Pickard and Louise
Penny, the experience reminds me of extended conversations with good friends. There are authors who
transport me to a different time and place like Babara Hambly and Anne Perry. Reading them is like
watching a compelling movie.
Then there are times when I read a book that fails to launch. My reaction usually ranges from
annoyance like when mosquitoes invade a cook out, to serious anger when I have to restrain myself
from throwing the book against the wall. When I read a really bad book, I etch the author’s name into
my memory in the short list of authors never to be read again.
How do you read?
HOW DO I READ THEE?
How Do I Read Thee? Let Me Count The Ways
I recently picked up a copy of John Lescroart’s Betrayal, which was published in paperback by Signet
Books in 2009. It was fun to be reunited with the characters of Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky who I
have enjoyed for years. Much of the action took place in the vividly described chaos and horror of the
war in Iraq. I was engulfed in the story, I could not predict the turn of events, and the ending was
satisfying and completely fair to the readers. Now, I’m not just recommending John Lescroart’s
Betrayal, although I do recommend it highly, I am also commenting on my own behavior. Toward the
end of the book I found myself taking time to read my e-mail and putting the book down and trying,
unsuccessfully to guess the end. Much as I wanted to know the ending I stretched out my reading
because I wanted to savor the book, like a gourmet meal.
In contrast, when I read Lee Child’s Gone Tomorrow I did not savor the book. I
thoroughly enjoyed it from the first page to the last. Again I recommend it highly.
Interestingly, a good deal of the back-story was set in Afghanistan during the war
between natives and Russian military forces. Toward the end of the book, if there
was any change in my pace of reading, I read faster wanting to see the confrontation
between Jack Reacher and a small army of fanatics. The clique description for this
sort of book is a “page-turner.” I wanted to eat it up like popcorn.
There are authors whose style I linger over as I read like Carolyn Hart, Nancy Pickard and Louise
Penny, the experience reminds me of extended conversations with good friends. There are authors who
transport me to a different time and place like Babara Hambly and Anne Perry. Reading them is like
watching a compelling movie.
Then there are times when I read a book that fails to launch. My reaction usually ranges from
annoyance like when mosquitoes invade a cook out, to serious anger when I have to restrain myself
from throwing the book against the wall. When I read a really bad book, I etch the author’s name into
my memory in the short list of authors never to be read again.
How do you read?
