Ian Dawson's Blog - Posts Tagged "keep-reading"
Reader Question of the Week: How Many Books Do You Read At Once?
I love books. I have more books than I have places to put them, but I can only read one at a time. I know that some people can read multiple books simultaneously, so I thought we’d examine the pros and cons of both reading methods.
Reading One Book
Pros: You know exactly what you’ll be sitting down to read. You know where you left off in the story. And, at some point, you’ll be determined to hunker down and power through to the end so you can start the next book.
Cons: You might feel stuck in a book you can’t stand and want to escape, but don’t want to feel like a quitter and walk away. It’s a book that sounded interesting from the back cover, but now it’s a tough slog that keeps putting you to sleep. Frustrated, you hope the main character meets some horrible fate so you can get excited about the book once again.
Reading Multiple Books
Pros: Variety. Lots of options and choices for any mood you might be in at any time. You can have books for home, for your commute, for your breaks at work (or while you work), books for the weekend, books for vacation, and even a different book for each day of the week.
Cons: Narrative confusion. The storylines and characters begin to merge into one massive narrative blob, and you lose track of where you are and what happened in each book. Is Pennywise taking the One Ring to Mordor with Jon Snow and Atticus Finch? Or is Ramona Quimby stuck at the Overlook Hotel with Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra while a volcano erupts outside?
Final Thoughts…
Like everything related to reading, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you prefer staying focused on one story and reading one book at a time, this approach is right for you. If you like having options based on your mood, multiple books are the way to go.
The key is to read, keep reading, and never stop reading!
Happy reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Which reading method do you prefer? Leave a comment and let me know!
Reading One Book
Pros: You know exactly what you’ll be sitting down to read. You know where you left off in the story. And, at some point, you’ll be determined to hunker down and power through to the end so you can start the next book.
Cons: You might feel stuck in a book you can’t stand and want to escape, but don’t want to feel like a quitter and walk away. It’s a book that sounded interesting from the back cover, but now it’s a tough slog that keeps putting you to sleep. Frustrated, you hope the main character meets some horrible fate so you can get excited about the book once again.
Reading Multiple Books
Pros: Variety. Lots of options and choices for any mood you might be in at any time. You can have books for home, for your commute, for your breaks at work (or while you work), books for the weekend, books for vacation, and even a different book for each day of the week.
Cons: Narrative confusion. The storylines and characters begin to merge into one massive narrative blob, and you lose track of where you are and what happened in each book. Is Pennywise taking the One Ring to Mordor with Jon Snow and Atticus Finch? Or is Ramona Quimby stuck at the Overlook Hotel with Mark Twain and Frank Sinatra while a volcano erupts outside?
Final Thoughts…
Like everything related to reading, it ultimately comes down to personal preference. If you prefer staying focused on one story and reading one book at a time, this approach is right for you. If you like having options based on your mood, multiple books are the way to go.
The key is to read, keep reading, and never stop reading!
Happy reading, and I’ll see you next time!
Which reading method do you prefer? Leave a comment and let me know!
Reading Tip of the Week: Expanding Your Vocabulary
I’ve been reading the Mark Twain biography by Ron Chernow, and have been enjoying his use of college-level vocabulary words.
While I’m sure I’ve seen many of these words in passing, this time I’ve been actively looking up their meanings and sharing them with a friend who is also an avid reader. In turn, she has been sharing vocabulary words she has come across in a book about Abraham Lincoln.
Some of the words I learned in the Mark Twain book include:
Encomium: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
Plebiscite: the direct vote of all members of an electorate on an important public question, such as a change in the constitution.
Impecunious: having little or no money.
Inveigle: persuade (someone) to do something utilizing deception or flattery.
Flummery: empty compliments; nonsense.
Blatherskite: a person who talks at great length without making much sense.
This made me curious to know if other people read and look up vocabulary words they don’t know to enhance their understanding of the topic and further their knowledge of more advanced words.
If this is something that interests you, here are three ways you can look up unknown words and expand your vocabulary and understanding.
Old School
Have a dictionary handy, so when these unknown words appear, you can flip through and find the meaning quickly. Depending on the type of dictionary, you may see synonyms, etymology, and usage of the word as well.
I prefer using a dictionary since I try not to use my phone or tablet when I’m reading a book.
Google It
This is what most of us will do since it’s as easy as typing in the word and hitting SEARCH. You can also screenshot the word and its definition for future reference, and dig even deeper into the word’s origins if you’re so inclined.
Highlight or Tap
If you’re reading on a Kindle, tablet, or your phone, you can tap on a word and the definition will appear on the screen. You can also highlight words in the eBook for future reference.
Final Thoughts…
Like everything else when it comes to reading, personal preference ultimately prevails. Regardless of the method, I believe it’s essential for everyone to look up and explore words they aren’t familiar with and educate themselves. While I’m not suggesting you begin using high-level words in everyday conversation, it can be a great help to you as a reader if you reencounter the word in another context.
Happy Reading and Learning, and I’ll see you next time!
While I’m sure I’ve seen many of these words in passing, this time I’ve been actively looking up their meanings and sharing them with a friend who is also an avid reader. In turn, she has been sharing vocabulary words she has come across in a book about Abraham Lincoln.
Some of the words I learned in the Mark Twain book include:
Encomium: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly.
Plebiscite: the direct vote of all members of an electorate on an important public question, such as a change in the constitution.
Impecunious: having little or no money.
Inveigle: persuade (someone) to do something utilizing deception or flattery.
Flummery: empty compliments; nonsense.
Blatherskite: a person who talks at great length without making much sense.
This made me curious to know if other people read and look up vocabulary words they don’t know to enhance their understanding of the topic and further their knowledge of more advanced words.
If this is something that interests you, here are three ways you can look up unknown words and expand your vocabulary and understanding.
Old School
Have a dictionary handy, so when these unknown words appear, you can flip through and find the meaning quickly. Depending on the type of dictionary, you may see synonyms, etymology, and usage of the word as well.
I prefer using a dictionary since I try not to use my phone or tablet when I’m reading a book.
Google It
This is what most of us will do since it’s as easy as typing in the word and hitting SEARCH. You can also screenshot the word and its definition for future reference, and dig even deeper into the word’s origins if you’re so inclined.
Highlight or Tap
If you’re reading on a Kindle, tablet, or your phone, you can tap on a word and the definition will appear on the screen. You can also highlight words in the eBook for future reference.
Final Thoughts…
Like everything else when it comes to reading, personal preference ultimately prevails. Regardless of the method, I believe it’s essential for everyone to look up and explore words they aren’t familiar with and educate themselves. While I’m not suggesting you begin using high-level words in everyday conversation, it can be a great help to you as a reader if you reencounter the word in another context.
Happy Reading and Learning, and I’ll see you next time!
