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Small Town Reading vs City Reading
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I grew up in Sonoma, CA, so I went to school there. At the time I was in middle school there was a bunch of elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There is now two middle schools, Altimira-this is the one I went to, and now there is Adele Harrison Middle School which sits right next to the only high school in Sonoma.The high school is called "Sonoma Valley High School" and it is the home of the Dragons. :) Sonoma is a very small town. I remember in middle school we read books like The Giver and the Outsiders. In high school we read books like The Wave, Lord of the Flies, Catcher in the Rye, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Midsummer Night's Dream.
We did have a local library but I never went because my passion for reading was as high back then as it is now.
Hello - I'm the reader/member that is wondering. I grew up outside of Denver and had all kinds book offerings. There was a library about 10 blks away and another larger one across town. As well as the Big Denver pulic library...and all the other little sub library offices. The books I recall form the top of my head form school are Animal Farm, To Kill A Mockingbird,Romeo and Juliet, Lord of the Flies and Anne Frank - I know there were others but I would have to think a bit. The Anne Frank story is what started me wondering...once I moved to a small town I have found that Anne Frank is not read in the schools here... The school is in another town - grade school is 10 miles away and high school in a town five miles away. The closet library is 12 miles.
There are no large book stores,such as Barnes and Nobel( B&N )- one private book store in the town 12 miles away and then a chain called Hastings...which is ok in size but feels small comapred to an all book store like B&N. I have found a used book store in both "larger" towns - about 12/15 miles away.
I haven't met many people that I would call "true readers" that are born and rasied here...so wondering if the lack of contact is part of the love or lack there of for reading.
A "True Reader" for me is someone that has read a basic list of "school books" as the ones listed above from school - might not recall them but is aware of them...and then has read at least...at very least a book a month (on average)for fun sense out of school. Really a "true reader" in my mind would read much more than that for "fun" - but on a general scale I'll stick with at least one book a mth.
Right now I live outside of Green Bay, WI. I used the library and 2nd book stores the most. However, we do have B&N and a few other stores.
I moved a lot throughout the years. So, it would be hard to say how or what I would of read if I stayed in one spot. I have gone through bouts when I stop reading for long periods of time. Busy, Life, and what not. I still move a lot. Again, it is hard to say if it has something to do with where I am living.
I moved a lot throughout the years. So, it would be hard to say how or what I would of read if I stayed in one spot. I have gone through bouts when I stop reading for long periods of time. Busy, Life, and what not. I still move a lot. Again, it is hard to say if it has something to do with where I am living.
I live in a town in England that has one book shop. It is over priced and doesn't have a hell of a lot of books i would want. I get all of my books off the internet because its cheaper and there is more choice. When i was at school, the books would be provided to us but the teacher so i have never had to go out and buy a book for school. I think its a reason that reading isn't done much here. We have one library too but i rarely see anyone go in there. I personally don't use it either.
I live in Conyers Georgia. The only option for books would be the library (I don't reccommend), Target, or Walmart. If I go outside of Conyers I can go to Borders in a neighboring town. When I moved to Conyers they had a mom and pops business bookstore that went out of business. I started my group because I was interested in meeting more people in the area. I was invited to a group that meets in Conyers but I am extremely allergic to cats and therefore can't make the group. Interestingly enough the lady who invited me to the group said they wanted more members but if you don't let anyone know about the group then how would they know. So I am still trying to get my group going in a neighboring area.
Conyers is a small town just outside of Atlanta.
I grew up in a small town in rural North Dakota, and while I now live in one of the biggest cities in our state, at around 55,000 it still isn't huge. I got most of my books while I was young when I went to Grand Forks and shopped in bookstores like Waldenbooks and B. Dalton. Now I'm a huge fan of our local library, which typically has whatever I'm looking for - I just have to request a book sometimes.
Isn't it nice when you can find most reads at the local library. I like to read them and buy if I know I will read the book over and over again.
Library's are great! I use them all the time now that I love in a small town, much better on my wallet! :) there is just something about that new book smell!
I am becoming more interested in checking out the library. My thing is I don't have to be as careful with my own books as I would a library book. The library in my town is rude and refuses to help you. I haven't been able to get a library card. I would rather go through the county I volunteer for. So I just pick up my own at the Borders, Target, or Barnes and Noble.
i live in a medium sized town and the only problem I sometimes get is that not every book I want to read is available in portuguese so, or I wait for it to come out(what might take years), or I buy it through amazon(which is what I do, its quicker) so, overall, my english is getting a lot better since I joined goodreads because I read more books that are not available in portuguese
Just went to the smaller library today to check on some books...NONE of what I wanted was there. The bigger library has them so I will be going to town in the next few days or so...but this is some of what I wam talking about - I didn't ask if they could have "ordered" them in.
The library is honestly a new experience for me - I always bought my books, but my husband brought home a library card for me about 6 months ago and said I should try it. (I'd been plundering friends' shelves all summer, and wouldn't leave a bookstore spending less than $50. I think it was self-preservation on dh's part!) The library has given me so much freedom in choosing books I wasn't certain of. I love that I didn't pay for them, and I can choose to buy it if I want to, but haven't got the financial investment when the book isn't one I'll re-read.
I grew up in a small rural town in Nebraska with a population of around 700 people and now I live in a town with a pop of approx 50,000. I think I got good exposure to school of various classics both American and English Lit but I had very good English teachers. I did have to go 20 miles to go to a good sized library to keep me supplied with reading material though. Now, I use the library, local bookstores and on-line buying to buy books. I don't use the library as much as I like because with my work schedule, it sometimes takes me a long time to read a book anymore and I don't want to hassle with the late fees. I was surprised to learn that my sister in law who lives in my hometown participates in a monthly book club that started about a year ago and they've read some good books.
"I don't use the library as much as I like because with my work schedule, it sometimes takes me a long time to read a book anymore and I don't want to hassle with the late fees."Check and see if your local library has a website - I can just go online and renew my books there, whenever, as often as I like unless it's been requested by another patron. No late fees, no running back...it's great.
I grew up in a small town in California and I read all the ones Denise was asking about except Lord of the Flies. My favorite was Farenheit 451. I think what you read in school is more dependant on what the State says you need to read and what your district thinks they want you to read more than your town or even your teachers. Now I live near San Francisco and don't see a huge difference in the type of reading I see people doing and I do see a lot of folks reading on the busses and trains. It sounds like my coworkers' children are reading a similar selection of books to what I read in school, too.The library in my hometown was great and if they didn't have it, they were happy to order stuff for me. My sis and I would walk about with 12 books each (the limit of what you could check out) ever two weeks or so. The library here is able to do the same but I don't frequent it as much since I'm not as free to read as I was in school.
As for bookstores, I will happily take small bookstores over B&N anytime. They proprietors are nicer, don't JUST carry the NYTimes bestsellers and are perfectly willing to order stuff for you if they don't have it. The employees at my favorite one are always willing and able to discuss books with me regardless of what I'm picking up. The ones here also host author signings and such, which are really fun.
I seriously doubt there's a clear cut between city readers and small town readers. They're both trying to learn and dream through words on paper, after all.
As for bookstores, I will happily take small bookstores over B&N anytime. They proprietors are nicer, don't JUST carry the NYTimes bestsellers and are perfectly willing to order stuff for you if they don't have it. I don't necessarily agree with the above statement. The Borders that I got to often is extremely friendly and aren't just concerned with the Bestseller list. In fact I am going to a meeting there tomorrow night where Paul will review the newest books that aren't necessarily best sellers. I am not as much of a fan of the Barnes and Noble that is near me. I wish that I could have the opportunity for the smaller bookstores but there aren't any near me.
Live in Indiana at home had a few Libraries but most you would have to drive a few min. to get too. Could go to the Library at the Archabby in St. Meinrad if I wanted too to be able to pick stuff up. Usually just ended up buying books I'd want to read online or would go to a B&N or Borders for them. Didn't really get too many books from the library would like to have a little mini-collection of books I've read.
I grew up in a very small town, it did affect my reading. I really didn’t read until I was out of high school. The town did not have a public library, and the school library carried mostly children’s books. The selection for teens was so small it could fit in 3 boxes. I still live in a small town, but with today’s technology I can get a new book and be reading it within minutes, never leaving my chair. If the same could be done with coffee, my life’s work would be complete.
Who doesn't enjoy a good cup of coffee? Love it!
Elyssa said: Who doesn't enjoy a good cup of coffee?The answer to that quest Elyssa is--me. I'm allergic to coffee--have had 2 cups in my life and do not ever plan to repeat the experience. (shuddering) Think the hangover that TV and movies are always making fun of--the one after you've been on a 15 week bender. Where you throw up, have pounding headache, you're eyes look like you are bleeding to death through them, you try to put socks on your cat because she's making too much noise when she's walking. . .
Now, for the real question on this link. :o)
I grew up military, so have lived in every kind of town there is--small, large, super large. . . What we read in school was dependent on where Dad was stationed at the time. I have a slightly wider range of "required" reading than most people because I attended school in a couple of different foreign countries, and we read some of the books that the host country considered "classics."
One school I went to had 350 or so kids in it, from K-12th grade. The next one I went to had 2500 kids in the senior class ALONE. I've always read a great deal since I learned how to read. Some of it was "research"--Mum insisted that we learn about where-ever we were going to be moving, especially the foreign countries, so that we'd have an appreciation of the culture, history etc.
Right now I sort of live in a small town. The sort of is because we are really a "bedroom community" for not 1 but TWO big cities--Washington DC and Richmond, VA. We have 2 dedicated second hand bookstores, a Borders (which sucks, big time) and about 8 or 9 thrift shops which also carry used books. I also buy books on line and from the library as well as the other options I mentioned.
I can't imagine being allergic to coffee. But you can't miss what you never had and enjoyed. It would be better to not drink coffee. I have a friend that is allergic to fruit. Oh, that I really can't live without. I love every kind of fruit, berry, and citric what nots. I can't get frozen fruit and leave it in her freezer for when I visit. I'll know for sure it will be there when I come over again.
I have to get of in one second. I just wanted to say the Barnes in Noble in Georgetown need to hire people who know about books and that want to help people out. But I did love DC for the summer.
I know about the traveling thing.
Ann... Next question. Did you prefer school here or overseas? Where do you think you learned the most important material.
I know about the traveling thing.
Ann... Next question. Did you prefer school here or overseas? Where do you think you learned the most important material.
I live in a small town called Lakefield in Ontario Canada. i go to the library as much as possible but if they don't have what I want I go to Chapter's ot Smith books to but what I want.
I live in a medium town and I think the fact that there's a Borders and a library nearby has really promoted me to read.But Borders is closing *cries* And the library isn't within walking distance....
By the way, I love my Borders. You can preview a whole CD :) They have comfy armchairs to sit in and read...they have a cafe...it makes my life lol
Where are you Rachel? Have you tried Borders.com?
Your borders does sound like a little slice of heaven. I hope you find a yourself a new place to relax and enjoy a good book.
Elyssa--its kind of hard to choose. I tend to find gaps in my knowledge here in the U.S. tho. I know more European, Middle Eastern and even Asian history than I do U.S. My slang is sometimes kind of weird--because its a mixture of American, English, Greek and Italian. And I sometimes have problems understanding American humour. Er, and did I mention my unique spelling? I can never remember how a word is supposed to be spelled because I've had several different ways of spelling words pounded at me. (For instance, is the wird KERB or CURB? And what about TIRE or TYRE. the answers to both of those is--it depends on what you MEAN when you say them.) I also tend to sometimes have problems with people understanding what I mean with some words (is it A to Zee or A to Zed?) Alpha and O-MAY-ga or O-ME-ga? AdverTISEment or Ad-vert-is-ment. . . You see?Sigh, ok, er, I think I got a little off topic.
Which school I prefered really depends on what you are talking about. But on the whole--I think I preferred the classes while we were over-seas. I was 16 the last time that we came home--and frankly I was bored out of my HEAD by the classes they wanted me to take here in the U.S.--they were repeats of classes that I'd had in middle school while over-seas for Pete's sake. So I figured out a way to combine my last 3 years of high school into 2 years and got out as fast as I could. :o) I had Archaelogy classes in 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grades while over-seas. And they wanted me to go back to U.S. HISTORY (b*o*r*i*n*g because of its time frame restrictions.) Ok, ok, I admit--part of the reason for the archaeology classes was where we lived and went to school (the base was on the Bay of Marathon and we attended school in Athens.) Since many of the kids at my school were military and diplomatic juniors (or, as we prefered BRATS) we all had security clearances. In Greece--if you go to build--or expand a building--that hasn't been worked on in more than 10 years or so--you are require by LAW to build in time for the archaeologist to "do their thing" as they chortle over the new discoveries they make practically every time someone plunges a shovel into the earth. (ok, that's a little exagerated, but not much.) So we were trained and taught about Archaelogy so that, whenever work was done on one of the bases, at the embassy etc. We could go out and do donkey work and NOT DESTROY ANYTHING. Also because with the security clearance, that didn't add months and months to the time it would take to clear everyone that had to be at a dig site.
I also had Physics in 8th grade, and chemistry in 9th. And the 10th grade science for the school system that I went into? Intro to Earth Science. Sigh, talk about boring.
Er, ok, I think I've nattered on long enough.
I've taken several semesters of ancient Greek, know some Spanish, Laotian, Cambodian, and I can speak Thai. Of course English. I also know some of my Tribal language (Oneida) so I know what you mean when you get words all mixed up and mushed together. LOL! Some people will look at me weird and I'll realize that I tossed in a word from another language.
I believe you guys are very fortunate to have been educated outside the U.S.I believe everyone should spend at least 2 months abroad studing some form of science or history because of the experience of the culture. Even though I was born in Houston, TX - the education level where I went to school was very fast pase and more courses were offered vs some small towns. However, my experience and education experience didn't come until I actually went into the military and into college after I got out of the military.
When I went to college, I took so many courses and couldn't make up my mind what i wanted to get my degree in. I have like over 500 hours of college courses - ended up with two degrees but kept on going to school. (Accounting & Medical Business Administration)
I had the oportunity to study abroad to Cantabury England for 6 weeks studing FREUD and the History of Psychology and I loved it. My other friends that went took different courses like the history of literature or History etc... but what was neat was that every outing that each course took, we all got to share in the experience so really I got a crash course in History and Literature at the same time as Psychology.
We went to Paris France while we were there for a week and just the culture there was one I will never forget. I got a whole new perspective on life.
I think they should teach Antrapology and Archaeology to kids by the time they are in the 6th grade and especially Psychology to kids by the time they are in 8th grade.
Kids are smarter these days with computer technology but are becoming more lazy and I believe if they can learn computer technology than they need to get their hands dirty with Archaeology and they need to expand their minds to other cultures to appreciate the world they are living in by studying Antrapology. Also by studying psychology they might learn how others think and feel and realize some of their own feelings.
Also I believe that a person shouldn't be forced to learn one language that they should be able to choose the language they want to learn. Here in Texas it is manatory at the age of Kindergarten to learn Spanish - I'm not against anyone learning spanish but why not french or german or even other languages. My kids learned it but I refused to take it in college, I took German instead. Now I would like to learn French.I picked up a few words in Spanish here and there and know enough to get me around if need be.
I can understand why it would be good to learn Spanish if you live in Texas. Texas is right by Mexico. For pete's sake, it used to be part of Mexico. It makes sense.
When we came back from Europe the last time, I spoke--Greek (modern), French, some Italian, and English. Then I added Spanish and German to that mix. One of the problems with living in the U.S. tho is--you don't keep USING those languages, and you forget them very quickly when not using them. Most of what I remember now would get me thrown out of any well run whorehouse in the world, because I'd be embarrassing the residents with my "naughty language." :oP
What kind of town do you live in? Do you have many options of getting the books you need? What books are recommended (read) for your school? Do you think the options are limited because of where you live? Perhaps it is because of the demographics of your area.
I have a reader/member who is wondering about the differences if any between the country reader and the big town city reader.