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Books, Books, Books > What is your definition of an accomplished reader?

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message 1: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments When do you say that a reader is complete? Does it have something to do with the books that he/she has read? If yes, which books are included in your list? When do you say that you are an accomplished reader? Assuming that you have a plan of being one?


message 2: by Angus (new)

Angus (angusmiranda) | 4337 comments Naku ha, pag-iisipan ko muna ang sagot ko. Magkakape muna ako. :D


message 3: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Ang tagal naman ng kapeng yan. 37 minutes na sabi sa itaas o! Look! :) Dapat parang Miss U ito. Impromptu. hak hak.


message 4: by Angus (new)

Angus (angusmiranda) | 4337 comments Daan kaya ng daan ang boss ko, nagtrabaho muna ako, haha!


message 5: by Tuklas Pahina (TP) (last edited Jan 22, 2013 03:11AM) (new)

Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments A reader is complete if he/she contains a high appreciation on values, morality, lessons and development on his/her personality w/out discrimination and truthfulness and able to apply these to the greatness of humankind. I thank you!...hahaha!


message 6: by Tuklas Pahina (TP) (last edited Jan 22, 2013 03:12AM) (new)

Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments An accompished reader is achieved by the application of what you have read,learned,discover in such a way that it contributes to your positive concepts or life styles that brings you to happiness!...

To read a number of books is an achievement but a greater achievement is in it's quality of learning process takes place not by quantity of books...I thank you again! hahaha!


message 7: by Charles (new)

Charles | 156 comments Depende.

Sometimes, it's possible to love the same book with another person, and I start to think, did we read the same book? Bakit ganun ang ugali/pananaw mo?


message 8: by Angus (new)

Angus (angusmiranda) | 4337 comments Ang hirap naman pala ng question na ito. Well, I think a reader is complete when he/she can confidently say that hey, I got what this book is telling me. Of course, people have different interpretations of the same book, but that is beside the point.

I also think that an accomplished reader has explored most genres, not only the "important" books but also books that have massive appeal. More later.


message 9: by K.D. (last edited May 27, 2012 08:22PM) (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Po, I love your answers! Ikaw na!

Angus, mahirap nga yan. Kaya nga magandang i-open forum. Nagfi-fish out din lang ako ng mga sasagot candidly at di "showbiz."

Charles, it happens! Twice this year. My two American friends commented in my review of "The Immoralist" and "Madame Bovary" that we read the same book(s) differently. When I checked their reviews, oo nga. Iba ang dating sa kanila ng mga books na yon. Kasi nga, we bring our own experiences (biases, prejudices, etc) when we read so iba-iba ang interpretations. Also, sabi nga ni Doris Lessing, the more interpretations that book can generate, the better it is. So, yong mga staightforward that does not elicit more than one interpretation, di naman nya sinasabing pangit pero ang interpretation ko roon, siguro standard or common yong book or yong style ng author.


Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments Kuya Doni, I agree with you. Like sa Jellicoe Road marami pa lang issues doon like what I have heard sa F2F5. Parehas ng mga binabasa pero iba iba ang interpretations nila depende nga sa kanilang culture.

I agree also to Doris Lessing-the more interpretations the better it is iyon nga lang depende rin sa pagtanggap mo what if para sa iyo eh negative siya? right? pero so far so good you are learning or studying the different aspects/side of book that's what make us different from others and through these you gain friends because you also discover the people who fights for your side either positive or negative views. I thank you again hahaha!


message 11: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Po, hala, ayan na ang Jellicoe. Parang mahirap i-associate sa pagiging accomplished reader. Sorry naman sa mga fans. Lagot ako neto. hak hak

It does not matter kung negative or positive ang interpretation. I think what matters is that the book creates an intended impact to its reader. For example, "Lolita" by Nabokov. Negative talaga kasi pedophilia pero maganda ang pagkakasulat. Ditto to Madame Bovary and Anna Karenina (adultery) pero hindi lang dyan umiikot ang story kasi maraming themes na puwedeng i-deduce or palabasin sa interpretation.


message 12: by Tuklas Pahina (TP) (last edited May 27, 2012 08:45PM) (new)

Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments Tama ka! Kuya Doni I agree sa "Lolita".Katulad din ng mga banned books "To Kill A Mocking Bird',Twilight,Lord of Flies,The Chocolate War,etc. negative siya pero malaki ang impact at maganda ang pagkakasulat.

"Bakit kaya ganun kung ano pa ang bawal siya etong masarap basahin"...mukhang malaki ang pinaghuhugutan ng mga istorya hahaha!


message 13: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Teka, negative.

Agree ako sa To Kill a Mockingbird (racism), Lord of the Flies (child killing), The Chocolate War (school bully). Pero ang Twilight??? Anong negative dyan at bakit kasama yan sa pagiging accomplished reader??!?!?

Pag bawal kasi mas madalas may shock value. Pag may shock value mas nakakatawag ng pansin. Otherwise, kung 100% positive, baka sa St. Paul mai-tinda ang libro. :)

Nakakatakot ang mga comments ko this morning, parang naghahamon ng hate comments. Patay kasi ang mga threads last week (sabi nga ni Rollie) at kung di ako magpra-prompt (by posting strong opinions), wala na halos nagre-react.


message 14: by Tuklas Pahina (TP) (last edited May 27, 2012 10:52PM) (new)

Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments Twilight? daw kuya doni promotes sex scenes, GF & BF relationships na dapat eh mas matimbang ang education since mga nene pa ang character sa istorya hahaha!

Twilight?-accomplished reader? sabi daw nila hahaha!


message 15: by Angel / YA rules!/ (last edited May 27, 2012 09:58PM) (new)

Angel / YA rules!/ | 135 comments as a reader, I don't think I'll ever be accomplished... since there are a lot of great books that have already been written and more are still being written. I doubt if I'll be able to read all that in my lifetime.


message 16: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Angel, understood. But will you ever try? Do you think that someday, you will be able to read all those great books?


message 17: by Angel / YA rules!/ (last edited May 27, 2012 10:15PM) (new)

Angel / YA rules!/ | 135 comments I still haven't gotten around to reading Utopia, which I've wanted to read since I've seen Ever After (yes the movie of Drew Barryore and Dougray Scott)... and now that I'm reading Fifty Shades, I'm curious to read Tess of the U'bervilles... so the willingness is there... but since my attention span is nil, I'll probably pick up another classic when all the YA i've been looking forward to has been bought and read or is out of stock. Fair enough? =)


message 18: by AennA (new)

AennA (aennabanana) | 536 comments Being an accomplished reader should be a personal goal, and should not be competing with other readers. One lifetime is not enough for all the book titles, and no one will be considered an accomplished book reader if a standard will be set.
I think I can only consider myself an accomplished reader if was able to understand and read those books na gusto kong basahin. Since it's a personal goal, and reading is an activity we do to fulfill our inner/ intellectual senses, di ito dapat idepende sa accomplishment ng iba. There's shouldn't be a specific book title para maging comparison ng dalawang mambabasa. But I must say that there are really titles na feeling mo di kumpleto pagiging reader mo, if di mo pa nabasa. Still, it falls under your personal goal, and personal preferences.


message 19: by Apokripos (new)

Apokripos (apokalypse) | 3321 comments ^@AennA: Amen!


message 20: by K.D. (last edited May 27, 2012 11:02PM) (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Angel, yes, it is fair! Thanks. I just noticed that you seem to equate being accomplished reader with reading classic works. Well, it is the usual definition of being an accomplished reader but I'd like to hear other people's thoughts. As a Filipino, do you think that it matters if we read Dante Alighieri's works instead of say Filipino classics?

Aenna: I agree with you. It does not mean that if a person reads 2,000 books compared to another's 30, it does not necessarily mean that the former is more accomplished than the latter. No, ma'am. Definitely no.

So, do you think that there is no standard at all? That we should not benchmark ourselves as reading is a personal matter? But how do you determine those books "na gusto mong basahin?" Di ba parang pag nabasa mo ang mga yon, parang fulfilled ka (masaya ka) so eventually yan ang magiging definition mo ng "accomplished reader." Oh, I am sure that kung matapos mo yan, may mga bagong libro na namang madadagdag so di mo pa rin naabot ang pagiging "accomplished reader" mo. But at some point, titigil ka, say manlalabo ang mata mo at gusto mo malaking letra o audio na lang pero tuloy pa rin (kasi reader ka nga).

Can you give me the books that you have currently in your mind na kung mababasa mo, parang complete ka na sa pagiging reader?


Angel / YA rules!/ | 135 comments KD: no, don't get me wrong, by classics, i mean the enduring works of great and well known writers... regardless of gender or race... AND, I would think myself accomplished, if I had read these great works... also, since becoming a member of GR, I feel that I'm getting to know more and more great writers from different countries as books are being compared with another of the same genre.

So far, the ones I want to read are:

The Great Gatsby, Utopia, 1984, We, works of Bronte Sisters, etc.

I'm sure you're silently questioning why there are no Filipino writers on my list... (guilty?) that's because I haven't gotten around to knowing what their works are all about... ignorant I know... but, eventually, as my taste in books become more mature, I'll make time for them.


message 22: by AennA (new)

AennA (aennabanana) | 536 comments I can't think of specific titles. The only books that can make me feel accomplished kapag nabasa ko eh ang mga books na nakaantay sa unread shelf ko. Those are my to be read, and my goal is to understand and read them, then consider them read. Short term goal, for a life that comes one day at a time. No specific titles talaga.

And yes, the books to be read accumulate overtime. But I will definitely stop at a certain time, if I feel like it. If dumating yung time n malabo na mata ko, or di na ako makabasa, I think I would definitely feel that I am an accomplished reader, and the time I spent to read is enough. After all, I read not to suffer, but to primarily entertain myself and gain additional knowledge.


message 23: by Ralfy (new)

Ralfy | 1 comments Try anthologies like those published by Norton, Rienner, Knopf, and others.


message 24: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Angel and AennA: Good answers! :) Thanks.


Angel / YA rules!/ | 135 comments whew... it sounded like we passed an exam... hehehe...


message 26: by Primavera (new)

Primavera (primaveralily) | 1 comments Someone who hasn't forgotten to live.


message 27: by K.D. (new)

K.D. Absolutely (oldkd) | 6065 comments Angel wrote: "whew... it sounded like we passed an exam... hehehe..."

Ha ha. The threads are "silent" last week so I am trying to liven up by posing thought-provoking questions. Just doing my moderator's job :)


Angel / YA rules!/ | 135 comments K.D. wrote: "Angel wrote: "whew... it sounded like we passed an exam... hehehe..."

Ha ha. The threads are "silent" last week so I am trying to liven up by posing thought-provoking questions. Just doing my mode..."


i'm not sure it was silent since, I've been silently reading all the comments... but, this is thought provoking indeed...


message 29: by Kristine (new)

Kristine Muslim (kristineongmuslim) Accomplished reader, for me, is someone who has read 1000+ books. Sa tingin ko, the true measure is always the quantity of books read. As in, truly, honestly, 100% have read the books cover to cover (no skimming and no reading of abridged editions). A total of 1000+ books read -- level up na yan to accomplished reader for me. My other definition of an accomplished reader is somebody who has an Amazon Vine reviewer status.


message 30: by Leigh (new)

Leigh (leighsalv) | 0 comments I think an accomplished reader is someone who finishes a book and knows it overall. For me, it doesn't have anything to do with how many books you read, but how you understood the book after reading it. :)


message 31: by Maryse (new)

Maryse (belle_maryse) | 151 comments I don't know what an accomplished reader is. All I know is that reading makes us better persons. I mean what's the point of reading all the classics when their stories die as soon as you close the pages? What's the point of skimming through "Les Miserables" only to forget about it? I guess an accomplished reader is someone who manages to learn and take something from what they've read, be it "Twilight" or The Greek Classics, someone who gains insight in something as short as a straight up newspaper article to a 500 page masterpiece. And anyone who appreciates a good story ;)


message 32: by Maryse (new)

Maryse (belle_maryse) | 151 comments Actually, anyone who loves to read in this day and age is an accomplished reader to me ;)


message 33: by Len (new)

Len (ebooksonline) I agree with Maryse and Aenna. We read because we love to. So measurement of being an accomplished reader has nothing to do with what others have read that I haven't.

I also think that there's no such thing as an accomplihed reader. Accomplished means finished. And for readers like us, we don't know the word FINISHED. As soon as we closed the last page of a book, we pick up another one.

Like what was said above, only you can measure if there's anything to be measured in the life if a bookworm. Quantity also doesn't matter. I can always say I've read 1000+ books but what if they're all erotica? Does it say something about me being as a reader?

What about those read just the bible? Are they not readers?

I will only consider myself an accomplished reader the moment I decided not to read a book anymore. That's the only time I can really measure all the books I've read.


message 34: by Reev (new)

Reev Robledo (reevrobledo) | 128 comments Accomplished is when you finish reading a book...even if you haven't finished your work. :)


message 35: by Louize (new)

Louize (thepagewalker) | 1831 comments Reev wrote: "Accomplished is when you finish reading a book...even if you haven't finished your work. :)"

Onga!


message 36: by Sheila (new)

Sheila (archiveangel) | 107 comments An accomplished reader is any of the following:

1. Reads and finishes a book for pleasure
2. Reads and finishes a book for study (writing style)
3. Reads and finishes a book for self-development (classics, literary fiction)
4. Reads and finishes a book for better understanding of the world (history, non-fiction, biography, etc.)


message 37: by Lynai (new)

Lynai | 1188 comments For me, an accomplished reader is one who has become a better person because of all the books that he/she has read.


message 38: by Fantaghiro23 (new)

Fantaghiro23 | 49 comments An accomplished reader is someone who doesn't worry about the definition of an "accomplished reader" and just reads and reads because reading is part of his or her life.:)


message 39: by Clamourei (new)

Clamourei (iamacertifiedreader) | 5 comments What is your definition of an accomplished reader?

for me it means, you were able to read and understood what you have read.


message 40: by Ranee (new)

Ranee | 1902 comments an accomplished reader is someone who stuck with the book from page one til the end. Mission accomplished!


message 41: by Krizia Anna (new)

Krizia Anna (krizia_lazaro) | 520 comments Ranee wrote: "an accomplished reader is someone who stuck with the book from page one til the end. Mission accomplished!"

I like this one! It takes a lot of BRAVERY, PATIENCE and DETERMINATION to finish a book you absolutely do not like. haha


message 42: by Ranee (new)

Ranee | 1902 comments it happened to me. But I guess, I was just really hoping for the story to pick up. I was giving it a chance without realizing I was at the last page. I thought maybe I was naturally matiisin. :)


message 43: by KaiPea (new)

KaiPea | 74 comments I think an accomplish reader is simply someone who enjoys delving in the mysteries of her books. Irregardless of what books they are.


message 44: by Jeanine (new)

Jeanine Reyes | 2 comments Nice topic of discussion. I have been reading your posts and you guys are all so insightful. :)


message 45: by ☼Marian☼ (new)

☼Marian☼ (mgdc) | 243 comments Thats hard. If we define an accomplished reader, then is there such a thing as an "unaccomplished" reader? The fact that you love to read qualifies you to be "accomplished", maybe because there is this hunger in your soul that you opt to feed by living a thousand lives, to be a different person, to be in different places beyond.

For me, every time I finish a book & linger with its story makes me feel "accomplished". Until I read another and another and another. From one book to another. It goes on and on.

Before, I consider myself as an accomplished reader, if I was able to put into action the philosophies of my all-time idol, Ayn Rand. I want to be like Roark, like Francisco d' Anconia. But most times I fail. Then I refuse to be disappointed with myself and move on. Just like Atlas, I shrugged.


message 46: by JR (new)

JR Vergara (jrvergara) | 8 comments "You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you." - Maya Angelou

While looking at ideas to explore the topic further I chanced upon this quote which, to me, says a lot about being an accomplished reader. So it doesn't really matter what type of books you read, as long as you love reading then its all good. =)


message 47: by Ezrah (new)

Ezrah (I Heart Romance) (mynameisezrah) I feel that an accomplished reader is someone that has great respect for the written work. I believe that no matter how insignificant an author or a piece of literary work is; it should be appreciated.

I also believe that reading is passion and by being pasionate about it, finding joy and self-fulfillment when finishing a book, then I believe you are on your way to being an accomplished reader.


Tuklas Pahina (TP) | 1191 comments Hi! Zeee and JR nice answers!..

Dahil jan isa na kayong Certified Accomplished Reader!..


message 49: by Angus (last edited May 09, 2013 05:35PM) (new)

Angus (angusmiranda) | 4337 comments *snob mode

The man in this article read around 10,000 books. Browsing through the list of books that he read reveals that the man prefers bestsellers. There is also a gaping lack of classics, world literature, and I daresay poetry and nonfiction.

I am amazed at the number. It is an accomplishment. But I would have been more impressed if the books are more diverse. I was a bit disappointed when I haven't seen the names of Tolstoy or Dickens or Austen or James in the list. Or Ishiguro or Mitchell. Or Robinson. But there's one Saramago.


message 50: by Juan (new)

Juan | 5 comments really nice thread.

Nabanggit na lahat. Gustong gusto ko yung opinion ni KD, Po, Aenna, Maryse, Marian and Zeee.

I believed being an accomplished reader is like being in love.

ayun oh! biglang lumayo..


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