Reading as a Communal Experience (plus some sick-day ramblings)
Contributor
I read a ton of books when I was young. I would take my little red wagon to the library and load it up with as many books as I could pull home, 20, 30, 40 or more. As the librarian made her way through my towering stack of books, I always had a moment of panic that she might cut me off like a bartender, withhold my selections and tell me "Go home, you've had enough!" I think that the limit was 50 books, but vaguely recall the librarian telling that the limit was whatever I could read in two weeks. I stopped myself at 50. Taking any more would look downright greedy. When I came home, I would sort through the books and stack them in "to be read" order. I still do this when I have a stash of new books and enjoy it just as much. It's like planning a meal. First, start off with an appetizer (humor, graphic novel, pulp), followed by the soup course (ghost story, fairy tale, fantasy), fish course (memoir, food, travel), entree (literary novel, biography, nonfiction) and dessert (romance, chick lit, guilty pleasures) etc., striving for a balanced reading experience the way a chef strives to create the perfect complement of flavors and textures, sweets and savories. Reading, however, has always been a private experience. It's just me and the world inside the book (I know it's a good one if I stop seeing the text on the page and see the characters instead). When it was over, I'd pick up the next book and plow through that, unless I paused for a day or two to enjoy a particularly tasty story whose flavor still lingered. Today, I might pass a book along to a friend with a general recommendation that it was awesome, or more her style than mine or vice versa, but try it anyway. The discussion ends there. So I was quite surprised to discover the enormous community of online book bloggers and reviewers when Ice Song was published and began making its way around the blogosphere. Shelfari, Goodreads, Living Social and the numerous book blogs loving maintained by avid readers -- who knew? Readers' devotion to their favorite genres and authors astounds me. The depth and care typical of their analysis demonstrates a whole new way of absorbing and digesting stories--reading as a communal exercise. The open forum for reviews and the comments they generate transform reading from a solitary activity to a shared one--a DIY instant book club. Whether or not I'll join the discussion is yet undecided. Call me old school--a book is a personal thing. Maybe I'm selfish in not wanting to share my experience with other, break it down into components and analyze its parts. I fear the magic would be lost.But maybe I'll be brave and try it, and discover my enjoyment enhanced by a shared appreciation, rather than diminished by too-close scrutiny. (Man, that was like drawing blood from a stone. Now I can chuck my literary voice and tell you that my head is foggy 'cause those little germ machines that live with me brought suitcases full of rhinovirus home from school. That the rain is beating down and I'm distracted by cloud patterns and long for bed and laptop and warm choco chippers. That I'm considering buying a pizza with next week's gas money so I don't have to cook tonight -- and will worry about how to get to work later, like next week when I don't have any gas money. That I really need a hot toddy with honey and lemon and that today is definitely a five cups of tea day.)

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Comments
  • Kirsten Imani Kasai

    Thanks for the hot toddy Helen! ; ) Yes, feeling better now.

    Virginia, I read a lot but don't often find books or authors that really move me. My tastes and interests are quite specific and narrow (Victorian historical fiction with a gothic/horror/erotica elements) and and because my budget rarely allows me to buy new books, I read whatever comes along on the current. Loans from friends or 50 cent paperbacks from the library bookstore make up most of my collection. The last really amazing book I read was Slammerkin, by Emma Donoghue. I cried at the end. Other books I've loved are those by Sarah Waters, The Blood Countess by Andrei Codrescu and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. I dreamed about the characters while I was reading it. I also really liked the YA series The Abhorsen Trilogy by Garth Nix, esp. Sabriel. For fun, I do enjoy Diana Galbaldon's Outlander series and Janet Evanovich's audiobooks.

    What's your preference?

  • Virginia Hinchey

    You were a more avid reader as a child than I was. I read everywhere--eating, bathing, flashlight reading. My speciality was books too difficult for me. Then I had six kids. I had a 17 year reading hiatus. I read again but I am not easily pleased, fussy. That's what happens when you get old and set in your ways. Would be nice to hear your recommendations . . . I usually wait for someone to recommend. Promise I won't pry.

  • Helen Tan

    I'm amazed - 50 books at a go! I found your method of stacking your books like a meal original. The order would vary for individual.

    I had a good laugh at your shift in "voice" and I'm hoping tomorrow will better for you. If not, I'll send the hot toddy over via cyber transport!