There's very little I could do without it..

Heads up! It's long and rant-y!

By: Buckikah.deviantart.com

There's something so visceral about it. Something so enlightening. 

I can't stand people who say they hate reading. Disabilities, aside. Ah, well, now don't get huffy at me. My sister was unbelievably dyslexic and hated reading for a long time. But, it was because she couldn't. So, she listened. She's listened to some books (on tape/CD) so many times, she knows whole chunks of books by heart. And, once she went through tutoring, and picked up a book: there was no stopping her. She loves reading. Just as much as I do, if not more. She was the one who helped me compile a list of 50+ books for this blog, actually. Our room is a library. Our room has a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. The shelves are, well, full. There are bookshelves in the hallway, the living room, the dining room, the little home-office, my parent's bedroom, and there's a small one in the kitchen. 

This is the environment I grew up in. Mum read to us before bed: Little Women, The Wizard of Oz, children's stories, and so much more. It got to the point where I wanted to read on my own. But, at the same time…I didn’t. In 1^st grade, I went through an “I Hate Reading” phase. My mum whisked me off to a tutor who had me read Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. I grudgingly began to read it. And…I loved it. That began my, all too wonderful, literary career. The summer between 1^st and 2^nd grades, I encountered the magnificent Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by the lovely JK Rowling. My parents had picked up the book and read it before passing it down to me (to make sure it was child friendly, of course). And, I suppose that was the end of my anti-reading stint. I have read…too much, since then. I don’t mean that there is a limit to how much one can read. No, I mean to say that I have read so much that it’s a miracle that I remember storylines at all. How does one manage that?

Ah, well… Put it this way… In 3^rd grade my school’s librarian caught me in the “big kid” section. That was most of the fantasy-fiction like His Dark Materials, anything by Tamora Pierce or Garth Nix. They weren’t easy books, per say. So, she made me read every single Junie B. Jones book our library owned, to prove my reading ability. For the record, I was reading already reading at a Harry Potter level. So, I forced myself to read those horrid “kid” books. And then, in 4^th grade, I was banned from the library for reading too much. I believe I got banned in 5^th grade, too. Yep. I was not allowed to take a book out of my school’s library because I was reading too much. Yes, I would read instead of doing homework, during recess, and while eating. Oi, I had friends! I had awesome friends. But, every time I got a moment to myself, I’d read. And I’d go through books in a matter of weeks, sometimes days.

 

Well, I suppose it’s time to publicly admit to a crime I have committed. 

While banned, I would sneak into the library during the librarian’s lunch break. And – here it goes – I’d sign books out under my friends’ names. And, when I finished them, I'd do the same when returning them. 

There you have it. Those were my rebellious childhood years. Hey, I’m quite proud of myself actually. Back then, that was the most risqué thing I’d even dare to do.

Bah, who am I kidding! I could barely keep a straight face while writing that! Haha! It’s all true, though!! Best part is, I left a legacy. My sister followed suit! She got banned, too! Ah, I’m so very proud. You can understand why we have built our own library, now, I’m sure. Books are the gifts that just keep on giving. I’ve learned so much from reading. Despite the chatterbox that I am, writing, for me, is the purest form of expression. I read because it’s an escape, it’s comforting, it’s enjoyable… I read because I love to.

I don't get it when people are like, "I h8 reading. It sux." One, lurn 2 spell, n00b. Two, why? Is it because so much of our lives now deals with reading? Reading a text message, reading Facebook status updates, reading the latest gossip column... How is that so different? I'm in this blogging class, at the moment, and we talked about how the Internet, and texting, has killed writing. Well, not killed it, per say. But, has diluted it.

I don't know about that! How many times have you seen a Grammar-Nazi correct someone's spelling and/or grammar online? It happens all the time! I think because everything's so easily accessible, and so "in-your-face" public, that we all get lazy. And because we see other people being lazy in writing, we think it's okay if we're lazy about it, too. And, just an f-y-i, IT'S NOT! Bah, sorry. I can't stand it. I'm such a writing freak! I think it comes from reading so much. But, I just want to be as good as the stuff I've read. I'm a really flowery, adjective-y, writer. It's so fun! Gets me into trouble with formal papers, though... I've tried toning it down, I really have! Somehow, it always sneaks back in...

But, seriously! How is lazy writing okay?

Example:
I ordered a costume February 23rd (or so) for a convention I was going to on the 2nd of March. I figured, hey, I'll use it for anything in the future, too! So, I pay, etc. etc. And I had thought it'd take 3-5 days for it to be delivered (That's what the site said!). No, such luck. So, I emailed customer support and asked if there was any possibility of getting it by this weekend. The response I got said I'd get it on the 8th or 9th of March (...awesome...). Best part of the email: the support representative said: "plz." "Plz don't worry" and "Plz wait patiently." WHAT?! I'm sorry. But, as a customer, I really don't want to see that.

How is that professional at all? Am I corresponding with LolCat? Is it that difficult to write a few extra letters and say, "Please?" How is that acceptable? I knew that people had gotten lazy, but that lazy? I know people think it's "cool," but in reality. No. Not so much. I don't mean to say that I hate Internets-y things. I don't! I love all things Internet! Well, most things. But, when it comes to something professional, or ... something that is not for the lulz, then nowai. Propur English plz..

Any who! I just can't imagine why someone could hate reading! Especially with everything on the Internet these days! The Information Era, people have called it. There's nothing but reading happening! But, does that mean it's ruining book reading for people? That's just horrid. A book is a book. READ A BOOK. Okay, reading a novel online counts, too. But, seriously! I don't understand the aversion to reading! Isn't that what texting is? You read! ... And respond. But, when reading a novel, it's just for you! There's no need for any responding! The story is all for you! And, it's just… so much fun!

I suppose maybe I don’t understand hating reading. For school, sure! But… not reading for pleasure. There's just… There's very little I could do without it.

Happy Reading!

- Isabel