Some people...

[andysocial]

While at the mall bookstore recently, I overheard a woman say things that just did not compute for me. She proclaimed, almost proudly, "I have not read a book since they made me in high school. I sometimes get through a magazine." Then she went on to talk about how proud she was of her son, who was 14 but reading at an 11th grade level. Wonder where in the world he developed that skill?

I can't imagine how empty life would be without books. I get the majority of my news online, and much of my interaction with friends from out-of-state. Yet, living in a world where my entertainment was exclusively from television or movies or the radio scares me. There's a reason why people always claim the book is better than the movie - unless you're a chucklehead, your imagination is much better than anything Lucasfilm can put on the screen.

Thanks mom.

Comments

[kittles.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine a life without books either. I'd go stir crazy.

[andysocial]

You should see the bookcases all around my house. Nearly every room has dozens of books at a minimum. Everything from Shakespeare to Poe to Kerouac to Asimov. OK, a lot more like Asimov than Kerouac. :-)

[thimbel.livejournal.com]

Hello Trailer Trash! :)

[ex-thebellja885.livejournal.com]

well said!

[c-feightner.livejournal.com]

ouch, that eye!! I agree with your opinion! And, I thank my parents too

[andysocial]

This from a guy who requested Voltron? :-)

I soooooo agree!

[mcbarnes1970.livejournal.com]

A world without books is a world without ideas. The ability to coin a phrase, paint a mental image, and express yourself in the written word is something the lemmings of the world take for granted. Her kid had an 11th grade reading level at 14? Those instruction booklets for Nintendo must be getting thicker!

Re: I soooooo agree!

[andysocial]

I just can't get over the irony of a semi-literate woman (well, she can't prove she is more than functionally literate, can she?) is proud of her son reading 2 years above his level. Can she understand his homework assignments?

Re: I soooooo agree!

[talitha-oy.livejournal.com]

Only two years? In school, I consistently read three or four years above level. But enough bragging. ;)

I can never understand people who don't read. I read constantly, and always have. Books are my second life! I've got two big bookshelves full of books of all different genres, and I'll always collect more. Even from fiction books, there's always something you can learn! My love of reading has passed to my own child now, and she's working on an impressive collection of literature of her own, and she's as thirsty to learn from what she reads as I ever was.
What sort of person DOESN'T want to ever improve themselves???

Re: I soooooo agree!

[andysocial]

The sort that thinks Jerry Springer is good television? :-)

Re: I soooooo agree!

[talitha-oy.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, good point.

I'm ahead of the game then. I think Jerry Springer is trash TV. Give me ANYTHING on the Discovery Channel over Springer!!

Wait a sec...

[ursulasgirl.livejournal.com]

Springer's not good television? Not even escapist?
Sheesh...I watch a psycho episode now and again...:P

And i hated to read as a kid.
Now it's a different stor yof course...degree in lit and what not!

Re: Wait a sec...

[andysocial]

Springer is like candy for your brain - you know it's bad but sometimes it's just so fun. I haven't watched an episode in forever, though. I really miss Talk Soup. :-(

You hated to read? I didn't know that.

Re: Wait a sec...

[talitha-oy.livejournal.com]

I knew it. She used to roll her eyes at me every time I had my nose in a new book. :) Which meant she did a LOT of rolling her eyes at me!

RIF

[lilsister73.livejournal.com]

It's the most WONDERFUL type of entertainment in the world! I punish my kids by NOT letting them get a new book. WOW