Thoughts on Reading

I am a veracious reader, but I do not read all books the same way.  My reading patterns generally fall into three categories: books not completed, books read a little at a time, and books devoured.  These are not the only way that I read books, but they represent a great deal of my reading

Books not completed

I am notorious for not completing books.  My shelves are lined with books that I have started and not finished.  I used to feel guilty about this, but I have since learned to be more gracious with myself.  There may be many reasons for not reading a book all the way through.  Some books just don’t keep my attention.  They may start out good, but loose me part of the way through.  There are also books that are good books, but just not the right ones for that time in my life.  These books I will set aside and return to later.  Then there are the books that I never intended to complete.  These books may be gleaned for a few nuggets that I need.  They may have a chapter that I am interested in, but the book as a whole is does not meet my needs.  There are also books which have chapters that I feel will not offer any new information.  I may skip these chapters.

Books read a little at a time. 

This is perhaps the largest category for me.  I read slowly.  Most books I will pick my way through a few pages at a time.  I may fit reading times here or there in my free minutes during the day.  Other books require frequent stopping to ponder what the author is saying.  My strategy for these books is to read little and often.

There are also other books which are not necessarily meant to be read in large chuncks.  These may be poetry, essays or collections of correspondence.  These are little treats that are meant to be snacked on from time to time, but not for binging. 

Books devoured

These are the precious few books that I just cannot put down.  I stay up late reading them and may go days without watching TV or making phone calls so I can spend more time with them.  It has been several years since I have run across one of these books.  I am not sure when I will find another, but I know that the next one is out there waiting to be discovered.

Reading is not a one-size fits all endeavor.  Everyone must find their own reading style.  Every reader has his book and every book has its reader.  The next time you pick up a book, listen to your internal voice and read accordingly.