Reading in Today's World

Do you read? I do, but I guess being a writer, reading is a professional necessity. That’s not why I read, however. I’m a slow reader, especially since I started writing several years ago. I may read a sentence several times, admiring the way the author put his thoughts into words. There may be a word I’m unfamiliar with and I’ll try to decipher the meaning by the context used.

In college I had to read volumes of words in a short space of time. The subject matter wasn’t always interesting to me, i.e., English poetry, and I would find myself dosing off in my dorm room as I tried to wade through it.

These days I have the luxury of reading what I want, when I want, and at my own pace. I enjoy reading, therefore.

I’ve lived in Georgia for close to 30 years now and I’ve noticed that southern people don’t seem to read as much as Maine people do. Maybe it has something to do with being confined inside for long periods of time during the long winters. When I go into a Maine house, such as my brother Ted’s house in Owls Head, I see a bookshelf stuffed with books, most of which he has already read. I can always count on him for a book to read when I’m home.

As a kid I always had my head stuck in a book. I credit my being read to as a child for my love of reading. My father never refused to read me a story and once I learned to read myself there was no stopping me. We are talking of course of the days before TV. We had radio, yes. But you had to use your imagination as much to listen to radio as you would reading a book.

Our attention spans were longer then too. We could concentrate much better I think. The reason authors like Charles Dickens aren’t being read as much today is because his plots are intricate and his characters are many. You have to really read the story in longer sessions than you would today just to keep track of everybody. I loved his books. Today’s reading fare is more action packed and fast moving. We are more able to jump from one scene to another without a lot of descriptive phrases. Television did that for us.

I read all the classic writers who existed while I was growing up. Mark Twain, James Fennimore Cooper, Louisa May Alcott, and one of my favorite Maine authors, Kenneth Roberts. Roberts’ books are very complicated in plot and especially in changing locations you have to get used to. He also has many characters to keep track of. Because I love history almost as much as I enjoy and love reading, he was therefore, a very favorite.

I discovered a bunch of his books at one of the cottages in Spruce Head once when I was home. I took them back to Georgia with me to reread when I could. It was hard going let me tell you, but I found I could still enjoy his work. Did you ever read his books, Boon Island, North West Passage, Arundel, A Rabble in Arms, and Oliver Wisell? I have. If you ever need to know about Maine colonial history, I can’t think of a better source than Kenneth Roberts.

I somehow missed Maine’s children’s authors. I think I bypassed that section of our library altogether. I don’t remember reading many children’s books at all in fact. It may be that authors like Margaret Wise Brower, who wrote Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny; or Robert McCloskey, who wrote Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine were writing after I had already passed that stage of my youth. I’m not sure about that.

The closest I ever got to children’s books was probably the “tween” series The Bobbsey Twins. I think I read all of those books.

I love getting into a good historical novel, which are few and far between these days. Today I read authors like Patricia Cornwell, who writes in a series manner; and Janet Evanovich, who does the same. I may pick up a Stephen King novel from time to time, although I enjoy his early works better. Horror is not one of my favorite genres.

I hope in some small way to continue the tradition of noted Maine writers. I don’t fall into the noted category quite yet, but I give it my best. Hopefully, The South End, is only the beginning.

You can pick up my book at the Rockland, Thomaston and South Thomaston libraries. While you're at it check out the "Events at Your Public Library" blog. There's a lot going on at the libraries these days.

Thanks for listening.


NOTE: I received a comment from my friend, Carole Vee concerning this blog. She wrote: "Fortunately I love to read, unfortunately I love junk, Cornwall, King, Koontz, Evanovich, Rawlings. My only other authors I love are Tolkien, Poe. I guess horror and mystery are my favorites, although I love a nice Sci Fi once in awhile. I grew up with TV but I would much rather read, so I don't think it's all about what we grow up with but which side of our brain we use most, assuming we are using our brains."


I will have to disagree with her about calling the authors she reads "junk." I have read and enjoyed all of the authors she has mentioned except Tolkien. I never could get into his work. These writers are all good writers. They know how to tell a good story and keep you interested in reading further. They are the writers of our time. In 100 years they will be the classic writers of our time in the same way that Dickens and Shakespeare were in their time; or Hemingway, Faulkner, Fitzgerald and Somerset Maugham were in their time. They are now all considered "classic" writers.


A note about JK Rawlings. She is probably the best storyteller we've seen in recent history. Her "Harry" books are read and enjoyed by all ages, including me. I'm a big fan.


And yes, Carole, I do enjoy some Sci Fi once in a while. I particularly enjoy "end of the world" stories or how the survivors of global disaster make new lives in a very different world. It's a fascinating subject, I think.


So everyone keep reading out there and don't ever think that what you read is "junk." If it interests you and keeps you entertained and informed, its well worth it.