Commentary on Reading
So my latest book that I have been reading/listening to is "How I Paid for College" by Marc Acito. Great stuff. The thing is friggin hilarious even though some of the material is new for me to be reading (i.e. the protagonist is bi and is in love with his best friend Doug even though he still likes hisand is dating and having relations with his girlfriend Kelly). But anywho, there was this really great passage about the purpose of reading books for this one idividual, Mr. Lucas, our protagonists's English and Drama teacher. I think that almost anyone who enjoys reading can relate to this passage in some way.
"After I had my accident, I thought my life was over. I was bedridden for a year and in muscular therapy for a very long time after that. I wasn't sure I'd ever walk again. My acting career was over, and as far as my love life was concerned - well, I had suddenly become invisible. I'll be honest with you, I wasn't entirely certain I wanted to go on. But what I did have was books. Some mornings I'd wake up and the paid would be so great I wanted to end it all, but the I'd think, 'No, Ted, you can't kill yourself today. You're right in the middle of a really good book.' I know it sounds crazy, but I'm one of those people who, once they start a story, has to find out how it ends, even if I don't like it. So I kept reading, just to stay alive. In fact, I'd read two or three books at the same time, so I wouldn't finish one without being in the middle of another - anything to stop me from falling into the big gaping void. You see, books fill the empty spaces. If I'm waiting for a bus, or am eating alone, I can always rely on a book to keep me company. Sometimes I think I like them even more tha people. People will let you down in life. They'll disappoint you and hurt you and betray you. But not books. They're better than life. Even before I got hurt I relied on them. Back in the early seventies, there was this ridiculous ritual where you could signal to other gay men what you were into by what color bandana you had in your back pocket or by the way you wore your keys onyour belt. I refused to take part in it, or course, but it did give me the idea to always carry a book with me. I'm sure it sounds ludicrous and terribly theatrical to think of me standing in a bar with a copy of Ginsber poems, but it was my way of telling thw owrld what I was into, that I was a reader. And believe it or not, it worked. It attracted other reader to me, men of substance and sensitivity. It didn't always get me laid, but it led to some very interesting conversations. So don't ever let me hear you say you're not in the middle of reading a book. It might save your life someday."
Now I'm not a gay man who is paralysed from the waist down and needs crutches attatched to his wrists to help him walk, but I do understand the reliance on books. I completely agree with the fact that books can sometimes be more appealing than people. It's a form of escapism and release for everyone and it's always a little different with each book and with each person, but I think it's something that nay reader can relate to. I also related to the line about simply HAVING to finish a story. That happens to me all the time. I simply can't let a story line go. It's especially hard once I start reading series of books, all at the same time. Like this summer, I'm reading at least 3 different series along side each other because I've picked up their predecessors at one time or another and really enjoyed them. It's a good book and I'm really enjoying it.
So yeah. Life is pretty good. I'm done with work for this week, so I'm planning on enjoying my long weekend. I dont' have to work until Tuesday of next week! *jumps up in joy* I'm going shopping tomorrow!!
*DACM
"After I had my accident, I thought my life was over. I was bedridden for a year and in muscular therapy for a very long time after that. I wasn't sure I'd ever walk again. My acting career was over, and as far as my love life was concerned - well, I had suddenly become invisible. I'll be honest with you, I wasn't entirely certain I wanted to go on. But what I did have was books. Some mornings I'd wake up and the paid would be so great I wanted to end it all, but the I'd think, 'No, Ted, you can't kill yourself today. You're right in the middle of a really good book.' I know it sounds crazy, but I'm one of those people who, once they start a story, has to find out how it ends, even if I don't like it. So I kept reading, just to stay alive. In fact, I'd read two or three books at the same time, so I wouldn't finish one without being in the middle of another - anything to stop me from falling into the big gaping void. You see, books fill the empty spaces. If I'm waiting for a bus, or am eating alone, I can always rely on a book to keep me company. Sometimes I think I like them even more tha people. People will let you down in life. They'll disappoint you and hurt you and betray you. But not books. They're better than life. Even before I got hurt I relied on them. Back in the early seventies, there was this ridiculous ritual where you could signal to other gay men what you were into by what color bandana you had in your back pocket or by the way you wore your keys onyour belt. I refused to take part in it, or course, but it did give me the idea to always carry a book with me. I'm sure it sounds ludicrous and terribly theatrical to think of me standing in a bar with a copy of Ginsber poems, but it was my way of telling thw owrld what I was into, that I was a reader. And believe it or not, it worked. It attracted other reader to me, men of substance and sensitivity. It didn't always get me laid, but it led to some very interesting conversations. So don't ever let me hear you say you're not in the middle of reading a book. It might save your life someday."
Now I'm not a gay man who is paralysed from the waist down and needs crutches attatched to his wrists to help him walk, but I do understand the reliance on books. I completely agree with the fact that books can sometimes be more appealing than people. It's a form of escapism and release for everyone and it's always a little different with each book and with each person, but I think it's something that nay reader can relate to. I also related to the line about simply HAVING to finish a story. That happens to me all the time. I simply can't let a story line go. It's especially hard once I start reading series of books, all at the same time. Like this summer, I'm reading at least 3 different series along side each other because I've picked up their predecessors at one time or another and really enjoyed them. It's a good book and I'm really enjoying it.
So yeah. Life is pretty good. I'm done with work for this week, so I'm planning on enjoying my long weekend. I dont' have to work until Tuesday of next week! *jumps up in joy* I'm going shopping tomorrow!!
*DACM