Monday, January 26, 2009

reader inventory

I’m not big on reading and I really don’t like it.  I did however find a few good books that I couldn’t put down, which is rare for me.  I mainly read in the summer when I have nothing to do often by the pool.  The only time I occasionally enjoy reading is when I read for pleasure.  I like romantic and comedy genres.  The most enjoyable reading experience for me was two summers ago.  I discovered the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.  At first my mom just told me it was a good book and I should read it even though I hate reading.  I loved it from the start. I finished the book in less than a week.  I moved on to book number two and loved it just as much.  I eventually finished all four books in the series in record time for me.  Usually when I read I read slow and it’s a drag, but these book were different and I loved it.  After reading those books I have enjoyed a few other books, but I still need to read more in my opinion.

I have trouble comprehending textbooks and long boring books.  I can’t retain the information and often find myself drifting when I read.  Enjoyable reading is easiest for me.  There isn’t any pressure on me to retain facts and dates.  I can just relax and have a good laugh when I read for fun.  My favorite types of enjoyable books are romantic and comedy genres.  I can grasp them very easily since the subject matter is interesting to me.  When something is funny I laugh and then remember it very well.  The content of the books I like is usually very light and fun.  When I find a book I like I start to like reading more and gain more imagination, visualization, and better vocabulary. 

I hate serious and factual books.  I hated almost any book I read in high school.  They were very boring and I almost never could relate to them.  Also, when I’m forced to read something I generally will hate it.  I a usually hate the plot and subject matter and it is painful for me to read it.  I think textbooks kill me slowly.  College reading has made me hate reading even more.  I have never been more bored in my life until I started reading textbooks.  I have never read so many textbooks in my life until I got to college.  It’s like pulling teeth.  I would much rather be doing assignments than reading 60 pages of Roman history.  I zone out and don’t retain the information and I have been known to fall asleep on my book.  I think the books that were assigned to me in high school made me hate reading.

I also am big on music.  I listen to different types according to my mood.  I like upbeat music when I workout and when I’m sad I listen to mellow music.  It makes me feel better.  Text and content really affect my mood and have a huge impact on me.

I have so much trouble focusing on reading unless I like what I’m reading.  When I read I need to be in a quiet place.  I like reading in my bed the most.  In order to read in silence I’m usually alone.  I like to read mainly before bed.  It helps me unwind at the end of a busy day.  When I read a book I enjoy at night I will occasionally dream of funny parts and things I liked about the book.  It’s a enjoyable way to end the night if I like the book.

Due to the fact that I don’t read much the books I do read have a huge impact on me.  I read a comical book on religion and God and it made me appreciate my religion.  I think church is still a drag, but the humor in the book helped me gain an interest in it.  Another book I read Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs was about popular culture and incorporated comedy of past culture that I enjoyed when I was younger such as “Saved by the Bell”.  I learned more about popular culture and I enjoyed reading about it.

I have learned a lot about myself as a reader.  I know where I need to read to be able to focus.  I learned that when I read textbooks I need to highlight them to help me understand the text better.  If I find a book I like I gain a lot from it and enjoy reading.  When I do find a book I like I start a reading phase and read a lot of books at once.  In conclusion, I think my reading skills and how I feel about reading has improved, but I have a long way to go to really enjoy it.

 

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