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6.05.2014

The Knowing of Books

I think it's really sad how I stop reading. I don't mean to. I just get busy. I start doing other things. Like watching Netflix... that cursed screen. Or reading textbooks. Or sleeping. I get overwhelmed with school and put books to the side.

Then I take a class like this one. I'm taking International Children and Adolescent Literature. I've taken this class before at Weber State. Then, when I came back to the University of Utah, the credit didn't transfer quite right... so they told me I'd have to take the class again. I didn't want to. That was stupid to me. I knew what the class would be like, I knew what I'd learn... why did I have to do it again? I knew how much work it was too. A book a week.

This is a Summer course. It's condensed. It's not a book a week, it's 2-3 books a week. Sometimes 4. And know what? I love it.


The thing with this class is that you can't go out and buy 20 books. Ok, you could, but most college students can't. I can't. A benefit to living some 50 miles from everyone else means I have a different library than everyone else. The books I need are always there. It's so fun to walk in and walk out with the book I want.

That didn't happen the other day. I wanted to read Jane, The Fox, and Me. It was a book on the course list, but I chose to read a different one. Someone brought that book to class and I was entranced. I had to have it. I went to the library... and pain. They didn't have it.

This class is going to end soon, and I'm a little sad about it. I'm afraid I'll lose the motivation to read again. I'm afraid I'll stop going to the library. I don't want that to happen! But I'm going to go back to being non-reading Lara when this ends, I know it. Help me, people! I need motivation!

Does anyone else feel betrayed by books? You pick up a new book full of a new world and you absorb it. You live in that world, you really do. And then the book ends and the world ends and you close the book... and those pages will never be the same as they were when you first picked them up. You won't be discovering it in the same way you did the first time. And I feel, when I return to read the book, it's like returning as a supreme, other world being, because I know what will happen to the characters. As I walk around in their world I look at them with a sad, knowing look... knowing the hard things they're going to go through and the happy, but knowing eventually, they'll leave me again like they did the first time.

It's sad. 

I guess that's why I have to read a lot of books. There will always be a new world out there. And discovering the new ones helps me to stop being sad about the old ones. That's my take on the literature world.

SO. With this semester coming to an end in a few days and the new one starting, I need motivation to read. The best motivation is a GOOD BOOK. I need suggestions! Comment, tell me your favorite books! I'll read everything  and anything as long as it's good! 

17 comments:

Amanda Jenkins said...

I just read the Tao of pooh. Super great book. It's written Luke the author and Winnie the Pooh are having a conversation the whole time. I definitely recommend it. It's a short, easy read, but really makes you think and evaluate life choices and...stuff...

Amanda Jenkins said...

The author's name is not Luke, it's written like he and pooh bear are talking, just to clarify,

Amberly said...

I need to find some time to read this summer. My favorite author is Karen Kingsbury!

Anosa said...

I think you should start book reviews every week or every other week. I don't know if you would like my kind of books because mine have to have romance in them for me to read I love thrillers but get bored if there is no romance lol somehow the writer needs to fit that in for me lol but at present I am reading about the scariest crime family in Scotland (the masons <- crime family nor book name)

Unknown said...

My favorite book over the past year was The Book Thief. I struggle after reading a really good book because I compare every book I'm thinking of reading, to the one I was just obsessed with and finished and then I fall in to the 'non reading' rut as well... which is unfortunate because books are so great. Book reviews would definitely keep you motivated to read!

Unknown said...

Anything by Kate Morton is good. I love to read but since having my son, it has become harder to fit in as much time. I still try to read every night, even if it's just 10 pages.

Ashley Ziegler said...

I love reading!

Mandy@ a sorta fairytale said...

I'll be honest, I have never been much of a reader. I've always WANTED to pick up a book and read, but when it comes down to it-- I always think of other things I'd rather be doing. lol. Maybe one day, though. :)

Ashley said...

Reading has always been such a relaxing thing for me and I just don't make the time to do it as often as I'd like. My biggest problem though? Once I really get into a book, I cannot put it down! I stay up late and push work off to read it whenever I can. It's a bad habit!

Nay said...

I needed all these suggestions because I've been waiting until my semester ends as well to sink my teeth into delicious books:)

Unknown said...

I'm a big book reader, always have been even since I was little. I go through spurts though. I will read a lot of books one after the other and then not read for awhile.

Kelsey Eaton said...

I cant wait until my semester ends so I can read!!

Kendra stanton said...

Yeah...I wish I had a suggestion for ya...I am horrible at sitting down to read a book!

Carly said...

I need book suggestions too!

Jordan said...

Reading is one of the only thing that makes me like how much San Francisco rains.

Unknown said...

I am not sure exactly what type of books you are looking for but my favorites of most recently- (and they come from a wide range of genres)
The Fault In Our Stars- John Green, A Stolen Life: A Memoir- Jaycee Dugard, Why Me?-Sarah Burleton, Thirty Years of Silence-Elise McGhee, Both of Rob Lowe's books (which I highly recommend to get in audiobook form, because his reading of it is the best version.)

Unknown said...

I love hearing about new books to read. I am making a reading list for my summer because I realized I have been bad at reading lately.