Reading a book to the end
I used to read lots of books at once. Five was about right: two long fuses, a couple of interesting reference books and at least one of the ‘sit up all night’ variety.
These days, I am more inclined to read one book at a time – though I still have a couple of reference books I dip into and am determined to finish one day. Rather like the Bible, these tend to be on a long lease… but I remain determined with them, and they do provide daily interest.
But, whereas I used to persist with books that I was less than keen on and make a virtue of reading a book to the end, nowadays, I will usually give such volumes a heave ho after, perhaps, managing through one half. It seems I haven’t the time or inclination to hope that the last chapters of a book might yield an interesting denouement, if the first half of a book has been okay but not fantastic, overly violent or simply not what I want to read, right now.
Hubby – my infinitely better half – will not only read every book to the end, but will choose all kinds of books – about the first world war, the Irish wars of independence, ‘Les Miserables’… – worthy books about worthy and serious subjects, as if, by reading them he will in some way atone and make the world a better place. He is immensely patient, or perhaps proud, that he will not be found slacking on his watch, and that no man will ever be able to accuse him of skimming his duties, missing the greatest opportunity for wisdom the world has ever known or passing by on great enlightenment.
Such motives as these may, at one time, have inspired me. Now, they make me tired, so that I long for some gentle escapism. Thankfully, I have lots of that ready to read on my i-pad. Each to his own.
Please share:
February 11, 2018 @ 3:56 pm
I prefer escapism too, my wife is the serious reader.
February 11, 2018 @ 4:40 pm
That’s interesting Scott, thanks for visiting and commenting! 🙂
Women seem to have earned a reputation for reading escapist literature – and, I”m afraid, as I get older, I appreciate well-written wish-fulfilment – so it’s good that serious reading is not a sexist issue.
February 11, 2018 @ 6:02 pm
I used to feel obliged to finish every book I started, no longer. I have become much more particular- partly I think because I write so much myself now but there is a lot of really good stuff out there why waste time with second best. I like crime fiction mostly but now and then I enjoy something that’s really all about relationships. I can’t imagine life without a book on the go.
February 12, 2018 @ 1:15 pm
Hi Diane – I’m always happier with a book tucked under my wing. It’s reassuring to find an author that’s very good, but not so good that they give us an inferiority complex. I find that authors are always comparing, but I suspect that comes from a worry that our stories that we write were, maybe, not exactly the ones we were meant to. So many words,and only one path through them… is it the right path?
I feel another blog post coming on.
Thanks for visiting. xx