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This week’s musing asks…
Do you think it makes you NOT (or less) “well-read” if there are certain genres that you won’t read because you KNOW you won’t enjoy them? Why?
My answer...
No, I never felt this way. The reason is because I feel I already read a wide variety of genres. If I'm leaving one or two out, it's because I don't enjoy them and I don't want to force myself to read something I won't like. There's just not enough time, especially when there are a ton of books I really want to read. Why waste time reading others just for the sake of being able to say I've read everything? Let's face it, none of us will be able to read every book or genre out there. It's not possible and, for me, reading is supposed to be enjoyment. Not forced.
All that said, I have gone out of my reading comfort zone when I received a recommendation or read a review that got my interest. Also, there are many out there that don't even like or bother to read at all. I'm sure they think I'm "well read" :)
The one way I think I might not be "well read" is that I don't read many classics or literary type books. I just feel I did that back in school and now it's time for me to enjoy what I'm reading.
So, how about you? Are you "well read"?
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I would probably not be considered well read, especially since I am a Language Arts teacher. However, like you said, I have too many books I want to read to try to force myself to read something that doesn't immediately jump out at me. I don't read Fantasy or Westerns at all. I also don't read romance. Like you, I read enough books in school that I didn't choose myself. Now it is my turn to pick the books!
ReplyDeleteExactly, we can never read everything that is out there and reading should be enjoyable. I read a variety of genres, too, so I don't feel not well-read either. It is true I read some genres more than others, but then my taste periodically changes. I somehow rotate favourite genres every few years. For example I hardly read crime novels now, but this used to be my main genre s decade or so ago.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure reading the classics make us well read, but I don't think we should dismiss them either. I think a lot of the "classics" are just really, really good stories and we should not skip them just because we don't 'have' to read them like we did in school.
ReplyDeleteI read to escape reality, so I tend to shy away from non-fiction. So no, I don't suppose I'm 'well read'.
ReplyDeleteRead my answer here: http://diannehartsocksalex.wordpress.com/alexs-blogs/
Well said. I do tend to stick to genres I know I'll like, but I will branch out if something looks really interesting.
ReplyDeleteI'll never understand non-readers.
I think I've read enough of the classics (mostly in school) to call myself at least fairly well-read. But what's really important is enjoying your reading, not feeling obligated to read any particular book. :)
ReplyDelete