It was an evening in the fall of 1991 and I was watching television. A movie came on which I’d seen many times before, but decided to watch the end again anyway, in the hopes that for once I might figure out what happened. It was 2001: A Space Odyssey. At the point where HAL was being shut down, he happened to mention that he was activated on January 12, 1992. “Hey!” I shouted out to my toes, who were the only other people in the room at the time, “That’s just a couple months away! We should have a party!”
And we did. A half dozen friends or so gathered at Ed’s house on the twelfth of January and we watched 2001 and 2010 back to back. When HAL uttered the date, we all yelled, “Yaaaay!” and that was that. After the movie, a short discussion about the differences between the movies and the books came up. I had not read them so Ed offered them up.
Reading? What is this thing of which you speak? Because, to be honest, up until that point I didn’t read. (For pleasure, that is. I of course read but it was entirely for learning purposes, not entertainment.) So I read one book. Then the next. And then the next. Hey! This is cool.
When I got through those, Stephanie said, “Oh, have I got some books for you.” She handed over The Hobbit (coincidentally the topic of last week’s post) with a smile. Now this wasn’t a new book to me. I started reading it once in sixth grade, but never finished. For whatever reason I thought it was “too hard” so it just ended up on my todo list. Reading it again as an adult was a whole new experience. I loved it. “That was great!” I told her. “What’s next?” I think you all know what was next, and wow, … I just might really like this reading thing.
Fast forward to now. Given that great start sixteen years ago, I really haven’t read as many books as I would like to. The “to read” list grows longer and longer with each passing year and so many tasks prevent me from whittling it down at all (little things like “earn money”, “help with homework”, and “sleep”).
But guess what? A couple weeks ago I bought a new book (first one in a while) and I’m going to read it. I’m pretty excited about it too, since it’s been on the list for at least five years now. I’ll probably get to it right after the next geometry test.
on October 15, 2008 at 3:56 am
I keep a book on my bedside table and read for a while nearly every night before going to sleep. I usually take a while to get through one cause I fall asleep so fast, but once in awhile the action in the book can push me past my normal threshold. I had to stay awake later last night to see if Katz was going to die on the Appalachian Trail!
on October 15, 2008 at 4:40 am
When I am on vacation, I always read several books. It is so hard to find time in the day to read, but I love it. Unfortunately, my current read was ruined yesterday when someone blurted out the ending! UGH!
on October 15, 2008 at 6:38 am
Kathy, that was nerve-wracking, wasn’t it?! For Christmas one year I got that book on tape and remember sitting in my driveway, not wanting to get out of the car until I knew he was okay. (I read the book later, since I found out the audiobook was abridged!)
on October 15, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I used to read all the time, now its mostly magazines.
But I did just get a copy of the new David Sedaris book from the library. I have to go to it though before its due back in three weeks!
Thanks for the reminder Charlie!
on October 15, 2008 at 9:53 pm
My husband said he can always tell when I’m reading a good book because I wont put it down till I’m done. My daughter is learning the glory of a good book too, thanks to some vampires!
on October 16, 2008 at 5:44 am
I hear ya, megan. I’ve never seen my oldest daughter plow through books like she does through these.