thoughts on the news of the day: reading

hmmm…..

            Every so often I get a post on my facebook page that says it is National Book Week.  It suggests I read a book, or do something like post the fifth sentence of the fiftieth page of the fifth chapter; or something like that.  National Book Week has been reported to be on several different weeks, so there might be some truth to the claim.

            I personally think that reading should be promoted every day of the year.  It is hard to get folks to read a book these days, but not so hard to get them to read an internet story or to pop a novel onto their iPad.  There is a general bemoaning about kids not reading any more, but I don’t think that is so true.  They read; it’s just not the classics.  They read twitter posts and facebook posts and the latest on the internet news.  They read texts and sometimes even emails. 

            But that’s not so wholesome and educational.   Maybe it’s not the same as curling up with a good book on a hot summer day.  Right. It’s not.  But I don’t think we should therefore come to the conclusion that people don’t read anymore.  I would guess that there is more reading done today than any time in history, it’s just different.

            I am all for reading.  I do a lot of it; but it is mostly for my job.  Its journals and magazines and articles posted on the internet.  It is research information that I am given via google.    It keeps me up to date on what Princess Kate is wearing, but it also tells me what is going on in Libya.  Is that so bad?

            hmmm…..