I had some trouble coming up with a specific direction for this post, so I’ll settle on thoughts regarding Good Reads.
A question struck me as I browsed the site: what impacts might it have on actual reading tendencies, if there were a way to quantify that? I know that when I’m busy, reading for pleasure seems like the last thing I can fit into my life. I don’t know exactly what it is that makes me think this. Generally, however, I can find some time to do other things I’d probably consider more useless, such as aimless web surfing or watching a tv show I’m not 100% interested in (I’m looking at you, Heroes!) because I feel like vegetating more than anything. Even though I’m always happier when I’m reading, finding the process meditative and calming, I just don’t make the time.
Since Mike introduced Good Reads on Tuesday, I’ve been thinking a lot about reading. Aside from reviewing books I’ve read, which incidentally is harder than it sounds unless you’ve happened to read the book you’re reviewing within the past year, I’ve been far more engaged with the act of reading this week. I’ve browsed other readers’ lists, spent time trying (mostly fruitlessly) to recall which books I’ve actually read, and read about books I’d like to read in the coming months. What I’ve found is that I’d now really like to make a point to read more again. I’ve already lined up the next few books I’m going after, despite the 10 or so I have on my shelf sitting unread.
So is this a product of the GoodReads/Shelfari etc. model? Does building a community around the act of reading, and around sharing our experiences of reading have an effect more than the sum of its parts? I’m not just talking about reading in reviews, or considering reading experiences in browsing lists. I’m creating a sort of positive reinforcement around these experiences. By making me contemplative about reading beyond the act itself and the immediate aftermath one experiences as they digest a just-finished book, is this social network objectively increasing the amount of reading we do?
I’d have to say the impact must be present, whether or not there exists a means to quantify it. Having reading tied to the social environment of class and later online adds the warm glow of a shared experience. Just in the little bit of in-class discussion, I saw several faces glaze over and I don’t think it was that Mike was boring. I’m pretty sure a few of you were, like me, thinking about what reading you’ve been meaning to get around to and perhaps mentally lining up your next targets.
So, onward to time better spent. Goodbye Heroes. Hello Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Thanks, Mike!
The school year I switched from biology as a major to English, I took five English or linguistics classes each semester. I read so much and wrote so many papers, that the experience taught me how to write a good paper in as little time as possible. It also taught me that I needed to read something for pleasure just to stay sane. I ended up reading a lot of old favorites yet again. It wasn't that I was reading for pleasure but for escape. Since I already knew how the book would end, reading it was like visiting with an old friend. I've read one book, Good Morning, Miss Dove, so many times that if something didn't happen that should have, I go looking for it to make sure I read it.
ReplyDeleteYou should read for pleasure. It's an indulgence that isn't. So what if you read the same thing ten times. It's your brain, for pete's sake.
Like you, Roger, I've been thinking about the books I want to read too. As soon as Mike started reading to us out loud in class, almost immediately I realized how much I missed reading a good book just for the simple pleasure and escape. I was frustrated that we couldn't spend much time in class on Goodreads, thanks to the dozen of us overloading the site ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhen I finally had a chance to sit back and browse the site at home, I found all kinds of books that I had skimmed through at the bookstore at one time or another and made a mental note to buy it someday (and never did!). I would love to promise myself that I'll make more time to read for pleasure, but honestly, it may have to wait until I'm done with grad school!