The Bravery In Blogging

I have to admit, I'm not the bravest person. I would much rather taker the safer route in any task if it's an option that is given. I have never been proud of this fact so when I manage to get the guts and challenge the instinct that goes for safety, I'm not afraid to admit I feel pretty freaking proud of myself for doing it.

Do you find one more important than the other?

This probably isn't a new topic, especially among writers and those who create the stories we read, and it's one professors in my literature courses have touched on as well. But, it’s a question I've asked myself and thought on plenty of times, and I’m curious about the opinions of others in regard to this train of thought.

Leaving Our Comfort Zones

Let's have a chat about my absence.

Book Skimming

So lets say you find a book to read. Interesting summary, it looks like it has potential. Nice cover too, nothing that turns you away if cover design is something important to you when it comes to choosing reads. You start the book and so far, no complaints!

So far, the characters seem ok, you start to like them more as you read. The plot isn't bad at all either, though maybe you're not sure yet because all hasn't been revealed or you're waiting to see how things go down at the climax to judge. But you get to the climax and then bam, things go down the drain. Plot events aren't going the way you think they should in the book and it's frustrating you so much you want to throw the book but you also don't want to flounce because you must. See. The end. 

The end is what could change your feelings or make them build but ultimately the conflict has changed the game up. However, you're getting impatient and the plot has gotten you so worked up and you want it to end so you do the unthinkable: you skim. You try to catch the dialogue as quick as possible, you find yourself skipping or glancing at the thoughts in between, and your eyes are moving across the page fast enough that some words may blur. You just find yourself working hard to get to the finish line that ultimately the full reading experience has changed.

Does this sound familiar? I have to say, sometimes it can be me. Sometimes books throw me into such an unpleasant loop that my impatience wins and I do a lot of skimming. I try to keep myself from taking a peek at the end, though I have done that before as well *hides*. And, maybe it's silly, but I feel a little ashamed. Because when skimming you miss the little stuff, and they might be as important to the story as the overall picture. Like, I'm breaking some rule in the world of reading or something! But sometimes books can just make you go a little crazy, I suppose. And sometimes when this happens, it leaves me disatisfied with the book so I'm usually give it a rating of about 3 or lower. It takes a lot for me to quit in the middle of a book, so maybe this is a topic that goes along with going the DNF route that many have discussed before.

So, it begs the question: do you skim? For similar reasons or completely different ones? Let me know your thoughts!

Let's talk about: book snobbery.

Have you ever been reading and someone asks what book it is, and when they find out they turn their nose up at your choice? Or have simply encountered another fellow reader and then you begin to discuss the kinds of books you like and the moment you name some of your favorites they suddenly lose their enthusiasm to talk to another fellow reader? All because they find your tastes to be so horrible compared to them. It's something I've encountered on occasion. Not just with people day to day, but more specifically, people within my major (English Literature). Professors are more accepting of different kinds of literature than some of the students!

Whether it's young adult fiction, adult fiction, erotic romances, etc. Books that most don't consider to be the kind of literature that gets you to critically think and use those so called theories learned when reading the classics. I mean, of course, we all occasionally cringe at certain books and their hype (like fifty shades of grey maybe). But I don't judge them for liking erotica. Personally, I'd simply recommend them some titles I like better and leave it at that.

And I know, I know. Who cares what others think? But why turn your nose up at someones preferred type of Literature? Why not celebrate that you've found yet another person who loves to read, no matter if they want to read something as difficult as Shakespeare or something more fun such as Harry Potter. Or even if it's one of those steamy romance novels with the half naked man on front. Reading is something that should be celebrated by anyone and everyone considering it's importance. There are all these genre's created for all kinds of people and all kinds of tastes and interests and some stick to one type of fiction, then others go for them all. But we all have that one important thing in common: we enjoy spending our time reading. 

We may never understand why others read what they read, and we may even cringe at their choices. But at some point there seems a line that shouldn't be cross, or am I wrong? And am I wrong to expect differently? I'll never understand the appeal of non-fiction. Ever. But that's ok. And I occasionally like the classics as well as those typical romance novels. I just know that I'll always have joy for others who love to read, even if every book they love is one I will never enjoy. That joy is why I wanted to create my own book blog and why I'd love a career involving books. I appreciate that amongst book bloggers, I've not seen any sort of judgements for each others tastes. Yet, of course, considering my presences as one is new.

Have you ever had someone judged you harshly for your choice of books? Or do you have different opinions on the topic?