On Reading

Stephen King once wrote a non-fiction book called "On Writing".  I have it in my collection, yet have never read it. (Read on to understand why.) Today I make this blog entry "On Reading" to explain my reading preferences and other thoughts related to reading.

I am an avid reader. While many people who are avid readers will read everything in sight, I prefer to stay in the area of "possible but not probable". This means I read mostly fiction centered on horror or the supernatural. Give me something scary to read at 1am and I'm a happy camper. Of course I read other types of fiction: mystery, thriller, suspense, even sci-fi. On a rare occasion I've even been known to pick up a Harlequinn Romance novel (6 of them, to be exact).  I don't often wander outside my area of preferred reading, but when I do, you will most likely find me reading a true crime novel. The criminal mind, the mystery of the crime, the detective and the forensic work fascinate me. When the court room drama is added in, I am completely riveted to the book. I am not sure why the dark side of life and the justice system intrigue me, but they do.  Sometimes I think perhaps I took a wrong turn in life and missed my calling. I've gotten fairly good at realizing the outcome of the each novel/case long before I've finished the book simply from the evidence presented throughout the pages. I suppose I have an analytical mind and these types of books/novels/stories help to challenge my mind. I like to think.  And when I read, I often do think.

Reading text books, how-to manuals, even self-help books hold little interest for me.  Most non-fiction, unless it relates to individual or personal incidents, that I can identify, or want to identify, with just bores me. I think perhaps that is why I spend so much time on the forums. I want to learn new things, but don't want to be bored while learning.  On the forums there is interaction. The discussion, when relevant to the topic, brings out a wealth of information and knowledge from others who have already learned what I want to know.   Those who are genuinely interested in enlightening others, share what they know and then often back it up by giving links to online reading material.   After reading that material, you can come back and discuss what you've read.  Creating a better understanding of the subject (hopefully).  It's like being in school again, and you have hundreds of teachers willing to help you.  My craving to read is satisfied, and I've gained new knowledge in the process. As I said, I love to read, but hate to be bored.  So when I want to learn, I turn to the forums and people.  When I want to relax and be swept away in the world of someone else's imagination, I read novels.

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As many people may already know, I'm a die-hard Stephen King fan.  Some of my favorite read has been his Dark Tower series.  I remember when he was struck by that van in 1999, and at first we didn't know if he would live or be able to ever write again. I went selfish in my thoughts back then. I didn't think of him, his family or friends who were genuinely worried about him.  All I could think of was that he hadn't finished the series. Four books and they were nowhere near the Tower. I felt like someone had stolen something from me, I was afraid that the need to know the outcome would never be satisfied. When he survived and let the world know that he would be finishing the series, I breathed a sigh of relief.  Then just today, I realized something.  I now own every one of the books in the series.  Knowing that I do, makes me happy.  But dangit, I forgot to read the last two. Two years ago they were among a bunch of books I had bought to fill my book shelves. I put them on the shelf intending to save them for last, after I had finished the other books.  I have finished the other books and yet the two remaining Dark Tower books still sit on my shelf. Never opened. While thinking about why I hadn't read them yet, it occurred to me that if I read them, I will lose a friend.  Several friends. Finishing a series of books and knowing that when you read that last page then close the cover, it's final. It really is the end. As much as I wanted the series to have a final chapter, I don't think I really wanted to ever part company with the characters that I've grown to love.  I'm sorry I was selfish in my thoughts back in 1999. I should have had more concern for the real life person, than the characters he created. I'm happy that he's still around for his family, and I'm happy that he's still around to satisfy my need to read. Maybe to put real life into perspective, I'll go to my grave not having read that final chapter. It's the least I could do. A penance for thinking only of my wants. 

Pffft, heck no.  I start reading book #6 today. I need to escape into someone else's fantasy and no one writes it better than dear Mr. Stephen King.