So I have never been a good reader. Well, that’s not true. When I was younger and there were those “Read the most books over summer break” competitions… I always won. Mostly because I was obsessed with the Goosebumps, Nancy Drew, and Babysitters’ Club series. And also because I love competition. I’m completely incentive-based.
Nowadays, I must self-incentivize (is that a word?) in order to get things accomplished. Especially with this whole “going freelance” thing. So my Life To Do List continues to be my guide.
I purposely put not one but TWO different resolutions on my to-do list that related to reading. I’ve been lazy over the years and it makes me feel sad. I mean… even Oprah has time to read! That said, I’ve started #’s 32 and 67 simultaneously from my list.
I am therefore reading a classic and a contemporary novel at the same time which finds me currently re-reading Pride and Prejudice and about to curl up with The Poisonwood Bible.
Small and fun side story- I am incredibly amused by the teenage version of myself that apparently was studying for the SAT’s when I was last reading P&P (which I never got through). As I was reading, I highlighted any vocabulary words that I could not define and then looked them up. I know… I’m a nerd.
Proud to say that many a word I did not know how to use in Junior High has now become part of my regular vernacular. My favorite word that I did not know then, but know now is emphatic. As in, “What can be the meaning of that empathic exclamation?” cried Mr. Bennet (in Chapter Two).
“What does emphatic mean?”, you ask:
emphatic (adj.):
1. Uttered with or marked by emphasis
2. Tending to express oneself in forceful speech
I am also remembering one of my favorite scenes in the movie “You’ve Got Mail” starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in which she is reading the book at the coffee shop waiting for her unknown online lover to reveal himself. She chose this very book to identify herself with and I find that so classic and touching. (see below)
Not sure if I’ve found a book that identifies me. I do know that my favorite book is “The Red Tent.” I also know that I am loving the quiet time spent reading instead of watching television. It makes me feel smart. Smart like Kathleen Kelly.
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