Being asked the question "why do you read," sends thoughts and memories rushing through my mind. I think back to reading books mostly comprised of pictures like Dr. Dan "The Bandage Man" by Suzanne Utts, whenever I rode in my grandma's car. I believe at that time I read because of the rush it gave my imagination and helped me think in ways and stories beyond my capacity of coming up with on my own. I think that the previous reason still holds true to my reading behind why I read today. More recently I find myself reading books about love and romance (like Nicholas Sparks books). I believe that I read those books because of how they make me smile and feel like the world is still a simple place.
If I was asked to give a simple answer to the open-ended question “why do I read,” I would have to answer with one word: hope. I think books give me hope that there is adventure and amazing things out there in the world. That if you want to experience a book worthy story you have to chase down the “what if’s” and crash over them, make them a thing of the past. The characters in books never leave any regrets in their lives and in the end their lives pan out according to their actions. This is why I read, simple as that.
I like this as a criteria for what makes some books good: "they make me smile and feel like the world is still a simple place."
ReplyDeleteAnd I love this line: "if you want to experience a book worthy story you have to chase down the “what if’s” and crash over them, make them a thing of the past." Well written.