Book Worm (by Cameron)
I got an email from a friend yesterday who recently moved to Boston. She told me how one of the first things she did when she got there was rush to the library and get a card. Now she has plenty of books to keep her company and “[find] deep pleasure in reading books [she] never had time to touch” previously. I think I can relate. I love when I can just sit down and get caught up in a great book. Recently however, I find that whenever I get home, I’m so wasted from work or other activities that I don’t feel like reading and instead waste time watching tv. Do you ever find yourself in that situation. What’s your favorite book. I think mine is the unabridged version of Les Miserables. I know it’s long, but the abridged version just doesn’t do it justice.
While I’m pretty good at avoiding wasting time on TV programming (though I’ll often watch a good movie on DVD) I find myself spending a lot of time I could use to read good books doing nothing of consequence on my computers. At least cinema is a higher art than television shows, right?
I’m currently reading the Harry Potter books, mainly to see what the whole phenomenon surrounding them is all about. I’m still towards the beginning of the first one, but it’s enjoyable so far, if not particularly profound.
Answering ‘favorites’ questions is always difficult for me, as I have a hard time choosing what I like the best. I’ll name a few I really liked instead:
Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad — I read this for a writing class at BYU, and the reading combined with the discussion in class had a profound effect on me. It’s a short but very dense book; it’s amazing how much vivid imagery and intense feeling is packed into it.
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky — I read this shortly after Heart of Darkness, since it explores some similar ideas. Although a bit of the cultural background was lost on me, the progression of the thoughts of the protagonist as the story progressed was downright chilling and thoroughly believable.
Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley — One of the great utopia-gone-wrong novels, this takes you into a world where everyone is cloned, brainwashed, and socialized to fit in their proper place in socieity. The protagonist doesn’t quite fit in, however, and in his search for himself and his place uncovers all the nastiness behind the superficial shininess of his great city.
My all time favorite book would have to be Night by Elie Wiesel.And I don’t care if I’m tired or what,I’m always reading !! Mostly on the net.*grin*