2008 Woodie Awards
Perks of being intellectual
Allison Dow
Issue date: 7/28/08 Section: Forum
I have a bit of a problem. A book buying problem. I recently took a few days to visit New York and when I left to come back to Toledo, I had an awful time repacking because I bought eight books while I was there. I've never been able to go into a book store and walk out empty-handed. I want to know everything I can about everything, and since that's a pretty big ambition, I know I have plenty of reading to do.
I continually start reading multiple books at the same time, and when I finish them they get added to the shelf so I can share them with other people who like to read.
Unfortunately, I don't meet many other people interested in reading. Most college kids and even younger ones these days don't have an interest in reading for pleasure, and most adults seem to only make time for it on vacation. When I was growing up, I loved to read and did it everyday. My parents used to have to yell at me to go to bed because I would stay up reading until I fell asleep with the book open and the lights on. Some of the best books that I've read were ones I read when I was young and in GATE class. It was a program for creative students that learned differently and needed more challenges. While in it, I was assigned to read "Night" by Elie Weisel, which was a detailed memoir of the Holocaust and time he spent in concentration camps, Jon Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" which is a literary classic, and "The Giver" by Lois Lowry which is very much like Ayn Rand's book "Anthem." At the time I read these books, my family and other people that I met were in shock that we were reading such controversial and graphic books. I didn't understand what was wrong with them. Looking back though, I can see how people would have been concerned about the effect they might have on young students. But I loved every one of them, and they all moved me to tears. I still have those books on my shelf and consider them to be the true start of my education.
Currently I'm reading a few books at the same time. "Full Frontal Feminism" by Jessica Valenti is an amazing book that I picked up while in New York that discusses feminism's current roles in society and talks about how women these days are still being treated unequally. The book is a great read for anyone who may wonder why you should be a feminist in the first place.
I continually start reading multiple books at the same time, and when I finish them they get added to the shelf so I can share them with other people who like to read.
Unfortunately, I don't meet many other people interested in reading. Most college kids and even younger ones these days don't have an interest in reading for pleasure, and most adults seem to only make time for it on vacation. When I was growing up, I loved to read and did it everyday. My parents used to have to yell at me to go to bed because I would stay up reading until I fell asleep with the book open and the lights on. Some of the best books that I've read were ones I read when I was young and in GATE class. It was a program for creative students that learned differently and needed more challenges. While in it, I was assigned to read "Night" by Elie Weisel, which was a detailed memoir of the Holocaust and time he spent in concentration camps, Jon Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" which is a literary classic, and "The Giver" by Lois Lowry which is very much like Ayn Rand's book "Anthem." At the time I read these books, my family and other people that I met were in shock that we were reading such controversial and graphic books. I didn't understand what was wrong with them. Looking back though, I can see how people would have been concerned about the effect they might have on young students. But I loved every one of them, and they all moved me to tears. I still have those books on my shelf and consider them to be the true start of my education.
Currently I'm reading a few books at the same time. "Full Frontal Feminism" by Jessica Valenti is an amazing book that I picked up while in New York that discusses feminism's current roles in society and talks about how women these days are still being treated unequally. The book is a great read for anyone who may wonder why you should be a feminist in the first place.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
chelsea
posted 7/28/08 @ 9:35 PM EST
hi dow...i just read this book called "in the time of the butterflies" about these 4 sisters who were working toward bringing down the dictator of the dominican republic from the 1930s to 1960s. (Continued…)
Chris Wojciechowski
posted 7/29/08 @ 12:03 AM EST
They let you read those books as a child? No WONDER you turned out how you are.
;)
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