Why Adults Should Be Readers
By Dawn Fair
Monday, May 19
The Joys of Reading
Honestly, nothing bugs me more than anyone not wanting to read. I expect it out of a young person, especially teenagers. However, it's frustrating, infuriating, and downright insulting. For me at least, I, after all, love to write and I want young people to enjoy what I'm writing. But nothing grates on the nerves more than an adult who refuses to read. Whether that is because they insist on not having time or because they've already done their reading in school, it's just plain inexcusable.
Reading is a great way to escape everyday pressures. Reading is a great way to relax. Reading is a fun way to pass the time. And when young people see us reading, they're more apt to want to read. It's never okay to say "Do as I say, not as I do." especially when it comes to reading. Reading is what helps us develop our creativity. Reading is what helps us cope. Reading is what makes life a little less dull.
Top 10 Reasons Reading Is Cool
I get it. As an adult we lead busier lives. But if we have the time to watch a television program, we certainly have the time to read a chapter out of a book. But here are the reasons why you should read a book.
• If you're not doing it, why should anyone else?
• We adults need an escape, too!
• There are so many great stories out there, how could we get bored?
• Because your imagination can take you places that a TV program limits you to.
• The smell of a good book.
• Reading is a better way to help you fall asleep than TV.
• It increases your vocabulary.
• If you've read it, you can easily help your child with a book report.
• The book is always better than the movie!
• Reading is fun!
Women Reading
But I'm Not Really Good At This Reading Thing...
That's okay. Neither is my mom. You know what she does? Books on tape. It's like having your own personal narrator. I recommend this as a last resort, actually, but it is okay to do. Sometimes that's all you can do.
What I do recommend? Start out small. You know, the YA genre isn't as embarrassing as it sounds. Some of the best, most popular books are YA. No, you don't have to read Twilight to look hip. You have the ever popular The Hunger Games. Harry Potter is a book series for all ages, really. The Maze Runner series is another popular trilogy that also has a prequel. Of course, then there is always the supernatural YA like Vampire Academy, Shiver, etc.
Don't forget that you can continue to read books for children. One of my favorite childhood series is the Bunnicula series. There is also anything E. B. White has written. Have you tried Percy Jackson?
Another thing to do to pique your interest is try doing a movie or TV series tie-ins. The aforementioned Maze Runner series will be hitting theaters this summer. See the movie, try the book. Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, If I Stay, Twilight, Divergent, has all been made into movies. Sometimes seeing the movie and then reading the book helps. There is also tie-ins. One of the best tie ins for me is the Nikki Heat novels, which pseudonym Richard Castle of the popular TV show Castle wrote. The cases have reflected some of the cases the show has worked on. Lines from the show are in the novels. It's really a great pop culture movement. Another one that has started to happen after they made the movie from the TV series is Veronica Mars. The book tying into both the TV series and movie has recently been released.
If all else fails, go back to what I said before: Audio books.
What Should I Read?
There are so many great books and book series out there. There are the classics like To Kill A Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men. There are pop culture novels that just fun to read. There are series that really captures the imagination. You have YA, adult, mystery, romance, adventure... Where should one start? Here is a list of books I recommend and have personally read.
Book Series:
1. The Harry Potter
2. The Hunger Games
3. The Vampire Academy and Bloodlines (spin off from VA)
4. Percy Jackson
5. A Series of Unfortunate Events
6. Kinsey Millhone
Stand alone:
1. World War Z
2. The Trumpet of the Swan
3. Charlotte's Web
4. Speak
5. 13 Reasons Why
Classics:
1. To Kill A Mocking Bird
2. Of Mice and Men
3. Oliver Twist
4. Dracula
5. The Fall of the House of Usher
6. The Tell Tale Heart
Tie-ins:
1. Nikki Heat (Richard Castle, Castle TV series)
2. Derrek Storm (Richard Castle, Castle TV series)
3. Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars TV series)
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy series includes comics and books)
I'm constantly reading so these will always be updated.
Reading Together
Places For Readers
• GoodReads - share books and get book recommendations!
Discover and share books you love on Goodreads, the world's largest site for readers and book recommendations!
• BuzzFeed Books
Original reporting and analysis plus the real conversation of the social web.
• Books - The New York Times
Find book reviews & news about authors, new books, best sellers, fiction & non-fiction, literature, biographies, memoirs, children?s books, the Pulitzer Prizes and the Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Books: Book Reviews, Book News, and Author Interviews : NPR
NPR's brings you news about books and authors along with our picks for great reads. Interviews, reviews, the NPR Bestseller Lists, New in Paperback and much more.
• Book Reviews, Bestselling Books & Publishing Business News | Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly is the international news website of book publishing and bookselling including business news, reviews, bestseller lists, commentaries and more.
• Book Reviews, Excerpts, eBooks and Reader Exclusives - HuffPost Books
Get a sneak peek of the newest titles, find your next read and learn how to improve your writing. Then post your comments on the best and worst books.
HubPages, April 19, 2014
