Rediscover joy in books
By Jane Muhlstein
I do my fair share of reading each week. Although it is generally heavily concentrated on Sunday nights, I always manage to get my nose to the grindstone and hit the books. However, I am often left with the feeling that I have not really read a thing in months.
The truth is, most of us give up on reading for pleasure the moment we step on campus. I am constantly piling up books to wait for Christmas or spring break. I will get around to reading them eventually. During the summer, I read book upon book, despite a busy work schedule. So why don't we allow ourselves to read for enjoyment during the school year?
Our most popular excuse is that we simply do not have the time. True, between schoolwork, clubs, sports and jobs, we all lead busy lives. But let's be honest. Who doesn' t spend a good amount of time on instant messenger or watching TV?
My roommate sits at her computer every night feeding her Bounce Out obsession, knowing that she will be up reading for a class until 2 a.m. We are all guilty of these time-wasting habits. The ones that leave us staring at the clock, wondering where the time has gone.
My personal favorite excuse is that I feel like I am cheating when I pick up a new book. Opening a book that I do not face an impending examination on always reminds me of the school-related reading I should be doing.
After the first few days of the quarter, there is never a point when all homework is done. I may be finished with the night's assigned reading, but there is always something I could be working on. If I have spare time, I feel like I should try to get ahead in the class or research topics for the paper that's due at the end of the quarter.
Last spring, I was guiltridden when I spent a full day reading "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" a week before finals. I cannot explain why reading a book when I am caught up on homework feels like betrayal when I have no problem watching a movie or a TV show when I have studying to do.
I guess it's easy to waste time staring passively at a screen. But a good leisure book does not need to be hard work, in fact it shouldn't be. So next time you're about to channel surf or sign on to instant messenger, pick up one of those books from your Christmas break pile and start reading.