Thoughts on The Book

   The Book by Nicole Howard is a documented story of the evolution of the book from the Egyptian pharaohs to teenage millennials.  The invention of the book and print has forever changed this world, and it is an invention that is ever changing as it reshapes and reinvents itself to fit the current audiences. We are always going to need and read literature the form of it just may change. 

amazon.com/The-Book-Life-Story-Technology

    The beginning of The Book gave me insights into what Gutenberg really did for the world and what his impact on the printing press really is. We always learn in school that Gutenberg invented printing and books when in reality his impact was very different. “Rather he was one of a small group of craftsmen who developed a method of creating durable metal type quickly and consistently.” (Howard 27) I also had never imagined how exhausting working the printing press would be. I thought that this was then invention that made everything easier, but in reality it just made everything possible. It took strength and skill to work the many parts of the press and took dedication from the owners to keep their workers and keep the printing press running. 

    As the book continues it slowly leads up to what reading is like today and what forms it now occupies. Many changes have been made to the printing press and to the physicality of the book since Gutenberg’s time and admittedly to our benefit. For example, we now have paperbacks, which enabled easy cheap access to books. But there are also changes that I am not as excited to see. For example the lack of physical books now being purchased. I am one of those people that loves to have a physical book in my hands I like to highlight and write things on paper and I like to turn each page with my hands as opposed to with a swipe on a screen or a button. But my preferable way of reading is now rare and how long will it be until books are a specialty, and we are all forced to reading everything on a screen? I hope this doesn't happen soon, I love Barnes and Nobel and the smell of new books and coffee too much to see it gone in my lifetime. But there is also a part of me that knows it is inevitable. This book has caused me to think about the future of books and reading a lot that is something I would never have thought of before. It was interesting to try and look at the future and see how rapidly changing and unpredictable the future of books are. 

Let's Read

    My love for reading started with my love for a good story. I always had enjoyed reading as a kid, but it wasn't until high school that I began to appreciate a good character written by a talented author. I think my love for a story started when I began to realize that I wanted to create my own really good story but doesn't everyone? Everyone wants the fairytale ending (they are lying if they say otherwise) everyone wants an awesome adventure, a life changing event. Everyone wants to be the hero of their own story. And with this realization I began to read more and more. I love the ability an author has to make readers believe in fiction, believe in the possibilities and take thousands of people out of their realities. Tv shows do this, movies do this, and they all originated from the brilliant minds of incredible authors. Not every kid out their may think that reading is fun or cool, but their are seldom anyone that hates a good story. 

Lonny.com/photos/Built+In+Bookcase

    Unfortunately during the school year the amount of reading I do solely for pleasure decreases significantly. This week alone I have read 22 chapters of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, 2 chapters from my research textbook, 3 chapters from my creative strategy textbooks, and 3 chapters of The Book by Nicole Howard. Understandably by the end of the day the last thing I want to do is pick up a new book. There are times I will pursue a book I have already read, like my cliche, but well-loved copy of The Great Gatsby, but other than that I get my fill of reading from my week and if I ever want an entertaining story for an hour I have TV that consumes less of my energy and focus. 

    This week reading has been so time-consuming that I have not had time to enjoy it. I find myself counting down the pages, but by the end I realize how much I truly am invested in the story. I want to know what happens to Willoughby in the next volume. When I have reading to do as much as it seems overwhelming, I also find myself relaxing. Even my textbooks that are much more boring and story lacking can be relaxing to read.

    So every time I get bored of a book, get tired of reading, and refuse to turn the page, I remind myself that I chose this. I chose to read this much, but it is also something that I like and something that continues to relax me. So let's read.

Reader Interviews

    I love to read. I like thawed books look on shelves I wish I had enough to cover walls. My mom makes fun of me; she says I'm like Belle in The Beauty and the Beast, that I would be happy creating my own library. She definitely isn’t wrong, but not to my surprise a lot of people don't share the same love for reading as I do. I interviewed four people, 3 of the 4 were college students; the other was my little sister who I knew would have the wittiest answers of any high schooler I knew. Each person I

Most interviews were in person
My little sisters was over snap chat.

interviewed had very similar answers on how much internet, TV and social media they used daily, but it was their answers about reading that changed.
    The first person I interviewed was the most like me, in wanting to have a wall of books everywhere they lived. We even share the same favorite book, but just like me her reading habits don’t change her media habits. All of the people I interviewed said that they spend 2-3 hours watching TV a day and each person estimates that they study about 2-3 hours a day outside of class while 1 hour of that time is spent reading. And when asked “How much time do you spend totally unconnected from all media technology each day?” most of them looked at me confused and responded with while I am sleeping? With the exception of my little sister who said, “When we run out of family data on our phones.”
    Relating to their reading habits, only one of them considered themselves someone that likes to read, while the rest of them owned no more than 20 books, most of which they did not consider literature. It always frustrates me when my sisters refuse to read a book I know deep down that they would love, but their refusal to read is steadfast, and I am never really surprised. 3 of the 4 of them said if they had to read anything it would be mysteries, yet two of them were adamant that 50 Shades of Gray was their favorite book. I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed in that answer. However, I couldn’t disagree with them when they shared their dislike of poetry. I agree with their answers of confusion; however, their answers of death seemed extreme.
    A lot of their answers made me laugh, and I think they enjoyed the interview overall. It puts into perspective how much time you spend online versus reading. And as much as they all agree that reading is time consuming they also realized how important it is and the ability it has to transport you to another world and out of reality. I don't think this realization will change their habits by any means, just like I don't think my sister will now go downstairs and choose a book from my shelf. But one can hope!