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!