The Choice of Books
Seeing as I’m a writer maybe I should write a little something about books. Books are for reading. But what is the point? Have scientists studied this? Unless you are willing to spend some money, it is difficult to find out. Does it broaden your mind? Probably not if all you’re reading is The Sun and Viz. However, reading other people’s thought and ideas, puts you in someone else’s shoes and widens your outlook on life. But what if their shoes are not comfortable or made with nice leather? I think – as my mother tells me – you shouldn’t read books you don’t want to, or that are too difficult to get through. This may be a pointless and time-wasting exercise. I like history and philosophy myself, but there are an infinite – well almost – number of books out there to read instead, and which one should you choose out of the masses to occupy your mind? It is a big decision: life is too short. Education is all well and good, but there is an enormous amount of subjects and information out there.
What happens to you as you age? How do your decisions change? Do you even improve? What happens to your taste? You are affected by all your experiences, and all the books you read. Could this be a case in court – much as mental illness is – that you can blame your actions on the books you have read? The books you read or write as a youngster affect your upbringing as much as what parents you have, and according to Sigmund Freud this is very important for your psyche. In school you are made to read ‘classics.’ What are these and why are they classics? Simply because someone more educated read them and thought so – and that they were written in the past – a world we assume is important for us to know of…
What about the books you read/write as an adult? There is no reading list outside of school; no recommendations for education. I’m reading Stephen King at the moment – an author who really likes writing about writers – and seeing as they say you should write what you know, I suppose that makes sense: although every one of us writers can’t really write about that. Books should be different, but every one of them will have similarities to another. They say there are no truly original ideas out there, which is a shame. But for young readers every book will appear original. These books will affect their upbringing: and this is vital for those reading them.
I have been looking forward to reading Stephen King for a while, and luckily my secondhand bookstore had two to buy. I bought them but I’m mildly disappointed – but what was I expecting? Finders Keepers seems to be getting better though, the further I read. Is it because I don’t understand literature that I find certain books worse? Your education and experiences clearly affect your every living minute. How can I become more than I am? What does my choice of book mean about me?
I have met a lot of writers recently. Is it a case of too many chefs that spoil the broth? Would the world be better if there were fewer writers and if we were vetted for our education or our ability? Personally I’m hoping I still have a sense of humour when I’m 70. I don’t know what happens when people age, but hopefully I’ll get better and not worse. Hopefully there’ll be some really good books to read.