Re-Kindle-ing old habits
I just finished reading George R R Martin's first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series, A Game of Thrones, the other night - and I'm about 6 chapters into Book 2, A Clash of Kings, as I write this. Wow, what spectacular, exciting fantasy writing. Vivid, compelling characters (is anyone cooler than Tyrion Lannister?), intriguing, edge-of-your-seat plotting, and best of all, superb use of language. I feel a tinge of regret at not having read these novels earlier (especially since the announcement of the HBO series adaptation makes it feel a bit bandwagon-jumpy of me). I remember when I re-read the Lord of the Rings before the first Peter Jackson film was released, I wanted to go right to another epic fantasy story, and a friend told me about Martin's Song and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. I went with WoT and was pretty disappointed with it, which ended my epic fantasy lust fairly quickly (Jordan fans take heart, my girlfriend at the time picked up The Eye of the World when I set it down and promptly consumed the entire series with gusto. One reader lost, but another gained). No doubt if I had made the other choice I would be one of the numerous impatient throng, clammering for the completion of A Dance with Dragons.
But this blog post isn't about A Song of Ice and Fire.
I also read the last half of A Game of Thrones on my brand new Kindle, a delightful birthday gift from my buddies and co-hosts over at the Totally Rad Show (thanks, fellas!) - and really grew to love the experience. I always thought the Kindle was a solution in search of a problem (what's wrong with books?), but having one now has made me a believer. I feel I'm reading quicker, easier, and - let's face it - cooler than I used to.
But this blog post isn't about the Kindle, either.
No, this blog post is about reading. Reading in general. As someone who happily makes his living talking about movies, tv, video games, and comics, I am struck once again by the narrative advantages of the novel. As much as I love those other artforms, no other medium can match the thrill, richness, or depth I experience while reading a great book.
I've come to the conclusion that I tend to be a cyclical guy by nature. I can get into something very heavily for a while, leave it for a time, and return to it later with as much (more?) enthusiasm, causing the cycle to repeat. Reading is a great example. I'll find myself an excellent book, fall in love with it, and spend hours on Amazon, planning out my next few reads. I'll actually take a break from the book I'm reading to get lost for a time in the (wonderfully) infinite loop of Amazon lists and recommendation pages, based on that book, to see all of the cool, previously undiscovered experiences that await me when I finish it. It is as if the joy in reading the current book creates a line-up of promises that I then use as incentive to finish it. "So excited to read Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind," I'm saying to myself right now, "but not until I've gotten through the four Song books."
Yet somewhere, somehow along the line, life seems to conspire to steal me away from the reading experience. I'll find myself not reading - worse, not wanting to read. One step in my chain of promises might be less than thrilling, and I fall out of the habit of reading.
But when the inevitable return happens - when I move along the cycle to the point (as I am now), where I rediscover the unmatched joys of losing myself in a great writer's words - I wonder why the hell it took me so long to get back into reading!
So... here, at long last, is really what this blog post is about: This blog post is a reminder to myself to pick up a book. Hopefully, when that down-cycle in my reading pattern inevitably comes to pass, I'll find myself editing this blog page, and I'll glance down a bit and see what I wrote here, and maybe, just maybe, I'll make some time to pick up a book, and cut that "not-reading" part of the cycle a bit shorter.
And maybe you're in your down-cycle, too. Maybe you haven't read anything great in a while. Maybe seeing this post can have the same effect on you. I'd love to see some great recommendations of excellent reads down in the comment section, something to inspire me or another reader to try something new. To grab a book. Because, damn, there really is nothing better.
Oh, and no spoilers for Song, please!! I'm reading as fast as I can!
Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 11:22PM
Reader Comments (65)
Hey jeff, i feel the same exact way man...i finally just got around to finishing wicked..which was a fantastic read...also if you love fantasy books you should read the inheritance cycle..which is eragon, eldest, and brisingr..but anyways love the show
I've been horrible lately about reading. I was the kid who - for literally 25 years straight - read at least 3 books a week. Every week. For 25 freaking years!
Then World of Warcraft happened and that slowed me down to about 1 a week. I smoked so whenever I would go outside for a smoke at work or home I would read and that gave me my beloved book time still.
Now though, I have stopped playing WoW (2 years clean!) and I quit smoking (1 1/2 years clean!) but the books have disappeared. I read the internet all day. I have an iphone so I even read it in the bathroom, or waiting in line, or at a stoplight. I'm terrible.
I want my books back, thank you for the inspiration!
:D
Nikki
I couldn't agree man Jeff. I too am in a place where the joy of reading is off putting to my work but thanks to you and all those that listen and enjoy TRS I think I'm going to pick up the one book that I've been putting off. Thanks again!
I couldn't agree more with you that people should read more. I've been reading fantasy novels since I was 12ish and I would have to say they are my favorite. And, like you, I was looking for a new novel a few years back and I chose WoT. And, like you experienced, I was disappointed. The world Jordan created is amazing, but I found his writing to be verrry exhausting. I've always meant to read the Song series but haven't gotten around to it yet. I just finished the second Mass Effect book. You probably wouldn't be interested since the game didn't thrill you though. I'm about to start reading The Stand. I am ashamed to say I have read only one Stephen King novel and it was The Eyes of The Dragon, which wasn't even one of his famous books. As far as recommendations, I have a soft spot for the cheap fantasy of the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance books. And another good fantasy series is Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth.
P.S. TRS Rocks!
The Kindle really got me back into reading. I bought it to see if putting comics on it would work, but ended up reading 4 books over the first month and a half that I had it. I love being able to get a sample chapter of anything I might want to read. It makes it really easy to find something and let it grab you.
It's nice to be able to jump so quickly from something like a Mick Foley autobiography to a HardCase Crime novel then wrap back around and pick up where I left off on Hitchhiker's Guide. It's fantastic - and I think it really encourages reading. Syncing it with my iPhone is amazingly helpful as well. I love the thing.
Wow, Jeff, hit the nail right on the head! I used to read like mad, but I can't remember the last time I finished a whole book! This fantasy series you just started sounds interesting, I think i'll def. look into that one, Thanks!
By the way, love the things you guys are doing on TRS!
Give "Dune" a try Jeff. TRS is my favorite web show and "Dune" is my favorite piece of science fiction. It has swords and lazers!
I love that Fire and Ice series but I might recommend slowing down on the books not rushing through - I have been waiting for the next book for YEARS!
Anyway a lot of my friends have been reading tons of Suki Stackhouse and other Vamp books but I have not been moved to try any of them. Still looking for the next thing to grab me, maybe I need to switch genres? Murder mystery perhaps, not sure. I have been reading a few graphic novels but great as some are (Y the Last Man ) they feel a bit like snacks to me and I am looking for a meal.
I wonder if all my podcast listening has eaten up reading time? Oh snap I just thought of what I want to get, that new Neil Stephenson novel - sweet
Thanks for jogging my reading mind back on track!
Jeff, I totally agree. Out of all of my avenues for personal entertainment, reading is the one that is arguably the most emotionally involving, intellectually engaging, and still the toughest to inspire myself to do. I have never been lost in any video game, film, or comic the way I have gotten lost in the worlds of Tolkein, Card, Rowling, and Anthony (the world Rowling created stands way ahead of the pack in this regard). For some reason however, reading is falling out of grace with our standards for what entertainment is. It's not as engaging, it's not advertised, it's hardly even spoken about. I can't remember the last time a friend pushed a new fantastic book series on me. And when it comes down to it, it's much easier and quicker to turn on a good film or game than it is to start a new epic fantasy tale.
I think that it has a lot to do with how much time we have to invest in a new book series to discover if it has any merit. It had to get 6 hours in to Eye of the World before I realized it wasn't for me. In that same time I have entered, experienced, and left 2 (or 3) entirely different film worlds.
You're right. At the end of the day, you kinda have to remind yourself of how incredible a good reading experience can be. Good luck, and I hope your new Kindle helps you keep the cycle going strong.
BTW just nominated your site http://jeffcannata.com/ for Mountain Bike magazine's Epic Ride of the Year award
I tend to take this a step further in the other direction and actually get quite ADD with books. If I can't finish a book in a couple nights, I'm usually jumping on to the next thing in my list. I always mean to go back and finish the books I leave behind, and one day, I might. On the other hand, I've been about 2/3 of the way through A People's History of The United States for about 10 years and actually have no idea where in my house it is.
About ASoIaF, be glad you didn't start it when you tried WoT, otherwise you would be anxiously waiting for aDwD, and only be left with things like this to amuse you.
Jeff, thank you for reminding me about how amazing reading is. I am like you, a guy who thrives off movies, comics, TV, and video games. I'm also a guy who like Serenity here used to read tons of books at a younger age. Then for a while I just stopped, recently I started purchasing books again and I'm glad I did, the joy I get from reading is one I'm hard pressed to get from other forms of media that's because it feels unique and unlike all these other forms I'm creating my own images to go with the story I'm engaged which is really cool.
I also just ordered a Kindle because one of the reasons I haven't been reading is because it's been hard to carry a bunch of books with me at times and I just messed around with my iPhone doing all the tweeting stuff. When I heard you talk about George RR Martins stuff I decided that would be the first book I'd download. And since I'm always looking for new things I'll be checking these comments as well.
Thank you Jeff, thank you so much.
I really identify with being trapped a cyclical reading pattern. I'm in a reading phase right now and would suggest "Little Brother" its a really great book. and "Hunger Games" is good also. I picked up "A heartbreaking work of staggering genius" on your passing suggestion on TRS and really like it, so thanks.
Jeff it'd be great if you responded to the posts sometimes, it might really take this site on to be the peoples third place in holistic cures for rhuemetism - RUNNING GaG!
Anyway, yeah i read these books a long time ago and i've just re-read them as i found out peter dinklage was going to be tyrion, this is an amazing series in fantasy lore and should be revered as such, i hope for gods sake it makes it better than the sword of truth series has been recieved, i loved that series right up until he had the pillars of creation use an entire book just to add a new character he needed, was sloppily done and i haven't read any since, GRRM is a consumate pro and deserves a great series to take his words to pictures, i pray it lives up to that.
You know nothing Jon Snow.
Kal.
I'm finding myself in the exact same phase right now. Well, minus that I didn't get a kindle for my birthday.
As an only child, and a latch-key kid from the age of 7, books were always my form of entertainment. My parents refused to buy me a Nintendo, but instead would indulge any book buying binge I wanted. To this day visiting the bookstore is bliss. Bliss and slight credit card damage.
I never fell out of love with reading, but as I got older I found myself not having time for it. Or maybe just not making the time. I'd go through cycles of buying books and then reading half of them. They'd try to woo me back with fancy new editions. I felt like I was cheating on my brain with all the shiny pretty fashion magazines. Sure, they'd look good at the time until I got them home and after an hour they'd leave me feeling empty.
Whenever I needed to get away from the world, I'd run back to a book. But it would usually just be a one night stand or a weekend fling. Until this year. I started really reading again, about a book a week now. It was like standing up after a long flight, my brain just stretched out and sighed.
In closing, books = yay.
Of what I've read lately and loved I'd recommend....
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk - great author and super nice guy, this book threw my mind into a tailspin. It should be made into a movie. And then win many awards.
Still Life With Woodpecker by Tom Robbins - I cannot believe this was written in the early 80s, it's so of the times.
Hey Nostradamus! by Douglas Coupland - pretty much everything by Coupland is awesome, but this is a good starter.
I'm currently reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith... I'm really hoping someone eats Mr. Darcy's brain. And Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus.
One might say that I'm over compensating for years of book neglect... and they would be correct.
Have fun! :)
Have you read The Dark Tower series? Its awesome!
Well said. I love to hear that you're reading more!
It always amazes me how simple words arranged in specific ways to create a story, convey an idea, or relay an experience, have the power to impact you in such profound ways.
Some books suck though.
I LOVE how you're bringing up ASoIaF on TRS and tweeting about it... AND now you got the blog about it! Just to comment on some other books that were suggested on here, might help you out:
Eragon, Eldest, Brisingr (The Inheritance Series) Used to be my favorite book (when i was 13 and read Eragon for the first time). You'll soon realize it's very much Star Wars with a medieval skin, and the author cannot write that well. I bought Brisingr after reading and falling in love with the ASoIaF and I felt like I was reading a child's "creative writting" assignment. GRRM is the master and I fear he has spoiled other books for me, lol! But yeah, keep in mind that the writer is young and inexperienced.
The Name of the Wind, you mentioned. I just bought it, only to read about Sean Bean being cast as Eddard, and then wanting to reread ASoIaF, hah! I first read A Game of Thrones 2 years ago, so now I'm going through the 4 books again in preparation for A Dance with Dragons, and I wont learn the Wind's name just yet.
Tyrion is a GREAT character, but you'll find with GRRM that each book is so radically different in the set of characters portrayed. It's a true ensemble cast, and each book he really changes each character, especially those of the Lannister ilk... to quote DannyTRS "AH-MAZING!"
keep reading ASoIaF, it only gets BETTER!
-David
"It is as if the joy in reading the current book creates a line-up of promises that I then use as incentive to finish it ". OMG OMG OMG, same exact feeling. I have spent hours upon hours getting recommendations on AMAZON. It gets me so pumped to read more and more. GREAT POST
Thanks for reminding us to keep reading! Hey since your a cool nerd have you seen this blog: http://nerdboyfriend.com/