Winter Day Reading and Audio Books

It's my favorite time of year to read books.

It's absolutely freezing in Norman, Oklahoma, and the thought of getting out of bed and walking to class is almost unbearable. However, there is always a silver lining to potentially bad things, and winter's silver lining is Christmas, and (in a close second place finish) good reading weather. I always prepare for those inevitable days of possible boredom by stacking up a pile of books beside my nightstand.

Why is it that I love to read when it's cold? Not because the snuggie was invented and now I can read on the couch and have free arm movement. Not because I usually get away with making the fattening kind of hot chocolate and chai tea when I read. And not because I can't get out of my house and do anything else. There is a certain something in the air that comes with cold weather. Maybe it's my brain telling me that I need to be more intelligent.

On these upcoming wintery days, I've decided on where I'm going to set up my reading station (by the window in the living room, on the side of the couch with the more plump cushions) what I'm going to wear (sweatpants: all day, every day. My mother would be thrilled) and what I'm going to ravenously consume during my intense reading sessions (a mix between chicken tortilla soup and mashed potatoes, and maybe some bagel bites to keep things interesting).

I know it sounds lame, but things like this excite me. I love the idea of doing nothing but being lazy. Even though I need to clean a lot, study quite a bit, and certainly work, I am filled with happiness that I get to enjoy some time to myself and fall in love with more books.

Judging by what I normally read or reread in the winter, I tend to gravitate towards the classics, like Pride & Prejudice and Wuthering Heights. I'm all about the 19th century chick literature. Do you like reading in the winter, and if so, what books do you like to read?

Another topic that I wanted to briefly discuss is audio books. Honestly, I don't particularly care to listen to books on audio, especially if the voice that the reader has doesn't match the main character's voice in my head. It takes a really long time to get through, and the only place that I would maybe see audio books being useful is in on long car trips if you have the unfortunate luck to be the driver.

Regardless of how I personally feel about audio books though, I think they can be a great tool for people who don't like to read. Especially in cases where disabilities can be a prominent factor, audio books might be the way to get the person to slowly get into reading. If listening to books is what it takes to get someone interested in reading, than so be it. I don't know if audio books are popular anymore, or even remotely trendy like they were a few years ago, but books on audio can always be a useful tool. Maybe I'll branch out and listen to a book on audio on my couch this winter.

But probably not.

Change of Heart

So, I totally hate E readers. We all know this. I wrote a long-winded blog post about why E readers are stupid and mundane and I hate them.

Well. I happened to be perusing through my roommate's items and saw that she had a kindle fire. You know that feeling when you're supposed to hate something and then all of the sudden you want it? I had that feeling.

Now I can't stop looking at these things online. I almost broke down and bought one when I got my paycheck from work. What has happened to me?

Consumerism? Maybe. I love to buy things.

But my point is, maybe E readers aren't such a bad thing anymore. I really don't have a lot of space left on my bookshelf, and I don't need to cram another bookshelf in my room. Of course, all of my favorite books will still be in hardback and not downloaded from the internet, but I maybe be very interested in keeping all of my books in one place. That's pretty handy when I'm on vacation and don't know what book to bring, or when I need to find a book fast.

I hate abandoning my morals though. I do suffer from a nasty bout of pride when I'm wrong about things. I might not buy a kindle just out of spite.

The important thing that I finally realized is that, in my quest for people to read more, I've stopped thinking about how E readers like the Kindle, the Sony reader, the Nook and the Ipad can promote and encourage kids and adults that reading can be fun. So what if it's not a cracked paperback book and instead on a 500 dollar piece of aluminum? That is not my decision to make. I can't be judgmental, because at the end of the day, the results that I so desperately want from people are the same.

It's like people reading magazines like Cosmopolitan or Glamour. Yes, the content within the magazine is often vapid and shallow, but fact of the matter is that these people are reading. Well, hopefully. Some people just pick up magazines to look at the pictures.

So if and when I choose to buy an E reader, I'll understand that I'm both encouraging reading and simultaneously throw away every evil and prideful thought that I've had about the heinous E reader.

I think that my whole reasoning about why I don't want E readers to become the next big thing is that I love the feeling of a book in my hands, and I love that magical feeling of reading something and being completely caught off guard by a book, or loving a book so much that after finishing it I go back and reread the parts that I like again. Yes, of course you can have those same feelings and be reading the book on a kindle, but the magic of holding the paper book in your hands has no comparison. I could never read Harry Potter on a kindle. I'm old school I guess, but at least I'm making strides on the technology front.

Barnes & Noble, Are You Worth it?

Every town has one. A big, shiny, well-kept Barnes & Noble Booksellers store, complete with a small Starbucks Cafe inside. In theory, this should be my regular hangout. In reality, I'm suspicious and skeptical of Barnes & Noble, and their whole scheme.

I don't know why I am so uneasy about the megabookstore. Maybe it's because I've watched You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks too much. Maybe because I don't like their price listings. Maybe I just prefer to buy books on Amazon or check them out from the library. For whatever reason, although I do enjoy going there sometimes, I hardly like to buy from that store.

Not that I'm discriminating against just them. When Borders was in business (rest in peace), I didn't like to go there either. It was just another Barnes & Noble with subpar coffee and a smaller selection of equally overpriced books. Also they didn't use the double stacked bookshelves with ladders that I liked so much at a particular bookstore in downtown Fort Worth. Borders will just never compare.

I think a megabookstore's concept is what really makes me mad. Reading is extremely important in so many different ways, yet Barnes & Noble chooses to turn finding a book into sort of a retail shopping experience. That can be a good or bad thing. It's a good thing when a person who isn't necessarily the biggest fan of reading has fun picking out a book from Barnes & Noble to buy. Although they probably aren't buy the book for the right reason, at least it gets them out there and looking. It's a bad thing because I don't think books should be as expensive as they are at Barnes & Noble. I know that they just follow the book publisher's listing price, but it's unnecessary to spend 25 dollars on a recently released book at a big book store when you could buy the same book half price at Walmart or Target. That whole process makes me wonder about how much the publisher and the author actually wants to sell the book for, and what places like Wal-Mart and Target have to do in order to lower those prices, especially when the book has just been released. But that could be a whole other blog.

It makes me wonder if having a large retailer is necessary. I normally always say no, but it does make buying books easy and popular when large book retailers are in indoor and outdoor shopping malls. When Christmas comes around, the bookstores are always usually busy with customers and people looking to buy books for friends and family, and that promotes reading, which I'm always a fan of. I just believe that buying a book can be a personal experience that requires time and knowledge, and Barnes & Noble doesn't give me that special feeling that I just found a great book when I check out.

What do you think? Do you like big bookstores or are you into smaller retailers like me??

Dear Amazon Kindle, I hate you.

Okay. Let me preface this by saying that the Kindle is not a bad product. In fact, it is a good product. One that many people enjoy.

But, obviously, I do not. And I have reasons. And while many of these reasons are slightly crazy and have a lot to do with my personal preferences, they are important to me.

Reasons why I prefer paper books to E-Readers.

1) It's hard to read. Like many Americans, I have terrible vision that I correct daily with glasses or contacts. Reading text on a computer screen after just a few hours gives me a headache that I can only fix with a piece of red velvet cake. Also, I hate have to scroll down or across to get to every page. I know it sounds stupid, but it really bothers me that I just can't look over to the next page without having to scroll. The backlighting on the screen also can sometimes be deceptive to the eye and normally causes me to fiddle with the lighting until I finally can see. Very annoying.

2) I love cracking paper book's spines. I know it doesn't sound like much, but I love knowing and physically feeling that I am the first person to open this book. It's like christmas morning. You know that nobody else has played with your new toy. It's all yours. Hearing the spine crack instantly makes me ready to get into this new book. With a kindle, I get no satisfying spine cracking sound. The E-Reader doesn't give me the very important sound effects, and I resent it for that.

3) Beat up books are the best. I also get extreme satisfaction out of loving a book so much, I literally rip it apart over time. There is something about seeing my old, tattered copy of The Giver that just makes me so happy. I can't part with it. I'll have that old copy of the book until the day I die. Or I lose it. Which, for me, is always a possibility. You can't beat up the kindle. It has to stay in good condition or the thing doesn't work. I can't throw it across the room when I get fed up with a character, and it doesn't react very well when I accidentally spill water and/or goldfish on it. I always have to be careful with the E-Reader. I have to watch where I put it, because someone would steal it. Nobody would steal my torn paperback copy of The Giver.

4) Kindles, Ipads, Nooks, they all cost way too much money. I just find it extremely annoying to have to buy a 100, 200 or 5oo dollar E-Reader, and then still have to spend almost the exact same amount of money for a digital copy of the book as I would have spent for a paperback version. I would rather have book shelves filled with paperback and hardback books that I bought at a store, than a digital library I had to buy online. I want to look at the book covers closely. I don't want to spend extra money on an E-Reader.

I know that a lot of people disagree with me. And I love most of the new technological advances that we've made in the past 5 years. But for sentimental reasons, I can't let paperback books go, and I resent that the E-Reader market is trying to make me.

Norman Public Library, Y U NO like good books?

I went to the Norman Public Library today.

It was weird.

The end.

Not really. But I wasn't very impressed, and I've decided to rant about it. Libraries should be filled with every single kind of book that you may possibly want to read, accompanied by knowledgable 100 year old librarians who can find exactly what you need. Also dark corners where they keep all of the forbidden books and various other treasures and/or a secret tunnel to HoneyDuke's Candy Shop.

Instead, I found a dreary building that smelled funny, with some umm...interesting? people playing on the library's computers for entirely too long, and none of the books I wanted in were in stock, or even recognized by the unhelpful librarian. It was disheartening. It seemed like the citizens of Norman didn't really take their library as a resource, instead it's just a place filled with books. It also made me realize that libraries could be a thing of the past in a few years. With everything moving online, the possibilities of having online libraries around the country fill me with excitement and sadness. I'm excited for this possibility of online only libraries for convienice. Sometimes I can't make it to the library for weeks at a time, being able to download a book for free instantly sounds legit. I'm sad because there is something special about going to the library and finding the perfect book off the shelf. I'm sad because I enjoy judging books by their cover, and I like being able to read on the couches in the library. Except not the Norman Public Library couch, which was occupied by a screaming toddler and his bratty sister who may or may not have gone to the bathroom on the couch. (Her face made me nervous).

I wish we could have a nice, huge library. Like the one that the Beast showed Belle in his castle. But the sad reality is that many people don't like going to the library, and how beneficial a good library can be for so many reasons. Instead of concentrating on reading good books and learning, kids like to watch Spongebob Squarepants and go to the movies instead. Not that there is anything wrong with either of those things, but why not squeeze in a little bit of library time each week? Even if parents don't enjoy reading books, they should still be taking their children to the library at least a few times a year.

I think the harsh lessons I learned today at the library that were that A) People don't treat the library with respect, which I hate and B) Nobody wants to go to the library anymore. It's sad because an important part of the learning culture is a library, and generation after generation of people stop remembering that libraries still exist. What will that turn into? And what kind of consequences will come out of this new predicament?

I'm writing an anonymous letter to NPL about their couch. It needs to go.

Books into Movies Conversions, I am Afraid of You.

watch first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fye5Nwe4qeI

The Hunger Games movie trailer came out on Monday. YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm happy.

I'm excited.

I'm slightly terrified.

But mostly pumped.

I love the Hunger Games. Love them. I just think the books are well written and heart-wrenching and bone-chilling and I have a clear obsession. But I'm scared that the movie adaptation is going to ruin the story for me.

I constantly wonder to myself if a movie version of a perfectly wonderful book is just a ploy to make more money. Actually, I know it is. Does it ruin the artistic integrity of the story? That depends on what kind of story it is in the first place. Many popular books have been turned into movies or a television series, but only a few have been tastefully done AND been extremely popular.

Take The Help, for example. A wonderful, interesting, and highly emotional book for me. The movie version turned out to be an extremely accurate and realistic retelling of the book. I was pleased. Because the movie followed a few good rules:

1) Kept the characters and plotline the exact same.

2) Stayed true to the author's basic intention with the novel

3) Didn't try to sensationalize the movie and turn it into a popularity contest. Yes, the movie was popular, but not overdone.

I think that if a movie producers tried to portray the story for what it is instead of what they want it to be, the whole process would make everyone happy. Instead, we usually see oversexed, overbudgeted, and understellar actors and actresses to fill the beloved roles of our favorite book characters. To portray a beloved character is hard enough, but to ask an actor or actress who doesn't care about the role or hasn't read the books is downright stupid. I'm sorry, but nobody wanted Daniel Ratcliffe to play Harry Potter when we first saw him. I mean, the kid had blue eyes. Rowling states throughout the entire series that Harry has his mother's GREENeyes, and then they pick a short kid with BLUE eyes. They didn't even bother fitting him with green contacts. They can spend millions of dollars on food and trailers and other useless crap, but they can't take the time or spend the money to buy a little pair of green contacts?!

It still makes me mad. Obvi. I luv tlkng in abbrevs.

To make my main point, I am skeptical about all book to movie conversions. And I'm terrified that The Hunger Games is going to not be good. And the purpose of making a book into a movie (besides making tons of money and attracting rabid fans) is to bring the book to life in the best way possible. I think that directors have forgotten the main purpose for the project. I'm afraid. And judging by the recent trailer of Breaking Dawn, I have a good reason to be afraid of these movies.

And yes I am going to still see it. That Jacob kid is cute. Also jailbait.

Why I prefer Young Adult books.

I'm not Peter Pan. I don't want to do the whole never grow up thing and be permanently stuck in puberty. I had braces and glasses...it was an interesting time.

But I digress. What I'm trying to say is, I know that I'm almost considered a grown up, and I am ready to graduate college and get a job. What I'm not willing to ever give up on is my imagination and ability to daydream. The Young Adult genre usually provides more imagination and emotion than other books trying to reach an older audience.

Why, as a 22 year old female who is getting engaged and about to graduate, am I so intrigued and excited about fantasy novels? While I am incapable of correctly going through my entire thought process about this topic, I do have a few ideas as to why I want to read fantasy YA.

1) I don't want to be a stereotypical, boring person. My life is full of stereotypes. I have blonde hair. Average height. Average weight (I hope). Member of a sorority. Average family. I'm in a long term relationship that will end in marriage, a dog, and then kids. Hopefully in that order (I'm feeling snarky). The message that I'm trying to convey in telling you all of these things is that, on paper, I'm the definition of boring. And sometimes, I feel boring. I feel bored with my life, and how I have limited myself to a few choices, instead of a world of possibilities. As I get older, I feel my charisma to do something great slipping away. Instead of wondering about my future, I find myself being alarmed about how clearly I can see the rest of my life.

That's where fantasy and YA come in. Because, in reading books about 17 year olds, I realize that I'm closer to them in age than I'm closer to 30. And I love how young that makes me feel. I also love the strange, exciting worlds that they live in, and how different they are from my own little world. I like to think about what I would do if I was Katniss from The Hunger Games, or Hermione from Harry Potter. I want to know all about these people, because in my head I can consider them an extension of myself, and through these characters, I can go on adventures. If you think that's weird and pathetic, then I feel sorry for you, because sometimes there is no greater feeling than getting really into a book.

2) I adore creativity. The amount of thought and research these authors put into their fantasy books is astounding. My journalism professor in Gaylord once told our class that the average book takes about 2-6 years to plan and write out. JK Rowling took 7 years to write Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I can appreciate that kind of effort in any book, but these YA books that have become so popular lately are spectarularly detailed, and I love it. There is a reason why so many people love these books, especially with older adults. They are magical. And the attraction is hard to resist. I am the first one to admit that I think the characters are weak in Twilight and the whole thing is getting out of hand, but I admire Stephenie Meyer for her ability to imagine and create Bella's world. It takes a special person to do something like that, and creative authors can be hard to come by sometimes. No matter if I think her characters are stupid and have insecurity problems (cough, Bella Don't-leave-me-ever -or-I'll-be-insane Swan).

3) I want an escape. Life is hard sometimes. I know that I generally have it really easy, but anybody who knows me well can easily tell when I'm overwhelmed and stressed. Especially because I normally say it over and over again. These books aren't hard to read, and they provide an enjoyable escape from the harsh monotony of everyday life. It's like going to the movies for some people. I just want to slip away from anything that is not going well in my life, so I essentially sneak away with imaginary people to get my mind off of things. I look forward to it almost every day, actually. To get a break and some type of rest from this is the best thing I can do for myself. And it's a hell of a lot cheaper than retail therapy. Which is my second favorite activity.

I know that Young Adult books can be cheesy and mindless. Sometimes I prefer them that way. I know that many people still will think that the Young Adult genre is a waste of time. But I really didn't write this post for them, or anybody else. I wrote this to remind myself why I feel so strongly about YA. Every time that I chide myself on reading a book with a stupid title (i.e "Fallen, Twilight, Beastly" etc..) I remember why I read them in the first place, and how rewarding they are for me in the end. And that beats being embarrassed to tell people that I love YA any day.

Where to Read and Drink Coffee in Norman

I'm not afraid to say it. To shout it on the rooftops. Occasionally mutter it as an angry expletive when I have to wake up early. Coffee. I need coffee. Even when it makes me jittery and anxious, I become a more productive member of society when I consume coffee.

Naturally, reading a good book and drinking coffee go hand

in hand for me. So my topic of the day will be the best places to read books and the coffee or drink that normally goes along with it. In order to fully explore the best options available in Norman, Oklahoma, I must write a list of my top 5 coffee places (from least favorite to the best).

5. Gray Owl Coffee

"That's where the dirty hipsters go." -Ana Lastra

To me, Gray Owl is a combination of things that I just don't like. I don't like the creaky chairs that make me feel fat. I don't like the patronizing looks that the barista gives me when I order hot chocolate because I'm on caffeine overload. I don't like the smell of dead feet as I attempt to drink my coffee and get into my book. And I really don't like that Gray street is a one-way street, because it's extremely annoying to have to take the long way around to park in front of it. Gray Owl might be the place to go for some people, but I prefer other, more friendly environments.

4. Crimson and Whipped Cream

Crimson and Whipped Cream, located on Campus Corner, ranks at four on my extremely prestigious list. Why? Because their hours suck. Like really suck. They close way too early on weeknights, and they aren't even open on Sunday and Monday. Sundays I get, but Mondays? Come on. That is prime coffee and carb time. They also are too quiet and empty whenever I go in there. I need a little hustle and bustle to really be able to focus and I feel on display whenever I go in. The positive things about the coffee and bakery shop is that they have delicious coffee in big coffee mugs that remind me of winter. I don't really understand how a coffee mug can make me reminisce like that, but whatever. I go with the flow. Another perk is that their location is fantastic for students and Normanites alike. And, most importantly, they have pumpkin bread that I would gladly up my spleen for. (Betcha like that image, huh?)

Now, all of these positives are wonderful, but the greatest single flaw that Crimson and Whipped Cream has is truly horrific.

They DON'T have cream cheese icing on their red velvet cupcakes.

I know, I'm upset about it too. How can you make red velvet cupcakes WITHOUT the cream cheese? It's shocking. Feel free to write a anonymous letter to them. I have.

3. Starbucks

Ah Starbucks. You make me happy when you have my favorite pumpkin spice latte. Really, you do. And you are conveniently located on every street corner imaginable. I would compare you to something else if my blog wasn't PG rated. You are moderately cheap, on even the crappiest streets, and lots of easy access.

Maybe I'll move the blog rating to PG-13.

Anyways, you make me somewhat happy. But I also don't like how you are so accessible. Why? I know you don't want to deny the world of your delicious coffee, but it's a little annoying now. Plus you always use the to-go cups. Also, the reading areas in your little generic coffee shop are mundane and cramped. The tables aren't long enough. The chairs uncomfortable. The food is frozen and stale. I need more. I deserve more. You'll do at the number 3 spot.

2. Plaid Cafe

Plaid Cafe is a new contender in the coffee shop race. It originally wasn't open past 4pm, but they have recently decided to make all normanites and students happy and now stays open until 9pm on weeknights. It's a good change.

I love it here. Yes, I'm actually blogging from Plaid right now. And I feel good about it. I just ate some delicious Chicken Pesto, and only dripped a little bit on my pants and computer. I have a nice cup of tea for this chilly day sitting dangerously close to my keyboard. The hustle and bustle factor is at a dependable 7. I belong here, because anybody really can belong here. I can either pop open a book, play on my computer or hang out with my homeskillets here. The food is divine and they now serve beer, which is an added bonus. The coffee is only decent at best, and I prefer their tea over anything. If they added more outlets I would be a happy camper.

But it helps that they offer you a free cookie for every meal. I like cookies.

1. Michelangelo's Coffee on Main Street

What? It's a real statue. The internet said so.

Michelangelo's Coffee on Main Street is my home away from home. If I calculated and actually saved how much money I spent there, I might be able to buy myself an overpriced parking permit from OU. But I digress.

It has delicious coffee, and it also doubles as a wine bar to boot. They have a selection of chocolate and live music on Tuesday nights. The tables and couches are comfortable, and I can normally find a good place to plop down and read for a few hours. They are open until 10pm most nights and they sell local art. I'm happy there. Except when I'm studying. Then I'm never usually happy.

I find myself staying there for long amounts of time, especially when I'm trying to avoid people. The only things that I would change are the prices of coffee and food and the pesky one-way street problem. But I guess I'll just have to get used to both.

So that's it. My top five places to read, drink coffee and chillax. That's not a word that I normally use. I'm just tired.

What do you think about my list? Likes? Dislikes? I'm always interested in your opinion.

Damsels in Distress: I'm done with you.

I love Disney movies. I love fairytales. I love hot boys who look good. I really love cute dresses and the long blonde hair look. But I am absolutely finished with wimpy main characters.

I'm tired of one dimensional characters who can't seem to rely on themselves. It's boring, authors. I don't want a page about how the main character looks, I want a page about how she's going to get herself out of a huge stupid love triangle-y mess that she's made. No tears. No woe is me dialogue. No crying out about how her heart can handle so much. ( I'm talking about you, Bella Swan. You disappoint me.)

And Kristen Stewart is a terrible actress. Robert Pattinson needs a cold shower. I'm tired of all of that crap. It's old, it's overdone, and too many people have complained about it by now.

And really, especially within the Young Adult genre of books, it needs to go. Too many young girls read books like Twilight or Fallen (yes I did read it, and yes I did hate every part of it.)

These books paint a unrealistic picture of what a

romantic relationship should be, versus what is real. The main character is a girl who is unsure about herself, looking for someone or something to complete her. The boy swoops in, dashingly good-looking and a little too misogynistic for my taste. He tells her that he can save her, and the girl immediately does anything for him. Fight here, fight there. She almost dies, and BOOM! He saves her, and happily ever after.

That's how all of these damn stories go.

I think it's ruining the young minds of America. Wanting to find something like Edward and Bella or Daniel and Luce have is impossible. And not just because Edward is a vampire, and Daniel is an angel. Finding that kind of relationship is impossible because they are too perfect. But 14 year old girls have no idea that they shouldn't been looking for that, because they are freshmen in high school and absolutely no clue about anything other than what to wear on picture day.

I wore the same exact shirt as my frenemy on picture day freshman year. You can see me seething with unspoken hatred at her in my picture. Also my hair was frizzy and big.

This isn't me.

Anyway, my point is, you can write a high fantasy novel about vampires or werewolves or angels and demons.

Or zombies. As long as you keep the main character as realistic as possible, it will be fine. No crazy romances ending in half breed mean babies. Write about girls that young girls can look up to.

When in doubt, read Harry Potter. (Image dedicated to Ana Lastra).

To Read, or Not to Read? And zombies.

I know. This first post seems totally cliche. Everybody knows by now that reading is clearly better for your intelligence and exercises your brain, while television turns you into a mindless

zombie.

Just kidding. But really. What if television did turn you into a zombie?

I'm not going to pretend to tell you that I know all of the facts that research has provided us over the last 30 years about watching TV vs. reading, but I do k

now why people prefer to read and how television is ruining your creativity.

You see, I love to read. A lot. I also enjoy watching television. Preferably something trashy like Cops or Dog the Bounty Hunter. But if I had to pick just one to sustain me for the rest of my life, I would give up the television in favor of books. Even though there is almost nothing better than watching Dog the bounty hunter cuss at his intended prey, mace them, and then tell him that he loves them and has a come to Jesus talk. Preferably with nachos and a coke.

But I digress. All I'm trying to say is that I do enjoy watching television, and on occasion, I think it can be productive. But nothing compares to reading. When I read, I can set up the scene in my mind. I can be the book's illustrator and I can decide what the characters look like, and how they change and grow as the book goes on. I am in charge of everything about the look and feel of the book, and I love it.

Which brings me to my next point. I know that children don't like being forced to do anything. They tend to ignore authority and rebel against advice that older people give them about liking things. But why don't schools attempt to make them understand how to love reading? Required reading doesn't cut it to me. I don't want to have to read Moby Dick and talk about the symbolism of the white whale and the evil nature of Captain Ahab. I want to read about something that I am genuinely interested in. And I know that other readers feel the same way. So while I appreciate teachers trying to force us into reading books that will increase our knowledge and that are considered classics, I think it's almost a waste of time. If we allowed students to pick books that are more suited to their tastes, I think that reading comprehension would increase in school. Especially in the younger grades.

The fact is, nobody cares about something unless they feel connected to it. Therefore, no student is going to care about reading a classic unless they are interested in it.

I think that the best option for required reading in school is more silent reading, or DEAR time. That way students can pick their own books to read, and actively engage in the story rather than sluggishly plow through it and not learn a thing.

What do you think is the best option to get students to learn? Are you worried about a zombie apocalypse? These are both extremely important questions.