March 29, 2024

Adventures of reading

I enjoy a good book. I used to be quite an avid reader in my teens and early adulthood. In grade school, I had far too much energy to cozy down and read a whole novel. I would start several but never quite finish them to the end.

Any book assigned for school work I would finish but any pleasure book would lose my interest and get shelved forever. I’m fairly certain there are still books in my parents house that continue to have my bookmark in them, indicating just how far I made it in the book before moving on. I’m also a little shocked they haven’t donated those by now, but I digress.

I believe it was during my freshman year of high school when my attitude shifted. I watched a made-for-television movie called “Rose Hill.” During the credits, I noticed it was based on a novel by Julie Garwood titled “For the Roses.” For whatever reason, I decided I had to read the book. I did just that and it remains one of my favorites. That was all it took for the flip to switch. From then on, I always seemed to have a novel in tow wherever I went.

The love of reading only grew from there. I migrated toward romance or murder mystery novels. They are nothing alike, of course, but those were the two genres I found most interesting. I also delve into some of the classics, with “Pride and Prejudice” topping my list. I’ve also jumped on the bandwagon and enjoyed the popular novels of the time with “Harry Potter” being head-and-shoulders above the rest, in my opinion. I love that series.

My reading time has slowly dwindled since I graduated college. My job has had a little to do with that. At times, I struggle to sit down and concentrate on a book after spending most of my day reading at my computer.

It’s a different type of reading, but I find my eyes need a break. Another factor is my life seems to be filled up with other activities and responsibilities. I know I should make more time for reading, but I also like to spend time with my family and friends doing other things I enjoy.

That’s when I found audiobooks. I used to think listening to books was pointless. Half the fun was losing yourself in print and turning the page to find out what happens next. However once I gave it a try, I realized you can enjoy a novel just as much with a good narrator as you can when you create the voices in your own mind.

I have built quite a digital library of books and made use of the Newton Public Library’s digital library app to enjoy novel after novel. Most people workout listening to music, but not me. I cue up my book of choice and lose myself in the story as I exercise.

Since this whole reading adventure began with Julie Garwood, I have made a point to read all of her books in print. It’s a standing Christmas/birthday gift from my sister whenever she releases her next novel.

In my reading slump, I let her latest novel “Wired” collect dust for two years before finally cracking the binding. It was a treat to enjoy a printed novel after neglecting the art for so long. I finished the book in less than 24 hours. While not one of my favorite novels of hers, I still enjoyed reading it cover to cover. It reintroduced me to her Buchanan family characters and their friends.

I’m going to try my best to read at least one print novel each year. It seems like a small goal, but I have to start somewhere. Reading really is an adventure and I can’t wait for the next story.

Contact Pam Pratt at pampratt@newtondailynews.com