day 7 - "do you read? what are your favorite books?"

i honestly think our school discourages reading.

evidence:

1. silent reading time: has always been traumatizing for me. either we have to read books off some dumb list, my stomach screeches (and the world slowly ends), or i can't focus for that amount of time/could be doing other shit.

2. when i do read in class, it's during a time that's reserved for work. homework? classwork? i don't give a shit. i'm bored as fucking hell and want to read these pages. these few pages. but no. first, ten different people have to inquire what exactly it is i'm reading. (note: in the beginning of the year i thought book covers would discourage this, but it actually has the opposite effect on my dear classmates.)

3. then, some teachers have the nerve to tell you what you can and cannot do when they're not lecturing. this really gets me, really festers. i feel like as a junior with well-enough grades, i can afford to read whenever the fuck i want to. and it's not like i'm taking out my iPhone to play games or something; it's educational shit (i'm looking at you, mr. b, who forced me to read my book in the back room..?!)


okay. so yes. i read. not as much as some people, but i consider myself a semi-active reader. if the book is good, it not only cures boredom in the classroom, but actually works well outside of the school setting as a tool to avoid homework and as a break from television commercials. and like any sane person, if i like a book i become deeply emotionally attached to whatever it is i just read until i move on to the next one.

i remember maybe a year ago i blogged about speak, which i fuckin loved, but don't cherish that much anymore. i could say harry potter,  but for me that's not reading. it's full on entertainment: it has memories attached to it and sentimental qualities and remains to be what i consider a portion of my ever-logical personality. i also want to say the help, but i feel like i read that too recently for it to be a lasting characteristic of myself (my favorite book.) er.......i really liked the great gatsby. i thought the characters were amazing and that the setting was transformative of my english experience for that month or so.

i don't know. i reeeally don't.