So I got really excited when I saw the topic for this week’s blog...because I LOVE reading!! I was definitely one of those kids in elementary school who always had their head in a book. I just love reading all the stories, because when you are reading your imagination can take you anywhere you want to go. I started out reading the classics—Arthur, The adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley, and Junie B. Jones, etc. Those were the good days when I would sit on the coach and read for hours! Unfortunately I don’t have time for that anymore, although sometimes I wish I did. As I got older, I started to read series of books such as the Work and the Glory Series, Arianna, and many cheesy LDS romance novels by Rachel Ann Nunes and Anita Stansfield. I loved them all! However, one of my favorite books I have ever read is the Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. Before I read this, all of the books I had read were of a similar genre. The Hiding Place opened my eyes to other types of books, though, and from then on I tried to vary what I read. Currently, I love anything by Marcia Lynn McClure, though J
I think reading for pleasure is extremely important because it not only helps stimulate the imagination, but it also helps with basic literacy and reading skills. My English teacher in high school always said that the people who score the highest on reading comprehension exams are usually those who love to read. Reading increases one’s vocabulary as well as increases one’s ability to analyze and comprehend literature.
I believe that an increase in these skills can also help a person to write better. I make writing pleasurable by writing about things I am interested in. I also love to just free write in a journal or a notebook. For me, writing in a journal is a way I can relax, vent, and get out my secrets. A journal is the perfect listener!
All in all, I am SO grateful that I can read and write. They both open up a world of possibilities! Possibilities that I love to explore.
I love to read too! I'm not surprised that your teacher said that people who score the highest on reading comprehension exams are those who love to read. So now my question is, how do you force someone to love reading when they have hated it their entire lives?
ReplyDeleteI love your post! I sure do miss those days of freedom where we could just read all we wanted. We didn't have to stress about other things! Sigh! I have a secret love of cheesy romance novels so I can totally see where you are coming from! Good job! :)
ReplyDeletePretty sure I've read everything you mentioned too. Anita Stansfield was the first "Romance" author I've ever read and I literally fell in love. I was the kind of girl who read Nancy Drew just for the romantic, heroic moments when Ned would save her. And I still think Junie B. Jones is hilarious. Basically, you can rarely ever go wrong with a book. I think you proved that :)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Karen. I think even cheesy books and those that display poor grammar (June B. Jones :)) are extremely valuable; it's good to be able to escape into the world of a book. And yes, I agree that people who read a lot tend to have a better intuitive feel for language.
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