Fin
I have closed the book. I am done reading Harry Potter. I will not spoil it for anyone, so feel safe to continue reading. But I’m glad it is tied up in a nice little bow — with a few ends hanging out for fun and debate.
But I am done now. Now I can talk to Prince again. He can gloat about having had it all figured out on page 12 too. He’s horrible like that. He really gets to the point he can SEE the plot line twist coming. Most times he’s right — which just adds to the annoyance factor. But I’ve finally figured it out, how he is able to do it and I can not.
No, the answer is NOT that he is that much smarter, brighter or a better reader than me (Hush, Prince.) I think it in our approach to books, movies, and even TV. Now, I have to sidetrack to say that while we watch a ton of TV together (liking most of the same shows), we had read exactly SEVEN books in common. Seven. All of them in one series. Yes, we couldn’t have a wider range of taste in books (or movies for that matter.)
I read to escape. I read light fluff pieces that don’t amount to serious literature, but fill a certain void. I don’t like the people in my books to die. I want my people to live happy lives. I like to see them make dumb mistakes and then move on and grow. I want the happily ever after. Prince (and since we’ve NEVER actually spoken about this, I’m totally guessing here — which may not be the best thing, since I freely admit I’m not good at it) reads to figure stuff out. He reads non-fiction, ’nuff said. He likes the technical bits because I totally believe that he sees a puzzle to be solved in every page. My books would not present any challenge to him, as there is no doubt the outcome from the beginning. His books are HARD to me, they are work and I’ve established I don’t read for work.
Now, I can hear Prince say that he reads to escape too. That he doesn’t see his reading as work. And I’m sure he doesn’t. I think much like I do a Suduko (or 40) he gets the thrill out of solving the problems of it. Hence he is much more likely to find a plot hole or a problem in a timeline than I am. I prefer to suspend all disbelief in my reading. I walk into a book and tell the author to carry me where he or she wants to take me. I take on face value the pieces of the story as they unfold. While I want to know more, I rarely stop to think it through. I never find plot holes (unless the writing is completely horrible). I may see the ending coming, but I tend to tuck that piece of information aside and enjoy the ride. This may totally explain why I read books that have happy endings — because if there’s a twist at the end and everyone dies, I can’t really handle it.
So where did this long and winding road lead us? It leads us to the point, I am done with what shocks me the most. A book that both Prince and I enjoyed — for completely different reasons.
And the ultimate question, will Duke be a reader like Prince, with the needs to know how it works, to sort through the puzzles, to follow the breadcrumbs an author leaves in hopes of unlocking the ending well before the book ends? Or will he ride the waves, trust the author to bring him safely to the other side? And finally, will we EVER get to stop reading Curious George?
July 26th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Interesting question you pose, about Duke and what kind of reader he will be. I think it’s more important that he LIKE to read, and if he sees his parents reading, there is a greater chance of him enjoying it. My mom is a voracious reader, but our taste in books is vastly different. She likes mysteries, I like historical fiction and Stephen King. My grandmother was librarian, by education and by trade. I come by my love of books honestly. So, even if your bored to tears by Curious George, nurture his interest in reading. It makes the rest of life a little easier.