Books and time
      by Jay


       Wednesday, July 2, 2003 - 4:09 PM 

 
     First, I would like to let it be known that I don't read too much.  It's not that I don't like to read or that I can't read, I just can't find enough time to sit down and engross myself in a book.  I actually enjoy reading, especially when I have a good book that I am seriously interested in, but like all of my other hobbies reading just never can fit in my schedule.  Most of my friends (and fellow ranters) read enough books to cover my lack of reading and they like to inform me of the excellent stories I am missing when I work on my other hobbies.  In fact, due to their numerous recommendations I now have a "must-read" list of like 100 books, something that I will probably never accomplish in my lifetime.  With that said let me get to the meat of my story:  I just returned from a week-long vacation in California (read about it in my Journal) where I was left without the benefit of contact with my precious little sibling (AKA my computer, not my sister).
     I never realized how much my computer ruled me until I was exiled from it for a full week.  Now don't get the wrong idea here, I don't waste my life on my computer doing pointless things. Instead I am productive by creating comics, paintings, webpages, journals, and enlightening myself with current events and other knowledgeable things.  Of course when that gets old I connect to Battle.net and slaughter people just to hear their screams of terror, but that's beside the point.
    Without my precious computer I was forced to find new ways of entertaining myself while sitting alone in my cabin at Lake Tahoe.  Which of course meant one thing: I read.  And boy did I ever read! During a four day period I read nearly 2000 pages (3 full books), which comes down to about 33 hours of solid reading during that time. Yea, yea, I know most of you can do that in your sleep and reading a 500 page book in less than a day is nothing special to you.  But this is me we're talking about. It's taken me nearly seven years just to read through book ten of the Wheel of Time series (although I started over a year ago), so reading three large books (without pictures might I add) in four days is quite a feat for me.  Heck, I started reading The Lord of the Rings two years ago and still haven't come close to finishing that.
    One of the reasons I read so much in so little time was not because I was bored with nothing to do, but because I have been doing "reading calisthenics" for the past year. As I previously mentioned, over the past year I've read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series from book 1 to 10 (plus a history companion too).  Anyone who has read those books knows that there are tough page turners.  Unlike the other few books I've read, it takes forever for anything to happen in Robert Jordan's books. He'll foreshadow and lead into a conflict over a course of 1000 pages before finally giving you the climax and ultimate battle.   In fact, nearly 2000 pages ago (or two books ago) the characters were planning an attack against another army, and now 2000 pages later they are starting that battle.  I'm telling you, these books are detailed and long, but they are good. The battle at the end of each book make the entire foreshadowing process worth it.  I am totally in love with each of the climatic battles in almost every book. With so much detail on every page and so little action happening, it takes alot of patience and dedication to read the Wheel of Time. 
  When runners want to improve their strength and speed they will add 5-10 lb weights to their legs.  With the added weight it takes more effort and dedication to run their usual distances.  But when the runners take the weights off, suddenly the task of running is easier because they have been training under harder circumstances.  This is why I call the act of reading Robert Jordan books  "reading calisthenics".  Reading them is like reading a normal book with 10 lb weights tied to your eyes. Once you finish them, reading every other book is a breeze. I almost feel like I could read Tolstoy in a single sitting now. 
   Finally, I must recommend you read "The DaVinci Code" by Dan Brown. It is extremely informative and highly addictive. After reading it not only will you be entertained, but you will have learned so many facts about everything that you will... um... know a bunch of useless (but cool) facts.  Plus you will receive a little art history with your entertainment, which is never bad. I have learned more art history from this book then I have from three semesters of A.H. classes.  If you like solving riddles and reading intriguing mysteries then you will love this book. It will open your mind to so many things that you never knew existed.  My only problem with it was every chapter ended in a cliffhanger which made it impossible to take a break from reading at the end of a chapter.  If you have to go somewhere or don't have time to read anymore, then stop reading in the middle of chapter because if you read to the end of the chapter you will be forced to read the next one too.  Afterwards, if you want to try your own luck at figuring out DaVinci codes then go to http://www.davincicode.com to test your brain power and sleuthing abilities. Just think, if a person who never reads (like me) can sit down and enjoy this book then think what avid readers like you will do with it.  
  And on that note I am off to the movies to enjoy a new Terminator.

     - J, who will never read again