I periodically go through phases of heavy reading. My last reading fit was mostly a Dan Brown love fest. I read Angels and Demons and Da Vinci Code and Deception Point in a couple of weeks. I switched authors at that point and didn't get past page 40 of the next book. I'm pleased to say though that I am in the midst of another reading spell. I'll give you some background on how it came to pass.
Perhaps my favorite thing to do is walk around Borders or Barnes & Noble.
Before I got any further...
Borders (BGP) USED to me my favorite bookstore. Being an Ann Arbor business it was important to me to support it over its big brother (BKS). I'd grown up around Borders and loved the deals and promotions they offered. After being asked several times to join the Borders Club, I acquiesced. After I joined, every time I made a purchase- coffee, DVD, book - anything, I would get holiday rewards points. It was, oh, 5 or so percent of each purchase that would go into an account which you could use between thanksgiving and new years. Since I would spend a few dollars nearly every week just by picking up a bargain book or coffee as I perused the store, by the end of the year I had built up 50 or 60 dollars for gifts.
A gift card for my grandma, a book for my dad and maybe a few other books for Christmas giveaways.
Borders ended their holiday rewards program so you can no longer build up a Christmas fund as I have for several years. Now the Borders reward program gives you a 5 dollars off if you spend 50 dollars in a month. Not very "rewarding".
I grudgingly began to go to Barnes & Noble, I didn't like that but it was closer to my house and was still a fun place to walk around. (If this is beginning to sound like "You've Got Mail" with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks- bear with me.) After a multitude of inquiries I finally gave in and PURCHASED a Barnes and Noble membership. I got a cute little membership packet and a coupon and emails every week - much as I still do from Borders. With Barnes and Noble though, I get money off with every single purchase. I might even be paying more than I would at Borders but seeing your membership "investment" pay dividends each time I but something just gives me that warm fuzzy feeling.
Back to discussing my current fit of reading.
What may have been the final nail in the borders coffin for me was when I came across the Barnes & Noble Classics Collection. A hundred or so classic titles make up a collection that would make anyone proud. One of the reasons I enjoy bookstores so much is they make me think, reminisce and dream. A part of that is the feeling you get when you look at all the books and imagine what all the stories could be.
The process of reading a book for me begins with the perusing at the book store. Carefully considering the summary, flipping through the first chapter- this is my favorite part. I always have a smile on my face when I have made my selection and go to the counter. The actual reading, ironically enough is my least favorite part of the process. It takes time, effort, more so than even working out! However, when I am finished, having the pleasure of knowing that I completed a book and that I will be forever smarter for it is a wonderful feeling. That "ecstasy", if you will, is what pushes me back to the bookstore to get another book. It's a self perpetuating pleasure that causes these reading fits of mine.
Before I lose the optimism that comes with these reading fits I thought it appropriate for me to write down what this current fit has entailed.
A Tale of Two Cities - The Charles Dickens classic. What stuck with me from this novel was the murderous mob mentality of the French commoners. The Jaques, Madame Defarge and the guillotine. I did feel it moved a bit slow and found Dickens a touch loquacious - a peeve of mine - but a fine work worthy of its status.
The Prince - The Machiavelli "manifesto". Nothing like what I expected. A blunt, immoral manual on the conquering and maintaining of principalities. A fantastic, quick read which left me with visions of global domination matched only by Stewie Griffin.
Candide - Voltaire. The "Forrest Gump" of the 1700's. A fast moving tale of the naive Candide weaving historical fact with the shortfalls of humanity. Another quick read with some comedy mixed in.
Tonight its back to the bookstore for me for another Barnes and Noble Classic. You can bet that I'll be armed with my membership card and save 10%.
You too should check out the Classics collection here
2 comments:
Your understanding of the Borders Rewards program far surpasses mine. I just make a habit of asking "Any discounts I can use? Any reward dollars I can use?" everytime I check out. They've got a seeming perpetual 20% off one item coupon I always get and some occassional reward buck but until your post I had no idea how I earned them.
I've found that in the Borders vs. Barnes & Noble shopping challenge so much of it depends on the individual stores. When I lived in Dallas the closest B&N was much better than the Borders. Here in Tampa Borders is the better shopping choice (convenience, selection, layout, etc). My decision is based on mostly superficial reasons as the two stores seem largely interchangable. I do like the B&N imprint's classic paperback editions, despite having to be extra careful not to accidentally buy the abridged version.
Re: Tale of Two Cities - I'm a big Dickens fan but I'm in the same boat with you in thinking Tale of Two Cities moves rather slow. As far as being loquacious, that's pretty common for him as practically every Dickens book was written for serialized publication. If you really want to see pages and pages about nothing try Pickwick Papers :)
Ah Candide - I haven't read that one in years. I came about that book by a backwards route - reading Terry Southern's Candy first. A satire of a satire is a tricky thing and I'm still not entirely sure Southern pulled it off. Read more like mediocre erotica to me.
very good choices. I love borders and reading. I just recently finished the Da vinci code and Angels and Demons. I must admit that they are the most ingenious plots I've ever read in my life. Their sheer genius. I don't agree with everything he says lol but their great stories. I've only read tale of two cities of the other two you listed, which of those two was better? because i am looking for a good book.
Post a Comment