Reflection on Reading

Hello!

In this post I’m going to reflect on reading habits. First, I will analyse the images that we were shown on the course platform, and then I will draw from my own experiences as a reader for further reflection.

Looking at the images, I can see in the first photo a group of people reading all sorts of publications in a very cosy library, which makes me believe they chose them, as it also occurs with readers in images 3 and 5.

Reader 3 is skimming what could be a website on a tablet, whereas reader 4 is avidly devouring a newspaper in a totally unexpected and probably uncomfortable setting – which makes me think his motivation is strong!

On the other hand, readers in photos 2 and 4 are going through the pages of educational books whose reading was most likely imposed. The difference, however, lies in the fact that in photo 2, the act of reading is a social activity, for there is a grandmother helping the child, whereas in photo 4, despite being part of a group, these children are carrying out the task individually.

When I look at the two last photos I mentioned, I get the feeling that the child in the second image will always remember reading as a pleasant habit linked to love and comfort. The students in image 4, however, will associate literature with a tedious activity and will not become good readers as adults.

As for me, I can relate to all the photos, because I’ve experienced reading in all these contexts, especially at home and at uncomfortable places. Even though I don’t use libraries too often anymore, some of my happiest reading memories and best discoveries have taken place at a University library. Had mine been as nice as the one in the image, I would have been in heaven!

I have to say too that I don’t recall anybody reading aloud to me, but I’ve always seen my sister and my grandmother with a book in their hands, which has definitely shaped my identity as a consumer of literature.

And what identity is it? First of all, what I enjoy reading most is novels, both in English and Spanish. I occasionally read in French too, but I’m more into English literature. I make my choices based on genre, the issues the book deals with and the style of the author. In these cases, I do not have a preference regarding format. As for the format -paper or e-book -I just choose what is more convenient at that particular time. Sometimes I go to a bookshop or a library and I start browsing. Then, I decide to give a chance to a particular book following other criteria like, for example, the cover or the title.

My favourite time of the day for reading is definitely before going to bed, but I also “binge read” on weekends and on planes, for it is one of my preferred pastimes.

In addition to fiction, I also read newspapers, social media and websites in English and Spanish, and from time to time I delve into some poetry and biographies, but, to be honest, I used to read more of those when I was younger.  And you? I would really like to know.

As you can see, reading is a subject I’m passionate about. That’s why I’ve written so much, although I hope I haven’t been boring. I promise to keep it short next time!

Image source: Pixabay