Why Read Books? Books to me has always been fun, you can dream up worlds reading novels, and make a your own collection on a bookshelf. It is always fun for me to stroll through a book store or library. The other part is book signings and events like the L.A. Book Fair. “I’m mad about books, can’t get my fill” as Frank Sinatra sang. We know recently that reading is a problem. The National University has found in 2026 54% (130 million), age 16-74 read below a sixth grade level. This is across economic and ethnic groups. Of course, there is always some form of reading. Still, what about reading on electronic devices on cellphones. The effects of doing so is found in a 2022 Scientific Reports article (which I read online by the way), “Reading on a smartphone affects sigh generation, brain activity, and comprehension.”
The introduction stated, “In recent years, reading and studying on electronic devices has become more common.” The result is that the findings have shown, “the use of digital devices lowers cognitive performance.” I do flip through articles on my phone, but also read stories at length. This is a quick way to catch news items and entertainment interviews or stories that I might direct to online pages or Geek Truth stories. I have written a number of book reviews, the “Choose Your Own Adventure: At the Mountains of Madness Review!” has 73 readers. The 2025 book was by Jacopo della Quercia. It is a great primer before reading H.P. Lovecraft. Also, Afia in the Land of Wonders (2025), by Mia Araujo which was the first article for this year. Of course, my interest in the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms show was from reading George RR Martin’s novella. It had been some time since I read it in the Legends (1998) anthology so I got a new copy and started reading it.
This is the best part of reading, I get to create the Westeros of Dunk and Egg, I have specific pictures from reading apart from the Gary Gianni illustrations. This is the same with Game of Thrones, I had finished the George RR Martin book and I was excited that there was an Iron Throne photo op at Hollywood and Highland in 2011. This was before the show aired on HBO. Only one family was interested in a photo op with a throne made of swords! No one else was interested in the photo op, but this opportunity was from reading the book. Martin said the throne of the books is several times what is in the show, it is not hundred of swords, the throne is made of thousands of swords. All piled recklessly almost to the ceiling. I think the joust that had every Westeros citizen, crowds filling up King's Landing, and on the show, it was about 50 people.
The real disappointment to me was the Red Comet that was in A Clash of Kings (1998). It slowly went across the planet so every person interpreted it for their own culture and purpose. In the show, it flashed by in one episode, and there was no reflection by characters. Your imagination exceeds any production budget on film or on television. I think specifically of reading Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan of the Apes (1914). Highly recommended. You may have all of the “Me Tarzan” impressions and what you think the story may be about, but the actual book itself is another world. He rescues French officer, Paul D’Arnot, who helps teach him how to act in the human world. Tarzan goes to Wisconsin to find Jane. All of this is left out of the adaptations. I have a specific image of Tarzan for my imagination; lean with long limbs, a British aristocratic face, but also slightly muscular, and long hair. Alexander Skarsgaard in The Legend of Tarzan (2016) is maybe 75% close to what imagine from the Tarzan of the books. It is great to build the world in your own imagination from an author’s work.
The Iron Throne from Game of Thrones, Hollywood and Highland, 2011, author’s photo.
I think making a library of books is like a scrapbook of your favorite memories which you can experience again and again opening the pages. The other part is that reading is your time and giving moments to yourself. I usually spend time reading by taking a walk, careful of my surroundings, and just getting exercise and getting my imagination a work out. I always bring a book to appointments and places like theme parks. Instead of grumbling how a line or wait is long, I take out a book and start reading, the time passes and I’m at the front of the queue. Another part is increasing your literacy and vocabulary. I had an Uber driver who wanted to read, basically teaching himself since English was not his first language, very admirable. I gave tips on taking time, not on a timer to get to some books, choice is very important.
How about audio books? Listening is one of the modes for learning. I think for reading comprehension, it is best to read text, though I do like audio books for narration, but it sets the pacing, gives pronunciation (which would best with bimodal reading, listening to an audio book while following with a text), and character's voices, and an audio cast is great. Janet Varley is quoted in the article "Audiobooks and Literacy" (2020) by Emily Best, “By taking command of a physical book, readers do have an advantage over listeners. The limitation on the listeners’s ability to flip back to a particular passage creates a corresponding limitation on which books work in audio format.” In other words, the power of reading books is going back to a favorite page, going back and checking something, and re-read a description that might have confused you as a reader. So if audio books is your favorite, good, but hopefully you can also read the novel. I read Children of Blood and Bone (2018) by Tomi Adeyemi and then listened to the excellent audio book with narration by Bahni Turpin.
We also know that reading is the best way to relax and get rid of stress because it is quiet time and engaging with a book. The MHFA England 2018 article (also read online), “Why reading can be good for mental health” noted, “Research by Dr. David Lewis showed that reading as little as six minutes a day can reduce stress levels by 60% by reducing your heart rate, easing muscle tension and altering your state of mind. That same study showed that reading was better at reducing stress than music, drinking a cup of tea, going for a walk and playing video games.” There is no need to jump into the classics, though I would recommend Frankenstein by Mary Shelley if there is interest from the Guillemo del Toro movie. So unwind with a good book, you can get recommendations here, and I will ask people at conventions for any favorite books. Plus, list any favorite books of your own in the comments!, I like hearing any reading recommendations! Reading books is like the key to the cave door, yes SNL reference, there are worlds awaiting you!
#NationalUniversity, #ScientificReports, #ChooseYourOwnAdventure, #AtTheMountainsOfMadness, #JacopodellaQuercio, #HPLovecraft, #AfiaInTheLandOfWonders, #MiaArajou, #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms, #GeorgeRRMartin, #GaryGianni, #GameOfThrones, #AClashOfKings, #TarzanOfTheApes
#EdgarRiceBurroughs, #TheLegendOfTarzan, #AlexanderSkarsgaard, #ChildrenOfBloodAndBone, #TomiAdeyemi, #BahniTurpin, #JanetVarley, #AudiobooksAndLiteracy, #EmilyBest, #MHFAEngland, #DrDavidLewis
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