Blogging on a train.

I want to start by saying that this blog was written (is being written) on a train heading for buffalo. I have seven hours to spend so here's my stream of conciousness. I was just thinking that to retain the interest of non habitual readers a book needs to use descriptive language and maintain a constantly interesting plot. I think a book filled with various short stories does just that. If the the reader doesn't like the story he's reading he can literally skip it and begin reading the next one which might be written in a more interesting style or by a more preferred author. I happen to own a book just like this, 50 short science fiction stories. I suppose this isn't the best example because all of the included stories fit into the science fiction genre, but that's what I've got. When I pick it up I usually flip to around the center or end of the book and begin reading one of the two-six page long stories, there's no need to remember a long running plot. It's almost like browsing the internet, there's a sense of instant gratification and freedom which many book lovers would probably be opposed to, but who cares. I find it enjoyable. There are some obvious drawbacks however, if I find an excellent story I feel a sense of dissappointment when it ends because I wanted it to continue. On the other hand some of the concepts that the short stories revolve around could probably only be entertaining in a smaller story anyway. The author would probably run out of things to say if asked to continue, but because it is so entertaining to read I almost don't want to believe that. Anyway I think a book filled with short stories has more potential to impact the reader more, because he's most likely going to find one of the stories to be excellent and very enjoyable. Like a mixed bag of jelly beans, the lady next to me woke up, ate some grapes and fell asleep again. I'll edit this later when I get a computer because it's really not convenient to type blogs on a phone, byebye. ----I've got access to a computer now, but I don't think I'll edit any of what I wrote because this blog isn't going to be in essay format and its current state reflects how distracted I was feeling on the train. I kinda like that.

ELEMENTARY / MIDDLE SCHOOL

As I grew older, reading became very important to me. I particularly enjoyed the Red Wall Series when I was 10 or 11 years old. This series was about a made up world with different warring factions. The author would make it a point to begin each book as a disjointed assortment of stories and vignettes, then gradually bring them together to form a grand plot. The animal characters were vivid and unique, each faction had been given life by the author in a different way with separate beliefs and attributes. It was written in the style of folk tales, with funny moments and an underlying moral message, usually something positive such as the importance of sharing and kindness.

I think books are important in the process of developing opinions and character, because they often pose tough questions and situations that wouldn't normally be presented otherwise. Even if one doesn't realize it, reading a good book which captivates and inspires will shape one's mindset and maybe determine future choices. Whether this is a good or a bad thing depends on the reader.

I don't think I'd be the same person if I hadn't been raised reading all sorts of books. I remember not being able to stop thinking about some of them and being excited to pick them back up and continue reading. One series in particular I read recently which had the same effect on me that story books had in kindergarten was Cesare. This was a book about the rise and fall of the Roman emperor Caesar and the enjoyment I got from reading it proves that once a love for books and reading is aquired, it's most likely going to remain with you for ever.

MY LITERACY AS A CHILD

As a child I greatly enjoyed reading, I remember sitting on my Mom's lap in Italy following along to "La Pimpa". I remember seeing the white dog with red spots and being engrossed in the story. Eventually I was able to read by myself! Italian writing is very simple for one who already speaks the language because it is written almost exactly as it is spoken. I was soon able to read more advanced literature and collected a huge bookshelf of fiction and fun books about space as well as many other things. This interest in reading has stuck with me for my entire life and I still enjoy going through that bookshelf whenever we go back to Italy.

As a small child, I was also exposed to some children’s poetry. One of my favorite poems was " Where The Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein. The poem is about a place where things are better than they are here. The author describes this place vividly, "And there the grass grows soft and white", "And there the sun burns crimson bright', "And there the moon-bird rests from his flight". It connected to me because as a child, I wanted for there to be a place where the sidewalk ends, and where I could free myself from the regular cycle of everyday life.

I believe that everyone needs to have some sort of childlike dream in them, even as grown-ups, and that a simple, youthful imagination is liberating.