Comments on: Poll: Is Reading Something “Bad” Better Than Reading Nothing?

By: Why Do We Tell Stories?

Why Do We Tell Stories? — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 06:02:50 +0000

[...] that kid? He was the kid who would “grow up” to write The Face In The Window and every penny dreadful piece of pulp he could ever get his hands on. But he was also the kid who wanted Fern from [...]

By: How I Learned To Love Reading And You Can Too | World's Strongest Librarian

How I Learned To Love Reading And You Can Too | World's Strongest Librarian — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:02:59 +0000

[...] Maybe it was all the boring reading assignments back in high school. Maybe it was the books I was forced to read and report on every detail of plot, theme, setting… Maybe it was a lack of interest. Maybe it was [...]

By: Book Review: Chronicles Of Amber | World's Strongest Librarian

Book Review: Chronicles Of Amber | World's Strongest Librarian — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:12:52 +0000

[...] back and reading the series as an adult, I can say the storyline is rather cliché, and the allusion to immense power being wielded by the elite is thinly veiled. The premise of [...]

By: Josh Hanagarne

Josh Hanagarne — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:44:14 +0000

Brian, I had to listen to Anna Karenina on audio to get through it. I like the story but hit a wall like you did, at least in print. And I don’t care what anyone says about King–he’s given me some of the greatest enjoyments of my life.

By: Brian Heys

Brian Heys — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:49:03 +0000

Sorry I’m late!

I think any reading is good, just so long as you’re reading something. However, I would advocate only reading things you enjoy (unless you are required to read something you don’t). Life is too short, and there are too many other books out there that you haven’t discovered.

Having said that, I’m currently reading Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina. I loved the title, loved the premise, and loved the opening paragraph, so I just had to buy it … but I’m starting to struggle now, about 50000 words in. I’m sticking with it for a while, because I believe it’s the translator’s voice I don’t like, not Tolstoy’s story. I only hope I don’t drop out at 100k!

For the record, I don’t get why people slate Stephen King, other than for the fact he’s successful. Some of his descriptions can be breathtaking and beautiful. I would argue that some of his work should be classed as literary, particularly some of his short stories.