I’ve always loved to read. When I was a young girl reading was the first thing I did when I woke up in the morning and the last thing I did before I fell asleep at night. I always have a book by my bed. In fact I have a stack of books because I never want to be caught without one. I read almost every genre: non-fiction, children’s books, short stories, biographies, novels. I’ve just finished the four part Neopolitan novels by Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend. Now I’m reading On Writing by Eudora Welty.
But I don’t read just anything. I pick critically acclaimed books and award winning books. I chose books with merit. Reading is an investment of time, and I want my time to be well-spent. I want the experience of reading to elevate me in some way, or transport me. The book must provide something to intrigue me, or offer things I can learn from.
Not only does a well-written book provide a wonderful reading experience, it is also an example of “how it’s done”. The craft of writing is a skill that comes slowly and over a lifetime. It requires years of practice, of observation, and study. Reading good books is a delightful way to study the beauty of a well-crafted sentence, different ways of telling a story, style, and structure. You can immerse yourself in the intricacies, not only of the story, but of the craft. You can be inspired.
And hopefully some of it wears off.