Following Mr. King’s Advice

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

When I took part in a poetry class at the local University Extension back in April and May, the instructor told us a number of times to read poetry more often than write poetry. For the reason that teacher and Stephen King stated – having the tools to write – I decided to make it a mission for the summer to read books. I mentioned it in a March 18^th post about being “Somewhat Busy.” At that point, I had read two books and was beginning to keep a list of reading recommendations.

“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.”
― Voltaire

The reading recommendations have turned into a long list and I’ve managed to get through nine books in three months, in between the dancing, working, biking and friendships. It would have been ten, except that the binding on Leonardo DaVinci’s large biographical tale came loose and the pages started to fall out. The lady at the library said that can happen with the larger books, but I was bummed that I had only made it a third of the way through this interesting man’s story. I will get back to Leo at some point…when the book is replaced and I’m ready to dig back in.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies… The man who never reads lives only one.”
― George R.R. Martin

I’ve lived several lives through the summer: As a woman planting a garden, a man wandering in the cold, a historical figure on a mission, a Russian spy, an artist who had a difficult time finishing his work, a savior to the world’s sick children and a detective solving a murder. I had been living one life before this, one that was devoid of these characters and the moments and storylines that leave me wanting more.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” 
― Dr. Seuss

I am anxious to know more, to read more. To not be embarrassed that I didn’t know the library for so many years. I have a card now, a card that will teach me about people, places and events, and send me all over the world and out into space. When I am in the library, I feel like a kid in a candy store. There is so much knowledge surrounding me that I don’t know where to go next or what flavor to choose. It all looks so yummy.

“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.”
― Joseph Brodsky

I try not to have regrets, but not reading more books over the years has become one. What was I doing with myself? Living a life, I suppose, but I think of the many times I sat in front of the T.V. or spent hours on the computer when I could have been reading.

So, I am attempting to erase those regrets. The summer reading project has become a continuing reading project. I’m not giving up now, even though it has cut into my writing/blogging time and the gym time and the sitting-in-front-of-the-TV time.

I’m enjoying this new chapter of time well-spent in following the teacher’s and Mr. King’s advice.

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This post has been brought to you by the library and a plethora of books and Linda Hill’s One-Liner Wednesday. If you are wondering what One-Liner Wednesday is all about, CLICK HERE.

Linda G. Hill is the Queen of One-Liners and rules over her kingdom of followers. Check out today’s post and commit yourself to join the Queen’s one-liner army because there’s no fighting or blood, only comradery and fun with words.