on books and reading
I once wrote a paper (an essay for university) that touched on why books are special. I argued that because the most important and most common books in the Middle Ages were sacred ones, that as a culture we have learned to revere all books. Books contain knowledge, messages, and are timeless. I think this is why book-burning is such a powerful and terrible act- the destruction of something special.
I love the hum of a big library- all those books, calling out to be read. I love teaching children how to read and to love books. Cuddling up with a good book is one of life’s pleasures. Reading builds brain-muscle: knowledge and imagination. Reading enhances life.
Of course, there are other kinds of reading that you can do: newspapers, cereal packets, web pages, movie subtitles. These are all exercises in processing the printed letters and words into meaning. However, I find that they don’t quite compare with a book. I wonder why that is? Is it the comparison of screen printed page? Obviously reading street signs and cereal boxes rarely reaches the narrative depth of some Jane Austen or Tolkein or even JK Rowling, but why does the web not have that kind of emotional grab? Is it inherent in the medium or is it simply because I’ve been brought up to love books?
Where does something like Project Gutenberg fit in? It specializes in books on the screen- books distributed in an electronic format. Sure, you can print a book out, but I think the intended/expected use is to read it on some kind of screen. I have tried reading books from a screen, but reading a paper book seems to be a more enjoyable experience.
What makes me sad is that I have not read a real book for enjoyment for a long time. When I was small, I expected to read every book in our school library. This wasn’t a goal, I just expected to be able to do it. It seems pretty silly now, when I have so many things on I don’t have time to read. Or at least I tell myself I don’t have time to read. Something that perhaps stops me from reading is the compulsion to finish a book in one sitting. This, obviously, requires large blocks of time that isn’t helpful when assignments need finished, chores completed and reasonable bed times to be kept. I might as well not pick up the book, if I have to put it down again unfinished, I would think.
I’ve come to the realization that you are never too old (or too young) to read. Maybe, tomorrow, I might go to a library. What about you? Are books something special? Do you enjoy reading the screen as much as you enjoy reading the page? As always, leave a comment in the box- I love reading them.
COMMENTS
java sudoku
As I am going to be re-entering the world of coding various pieces of programs for different “pracs” or “labs” for the continuation of my university studies next year, I have decided to get my brain back into a programming mindset by programming a simple sudoku game. It isn’t a sudoku solver or creator, just an interface by which you can solve sudoku puzzles on your computer.
So far, it’s got a command line ASCII GUI and just tonight I finished the methods which check the legality of a move. The next big step will be getting user input from the console, and then it will be playable.
After this, I want to improve it by being able to vary what sudoku puzzle is used- at the moment the puzzle is hard coded into the array. I would like to experiment with reading and writing to text files for this. Another goal is to use a Swing GUI: I have made these before, but never in conjuction with any actual coding logic.
It’s interesting to think object oriented-ly as I write code for fun, as before I started university I didn’t really understand the concept of objects and how that fit with writing code.
Once it’s playable I will share the source code here so others can hopefully use it.
COMMENTS
musings on writing
What happens when there is nothing to write about? Well, you don’t write anything. It seems to be a bit of a ripple affect- the more you don’t write, the more there is a lack of ideas and less writing happens. (Of course when you are cranking out essays all sorts of ideas for blog posts spring into your head!) If half ideas aren’t developed and blog posts are not written, a blog loses momentum.
Of course, readership goes down. This makes it hard to use suggestion widgets such as skribit as there aren’t many people around to use them. Finding something interesting to write about gets harder. Finding the time to commit to writing is tough. The ink well seems to have dried up. Writing stops.
Hope is not lost, however. The desire to write is an itch- it comes back and grabs you.
When you have a desire to write, to lay out your thoughts in a clear manner to share with others, the challenges of knowing what to write about can be beaten. Writing can flow again. As you write, more ideas may come and momentum gained.
What does this mean for this blog? I’ve come to accept that it’s ok to not be writing, just as it is ok to write. I love the mental work out that writing is, I like developing my skills as a writer, sharing ideas is something that makes me happy. This is why I blog. I will blog even though it’s just me reading. I will blog even though my family and friends are reading! Though quiet will come at times to this website, someday activity will return. I have a website, I will use it. I will write.