As promised, today I’m doubling up on random brainfood:

“A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”
- William Styron

This is exactly how I have felt about reading my entire life!  Growing up, the one thing I did the most was read books.  My library card was my prized possession.  I would take the bus downtown, because the main library had the biggest selection, and often come home with 10 or more books to read within the three week limit.  Of course, many times I was done with my stack of books within one week and had to go back for more. 

What I love about books and reading is the opportunity to enter a different world for a while.  To completely lose myself and travel, fight, love, and generally have grand adventures.  Quite a few times, I would start a book and read and read until I finished it, not noticing time passing.  When I would finally look up, it was the middle of the night. This is why I want to be a writer, a storyteller:  maybe I can give some other girl that same pleasure, and be a part of her the way some of my favorite books are a part of my life. 

On a lighter note, a quote from a book of one of my absolute favorite authors:

“There was the kind of wretched pause you get when two people aren’t going to understand each other’s point of view at all. – Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith

First, I have to say that I just love Terry Pratchett’s novels.  They make me laugh in a way that very few things and no person as yet are able to.  I am a lifelong, loyal fan. 

About the quote:  I have definitely had these types of conversations more often that even I probably know.  Sometimes it begins when someone says something about a slightly controversial topic, perhaps to get a reaction from his or her audience.  My old self would take the bait, because I like to debate, after a fashion.  After a couple of rounds, it becomes obvious that the person is not thinking about what she (or he) is hearing and is either repeating the same rhetoric or disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing.  Examples of this are any heated debate on abortion rights or those between an atheist and a Christian. My new policy is one of non-engagement.  Before entering any debate, I always evaluate the situation to determine whether the other person is coming from a place of wanting to discuss differences and perhaps find commonalities vs a person whose tactic is “I’m going to beat you over the head with my ideas until you cry.” Unfortunately, I’ve come across so many people of the latter type, that I’m now wary of everyone.  Ah well, it makes for a much less frustrating life.