My Reading Habit


Time and again my sister reminds me not to be too compulsive in buying books. "You can buy, " she says. "But you have to strike a happy medium." 

 The books I buy are mostly novels. Travelogues come in a close second. Third are biographies.

Frankly speaking, I don't quite like reading. Brisk walking and swimming do a better job in relaxing my mind. Subjecting myself to many hours of reading equates with a prolonged state of being sedentary, which is a health hazard.

Somehow, in the name of my profession, I prioritize reading.  Without reading, I will end up like many teachers who hopelessly bank on commercially-churned out reference books for the teaching of writing. Regular reading makes me imaginative and strong in vocabulary, thus giving me an edge in teaching descriptive writing.

At bookstores, I lay my hands on any genres of books, and wouldn't mind paying hundreds for them. For one thing, they are laden with the information I need for my teaching. For the other, they improve my proficiency and widen my mental horizons. A slow reader by nature, I find it difficult to finish a book in one sitting. I normally read between meals, watching television and grading my students' essays. At the end of my reading, I will have a rich sense of accomplishment. I record all the newly picked up words, idioms and descriptions in a vocabulary book, and go through them from time to time, for they breathe life to my writing, a passion I embraced four years ago.

Yesterday, I made a rough estimate of how much I had spent on books over the period of three years. I was gobsmacked to find that I had spent an astounding sum of six thousands. Maybe I have gone overboard, but the advantages I have reaped from reading are endless. My conscience is gnawing at me. Wouldn't it be better if I gave the money to my parents? With six thousands, I could actually give them treats to many things. Maybe it's high time for me to really reconsider my spending habits.

Now, here comes the Hobson's choice. Do you love reading? I don't really have a choice. I neither love nor hate it, but out of habit, I  say yes. Without reading, I can't survive as a teacher.

Comments

suituapui said…
My girl does not spend much, mostly on books. Gosh!!! So many, filled up all the shelves, have to squeeze in here, there and everywhere.
March 16, 2015 at 11:24 PM
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