Go find a reader to hug.

In the next few days a friend of mine is leaving town. This is a good thing for him, as he is starting something afresh. I am happy for him. But I am also bummed, because, in addition to being a very nice guy, he is also a reader. It's always been a pleasure for me and Mr. CR to go out with him, because he reads nonfiction (for me) and science fiction and fantasy (for Mr. CR). He also worked in a bookstore, so we got to hear all the trends the bookstore workers wished would die. ("We all thought this Twilight thing would be over by now, but it just keeps going on!")

So: my only suggestion for today is that you appreciate and cultivate your reader friends. They're becoming increasingly rare, but when you find one, never let them go. And if you see any of your reader friends today, give them a hug. Then ask them to rip into James Patterson or Thomas Friedman with you.

And, a small aside to my friend: You will be much missed. "What falls away is always. And is near. I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow. I learn by going where I have to go." (Theodore Roethke, "Words for the Wind."*)

*I know, Kurt Vonnegut quoted it first, and better. It's still a fabo poem.

Comments

[Donna]

My reader friend is a much more ambitious reader than I having completed "Ulysses" and "Paradise Lost" in 2009. I've been reading Inspector Lynley mysteries as well as my usual nonfiction. We both belong to book groups which usually read completely different books. It is the rare occasion that we've read the same book, though we're constantly insisting that the other should read the book we've just completed. Makes for some interesting discussions. We've been married 21 years.

[Rachael]

I still miss the reader who lived across the hall from me in NYC. He loved books I would never dream of loving (Joyce) and could articulate why quite poetically. Good readers are good people. Nuff said.

[Venta]

There are lots of reasons why I won't be hugging my colleagues at work today, but I am hugging them in spirit for loving to read. I am grateful that they often put what they are reading on their work web sites. Now, if we could find time during the week to TALK about what people are reading. That would make my work life especially sweet.

My husband, of course, will get a hug although lately he has been reading books about motorcycles in preparation of buying one. That hug may last an extra long time...

[Jessica]

That's the one thing I may miss about my day job. At my old job, my coworkers were so surprised to see someone read during lunch break that they would do cute things like grabbing my book from my hands and waving it around, or continually distracting me. I knew it was love when I came to my current job and found that almost every last person belonged to a book group!

Now, as I eat lunch, one person after another will pass the door, and the head will swivel sideways to read the spine of my book.

[Citizen Reader]

Donna,
I like the "Paul Harvey/rest of the story" twist to your comment. So funny about reading different things--that's why I'm bummed my friend is leaving; again, Mr. CR will have no one to chat SF with, because I'm just not up to that task.

Rachael,
I miss lots of readers like that. People who came to the used bookstore, to the library, who I knew from classes, etc. I too tend to give readers the benefit of the doubt as people, just the way I write others off when I see inside their houses and they have no books.

[Citizen Reader]

Venta,
Oh my, I didn't mean to hug your co-workers (for one thing, it's still flu season) but I guess it makes sense that many readers you might know are colleagues. I'm so used to working virtually now that doing things "in spirit" is the norm!

Oh my (re: the motorcycle). Has he read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" yet? The motorcycle's probably okay as long as he gets a helmet at the same time.

Jessica,
I can just see everyone tipping their head to the side to read the title on the spine--funny image. I'm glad you got away from the people who would grab the book from your hands (even if it was in fun)--lunch break's only so long, people, so stop taking my book!!

[sarah]

Have you read the recent NYT article about how important privacy is to many readers (I think I'm one of them) - "The book club with just one member", 1/23/10 by Mokoto Rich. I take my reading VERY seriously!! And I don't belong to a book club.

[Citizen Reader]

Sarah,
I haven't. Thank god you read the NYTimes--I'm too lazy. I'm going to go read that article.
I really agree with you, which is why I can't quite wrap my head around how popular LibraryThing and GoodReads are. I love talking books with people--but I don't really want anyone to have ready access to a list of books I've read. It always freaked me out when library patrons were mad that we didn't keep info on what they'd checked out (we deleted those records after they returned their books). Who wants anyone to have access to what you've all checked out, especially some rather personal NF titles? Not me, man.

And, I don't belong to a book club either, but mainly because I am a hermit. Although I do love the Menage.

[bybee]

I just hated it when my bookish buddy Aaron left Korea for Canada almost 2 years ago. He's been simply irreplacable.

[Citizen Reader]

It sucks, doesn't it, Bybee? Good reader buddies are sometimes depressingly hard to find, especially in your local geographical area.