How I Read

This is not an essay. I was talking to a friend online recently about how I read, and she was interested in seeing some examples, so here they are. She is an avid checker-out (check-outer? checker-outer?) of library books and doesn't write in her books at all. I love the idea of libraries, but I rarely get library books. I don't like to borrow books from people either (or lend mine out for that matter). Why? Because books are conversations, and I don't know how to read without taking part in the conversation via my pen. I also dog-ear to save my place and fold the binding back so the book will lay flat. So it's better that I keep my books my own!

Anyway ... Laurie, here are the examples you asked for! Enjoy!

In my college Intro to Shakespeare class, my professor had us write a paraphrase at the top of every single page of each play. Not only did this force us to read deeply and for understanding; it provided a handy way to find what we were looking for later on. I have continued this habit to this day, at least with nonfiction, and any fiction that I find challenging.

I love it when an author's words and ideas remind me of other authors' words and ideas. I call it a "merge"--when my mind is able to associate what I'm reading to seemingly unrelated books or authors. This is one of the most exciting things about reading and learning new things, in my opinion. I'll write down those titles in the margins. The act of writing them down generally ensures that I'll actually follow up and re-read the other authors, keeping in mind whatever new ideas I've encountered in the book.

I see a book as a conversation. With my pen, I respond: "Hm, I don't quite understand what you mean there." "Yes! I've seen this idea before!" "Oh man, this made me laugh!" And I'll check or circle the titles listed in the footnotes. In this case, I checked a book that I bought in grad school but hadn't looked at in years. And yes, I'm one of those people who tends to follow up and look at the books in the footnotes.

Maybe one of these days I will write an actual essay on how I read. But not today--I have work to do, and not a lot of time to write at the moment!