What is reading, anyway? Novels, comics, graphic novels, manga, e-books, audio books — which of these is reading these days? Are they all reading? Only some of them? What are your personal qualifications for something to be “reading” — why? If something isn’t reading, why not? Does it matter? Does it impact your desire to ample a source if you find out a premise you liked the sound of is in a format you don’t consider to be reading? Share your personal definition of reading, and how you came to have that stance.
Reading is reading, even e-books and audio books. Whatever it takes for someone to enjoy a well written story is good enough for me. Kids (and even adults) today are bombarded with things like Nintendo DS, PSP, Wii, and other forms of easy, mindless entertainment. If they need to read manga, comic books, or listen to an audio book to become interested in stories then fine. Also, people who have poor eyesight should not be excluded from the reading world just because they cannot read with their eyes.
I was tempted to begin reading graphic novels for a challenge this year because I've never read one and some of my favorite authors write graphic novels. Then I saw how much they cost and couldn't justify spending that much on a "picture book". So, I suppose I judge them to be an inferior form of reading, but either way, I'd still consider them reading too.
I hadn't thought about people with bad eyesight when I considered my definition. Good point!
ReplyDeleteI have read some manga and graphic novels and am fascinated by them. The price is high, but I found some at a library book sale and my library has a large selection.
My local library stocks graphic novels as well, so it might be worth you're checking your own out.
ReplyDeleteI second the library. I've noticed quite a few there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments and suggestions. I've looked at my local library before, but not expecting to find anything, I didn't look that hard. I'll have to go back and really look again.
ReplyDeletehere is a thought...can someone who doesn't speak the native language use the book, graphic novel, or comic book to learn? yes? then it is reading. so that means pamphlets, bumper stickers, notes passed in class all count. if there are words and someone else can cipher the words into a coherent sentence that person is reading. even if it is a sign that says "beware the dog"
ReplyDeleteAt first thought, I sometimes forget to consider audio books as reading,but then my mind never fails to fall on my friend who is blind. She does read books by braille, but the options are so limited that she prefers audiobooks. I imagine I would turn to audiobooks too in her situation.
ReplyDeleteM~~That's an all-encompassing opinion of reading. Very open-minded.
ReplyDeleteLF~~A lot of people have said similar things about audio books on this meme. For me personally, I couldn't consider audio books reading because I can't absorb them, but for those who can, I def consider it reading for them.