What's your guilty pleasure?
It's not uncommon for customers to approach the information desk at the library, look around to see who might be listening and then whisper their requests. Almost apologetically they say they are looking for a romance or "something light" as if somehow their preferred type of book doesn't quite measure up. I know exactly how they feel. Once upon a time in my life B.C. (Before Children), I taught literature, kept up with award-winning books, belonged to a bookclub - and actually read the books! We discussed themes, character development, metaphors and all those fancy things reminiscent of high school English class.
Oh, how times have changed! These days there is little time to read for pleasure. If I am actually awake after the little ones go to bed, there are only certain books that will keep me in a conscious state for long. Sadly I was finding myself unable to read much at all and I missed it.
Until I discovered Chick Lit. For those unfamiliar with the term, Chick Lit is the genre made popular by Helen Fielding of Bridget Jones's Diary fame. What's the appeal? Well, aside from the candy-colored covers, Chick Lit offers one an escape from reality with a heroine who is just trying to get it together in her love life, career and pretty much everything else. There is humour; there is heartbreak; and there is almost always a happy ending. What's not to love? The most important thing is that I can actually get through a book again within a reasonable amount of time.
One of my favourite quotations is: "Never apologize for your reading tastes", which was the mantra of well-known librarian Betty Rosenberg. We all read for different reasons at different times of our lives. There are days when you need a little more intellectual stimulation, and there are days when you just want to forget about the pile of dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. Perhaps you want to be whisked away to another land or back in time to an Arthurian legend; you might want to embroil yourself in a mystery, or maybe horror is more your style. We welcome all reading tastes here! If you haven't already, I invite you to take our little poll above and share your "guilty pleasure" with us - anonymously, of course!
3 comments:
Times have changed: it seems people watch videos or podcasts more and more, and read less and less. I enjoyed your web-site, I think it is a creative idea!
Guilty pleasures, indeed! The operative word being 'guilty' most of the time, as there is always so much to do around the house, or with work, or whatever, that reading for pleasure makes one feel guilty for taking the time! There always seems to be 'something more important to do' or 'something more urgent'. There's no time to relax anymore, it seems...
Thanks for the feedback! It's true, as a society our pastimes really have changed. That's also a good point about feeling guilty just reading at all... I've found myself listening to books in the car over the past couple of years because I felt I was multi-tasking. Kind of sad....
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