A Resolution: Read Gooder

Gorgeous wall of books by Anthropologie in New York. Picture by sneaky me.

I read recently (in a book I perused at the bookstore, one I picked up 'cause it had pictures and did not buy because I'm cheap) that "stealing" is one of the best ways for artists to get their start.

And while I'm incredibly old-fashioned in that I abhor the idea of plagiarism, this particular brand of copycat-ism seemed very favorable.

 

It helped that the author included a list of good and bad ways to “steal” ideas that was both informative and funny.

(I really like lists.)

 

 

I bring up this random tidbit because today’s post is brought to you by two stolen ideas (that’s if you count the one about stealing ideas).

 

First, though, it’s important I admit that the only reason that I was at the bookstore in the first place is because my husband wanted to go. (And there was a coffee shop next door. And the lure of Legos.)

Mikael’s always been a big reader, and I love and admire that about him.

I, on the other hand, am a functioning literate, and even a lover of bookstores.

But I tend to stick close to the magazine section, with the occasional visit to the address book aisle for old time’s sake (don’t you love that they still make those?).

 

It’s one of my deepest, darkest secrets, but there it is.

 

On this particular venture I was tempted to get lost in a riveting issue of Real Simple, or Lucky. But wanting to look halfway intelligent in front of my husband, and nine strangers from Delaware, I decided to push myself to the Self Help section instead.

 

I’m not proud of this either, but Self Help is one of the few sections that can pry me from the glossy pages of Best Dressed Lists and New Uses for Old Things.


True; Naked Executive: How Being Honest Can Change Your Life Forever is no Tolstoy, but still… it’s not Star magazine.

And like a bonus, there’s rarely a better spot to people watch than in the Self Help section of a good bookstore.

 

Anyways…

Standing there, scanning illustrated pages about stealing ideas, really got me thinking about a conversation I’d had with one of my coolest friends a week prior.

 

The friend had brought up New Year’s resolutions the way only a superiorly hip friend can do without coming across like a pushy grandmother.

 

He said, rather nonchalantly, that last year he’d aimed to read one book a week, and that he’d come very close to accomplishing it.

 

He’d read 49 books in total, everything from fluff teen novels to incredibly deep and important literary works by authors with last names I can’t pronounce.

I was impressed, and kind of dumbfounded that it was even possible to do such a thing. But I was also not the least bit stirred at the time.

In fact, half an hour after our chat, I was back to killing time at Half Price Books by looking at journals, greeting cards and stuffed monkeys wearing capes while he stocked up on classic novels.

Like I said, it’s a sad truth I’ve been living. (But it feels good to let it out, finally.)

 

 

Something about the start of a new year made me rethink his resolution though. (Probably the extra free time and the freezing temperatures outside during our vacation.)

It didn’t hurt that my husband had decided to adopt the same resolution. (Way to beat me to the punch Mikael!)

 

 

When I started thinking about how much time I could “find” just by giving up one marathon of SVU a week… or what a great excuse reading is to drink a cup of overpriced coffee… suddenly I realized what a great idea my friend was on to.

And that, my patient friends, is my incredibly long, winding way of telling you that this year one “resolution” I’ve resolved to do, is to read a book a week.

It might be shallow-ish reasons spurring my resolve… it might be a goal reluctantly undertaken, or possibly overly ambitious...

But, I think this is one resolution that will be good for me on a number of levels.

 

As an aspiring writer, as a human, as someone that watched way too much E TV last year, and perhaps most importantly as someone tired of hiding the fact she hasn’t purchased a legitimate book in years, it’s gonna be good to have a clear goal pushing me forward, stretching my poor, neglected brain.

Let’s also collectively hope it does wonders for my vocabulary. And for my DVR (which was really embarrassed when I tried to record the entire history of Grey’s Anatomy last year).

 

For those of you interested, I’ll try to share my first book pick soon, along with a quick review.

 

In the meantime, I hope you’ll wish me luck, send suggestions of must reads, and most importantly, gently nudge me away from Elle Décor if you see me at Barnes and Noble.

Also, please give my regards to Pinterest and Angry Birds, as they may be missing one of their most loyal patrons a bit these next few weeks.

 

Now, I’ve got some Stephen King to dig into.

 

I wish a Happy New Year’s Resolutions/Better Late Than Never/Stolen Ideas Day to you friends.

 

 
*If you got this weird reference you are awesome and we should have a gasoline fight soon.

Secondly, by “can’t read good” I really mean I don’t read nearly enough.

Also, if you ask me to read in public I will instantly feel six-years-old, painfully shy, and probably forget how to pronounce a word like “vaguely.” So don’t do that. Let’s stick with the silent, painfully slow reading for now. ;)