Don’t look now, but May is known as – among other things – Get Caught Reading Month.
That notion likely sounds dangerous to some who haven’t read a book since it was required in their English or literature class. In this age of limited attention spans and instant gratification, reading a book – or anything longer than a social-media post – isn’t on many bucket lists.
It was Rodney Dangerfield in the witty 1986 comedy Back to School who said about reading: “Who has time? I see the movie; I’m in and out in two hours.”
Although I have an insatiable appetite for the written word, Dangerfield’s character had a valid point.
These days, as technological advancements abound, reading a newspaper or magazine has become a tall order for those of us on the move or often attached to our smartphones.
In our slice of Clay County paradise—which saw one afternoon of rain over two weeks—staying indoors to read seems like a waste of Mother Nature. Even when you carry a paperback outdoors for some fresh air, temptations exist to fish, cycle, boat, walk or jog, or swim, come what may.
Consuming an entire book? For many folks, that would take time that isn’t on their side.
Perhaps that’s why the Association of American Publishers propelled this month’s campaign to create more daily and lifelong readers.
Granted, some of you reading this column likely just want to turn the page. (Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally.)
Then again, given my profession, it should come as no surprise I remain in the pro-reading camp. As author Stephen King pointed out in his best book, On Writing: To be a writer, you must “read a lot.”
Ever since I was a kid (which feels as if it was a century ago), I’ve been drawn to the written word. Naturally, I played sports and ran around the neighborhood with friends from dusk until dawn. At night, I often watched TV or enjoyed going to – wait for it – drive-in theaters.
But nothing was more satisfying than reading a book, short stories, The Sporting News or other publications that piqued my interest.
For this bookworm, not much brings a grin to my curmudgeon face like fine writing: Give me a smooth-flowing paragraph with a turn of phrase, and I’m a happy camper.
Among my favorite authors: Truman Capote, Chuck Klosterman and Bill Bryson.
As a Kansas native, I consider Truman Capote’s well-thumbed In Cold Blood the gold standard. It hooked me from its haunting opening line: “The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call ‘out there.’”
The author’s admirers have a treasure trove of novels, short stories and essays to re-read, though we feel short-changed that Capote’s talent deserted us at age 59, as he succumbed to liver failure.
Nevertheless, there’s no shortage of other quality authors on whose work my eyes may feast.
The question is – on this second go-around living in Florida – will I read more books than I did as a Key West resident? That won’t be difficult, because during my two-year stint in the Conch Republic, the number of books I tried digesting could be counted on one hand.
After hours, I was catching up on sleep or enjoying the Great Outdoors. While inhabiting the Keys, the longest non-work item I read was probably a café menu.
After all, who goes to America’s “Southernmost point” to crack open books, rather than a few cold ones? I guess that not many folks stayed holed up with their noses buried in pages.
As a Clay County resident for merely three months, it’s time to make amends and return to one of my favorite hobbies.
Indeed, I feel the need to read. When I’m “caught” doing so, the Association of American Publishers would be proud.
