Saturday, January 20, 2007

Paper

My dear husband likes to say that I like paper. He's usually chiding me on leaving various forms of the substance around the house. My books, magazines, calendars, tiny journals are always strewn about waiting to be thumbed through, or jotted in, or just for decorative effect--like more coffee table books than my coffee table could reasonably support. I suppose he's right. Funny, there are those SSB (Secret Single Behavior) things that you never notice when living alone, until someone gets close enough to point them out.
I do love paper. I barely parted with every last church bulletin I'd saved for 6 years until my parents moved houses and Mom insisted that she would not lug the box around any more. I have hundreds of books, read, but marked in so personally that I can't bear to be a good citizen and donate the used treasures to the public library or even lend them to most friends. I still prefer a good old fashioned Franklin Covey day timer to my husbands PDA, and many a note-filled spiral from college classes sit in boxes under our bed. I've been writing three or four books on receipts, napkins, and credit card offer envelopes for years.
I say all this to say, that despite my utmost fondness for books, there are so many mediums that I enjoy reading, so for those of you that will never pick up the 1072 pages of Brothers Karamazov (you should, you really should, but...) here are some more pieces you might enjoy. If nothing else, it will make you look smarter, lugging around the Times in your briefcase.
1. Magazines- This whole thought actually came to me the other day while reading a riveting piece in the February issue of Vogue. I'll concede that probably Cosmo and Glamour aren't necessarily "intellectual" reading material, but there are some magazines out there that actually have articles worth exploring. "Prisoner of Love" in this month's Vogue was just such a piece. You'll also find such worthy articles in Harper's Bazaar, Martha Stewart Living, Health, and a few select others. I subscribe to several magazines that cater to my tastes, but if you just have a few moments at lunch, or waiting for an appointment, or on the bus or train, you could pick up a host of magazines on art, cars, or health, home and garden, travel, psychology, or fashion, news and the list goes on...
2. Blogs- There are a few that I check regularly, some just to know what goes on in friends lives, some for the photos, and a few to learn new hobbies, but others are just as well-written as any great novel I've ever invested weeks in. One of my favorite blogs is frequently updated by a singer/songwriter, Jason Mraz, popular for his song "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)"--a well written song, and an even better journal on his website. This man has a way with words that will pierce your heart at times, and make you double-back with laughter even more. Also wonderful blogs are: Gastrokid, LaurenWinner.net, Design*Sponge, Xanga, Preppy Cafe, and... any suggestions? Find one about a topic you love and get to know a new "friend." It's like reading someone else's diary.
3. Letters- Write them to friends far away, or get a pen-pal. Because... a) it's fun in a retro sort of way, b) you're handwriting needs practice, c) stamps!, and d) when is the last time you got something in your mailbox that wasn't a bill or advertisement?
4. Wikipedia- If you haven't discovered this online encyclopedia, get out from under your rock! Way more fun than those dusty volumes that grandma has on her TV credenza. Be sure and click the "Random Article" button-- fun for those 2.09 hours at work that Americans don't really produce (according to San Fransisco Chronicle). Which brings me to my next point...
5. Newspaper- the daily news. How many of us flip on "Good Morning, TownWhereYouLive" each morning during breakfast, hear 15 minutes of one human interest story that you aren't even interested in, only to dash off to work, and then be embarrassed once you get around the water cooler, to fake your way through a conversation about what's going on in the war effort? You could get 100 times more info from just reading the headlines in a newspaper during your morning coffee than in 30 minutes of witty banter between your charming local newscasters.
6. Those free newpapers/magazines in front of Panera, the library, coffee shop, CD store... you know, with names like "Folio Weekly," "VIP," or "Black & White." I'm sure your city has one-- some good local info, and if nothing else, you'll have something cool to do this weekend. That the Blockbuster man knows you by name is not a good thing.
7. Short stories- You can find these in book form, on the Internet, or in magazines such as The New Yorker. Like a segway drug, it's a start, and who knows, someday, you might even pick up Brothers Karamazov (the abridged version, at least).
On a final note, one of the most common mis-conceptions, and reasons I believe people don't read, is that they don't find 100% of writers to be people they agree with, and they think it's a waste of time to read a varying opinion. In fact, you might do yourself the greatest service of all, by consistently reading those who you have little in common with. Your horizons will be broadened, your mind sharpened, and if the argument in your head with the author becomes too heated, at least you can say you gave "ear" and a bit of time to the other side. I say this to say that not all the mediums I've listed above are always in line with my beliefs, opinions, and values. But I guess I just love any words on paper.