I don’t remember when it started. But it has certainly picked up momentum since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It pops up every year at about the same time. It appears to be quite popular amongst my friends and its popularity is growing. And it is never, ever going to be for me.
I have no sense of FOMO. I haven’t the remotest desire to participate. I don’t judge others - - I mean, we all have our interests, right? But the idea of jumping on this bandwagon is, to me, akin to volunteering for root canal surgery. Or picking up a spilled bag of rice with tweezers.
Can you guess what I’m talking about?
Book lists. Annual book tallies. My Year in Books. Here is my organized data. May I see your organized data? I made my quota. I surpassed my quota. Oh well, I’ll do better next year.
Something about all this reminds me of having to fill in the little squares with colored pencils while completing the required reading for the SRA reading comprehension assignments. I mean, the different colored pencils were fun but - - what’s the point?
You’re reading because it’s fun, it’s interesting, and you might learn something new. Not so you can add it up or check it off.
Keeping track of things has never been my strong suit. I strongly suspect this has something to do with having ADHD. Life has too many things that one absolutely must keep track of. I wrestle with those with varying degrees of success. Why on earth would I want to add another level of difficulty to my life? I just don’t get it.
This is not to say that someone with an ADHD brain can’t do this. Not all brains are the same. If someone gets a dopamine jolt from organizing their reads then it could be the best special interest ever. For them.
For me? Just the thought of it makes me feel mildly combative.
I love to read and I read for pleasure. When I find a book that I “click” with it is as though my brain has taken flight and I can read solidly for hours and hours without stopping. If I don’t connect I might as well be trying to read a cinder block. It just ain’t happening.
As much as I admire my friends who are capable of applying this level of organization to their reading, I find myself looking at these online conversations with puzzlement. This is not my language.
I found an article that looks at the reasoning behind this practice.
Why should you have a Reading List?, Norbert Hires blog
Friends, even reading the article was stressful for me. In particular, the suggestion that keeping track of your reading will make you a “Better Book Buddy” just about gave me hives. Does this not bring back memories of Romper Room and exhortations to be a “Do-Bee” and not a “Don’t Be?”
Just me? Oh. Okay.
You love to read. I love to read. We have that in common. But you have the mental bandwidth to keep track of, tally, organize, sort, make visual representations of data- - just for fun. Holy mackerel, that’s impressive. I am so glad it’s a free choice activity because, if I were required to do it, I would stop reading.
You can enjoy your lists. I will keep the colored pencils. Maybe I’ll draw a picture with them once I’m done reading.
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