Reading Les Miserable

I am a writer. I enjoy writing, and I write every day. Most people assume that writers read. I read, but mostly blogs and articles, because I try to be fair to the people who read my blogs and articles.

But it might surprise some people to learn that I hated reading when I was young. Except for Reader's Digest, I wouldn't read anything that was more than a couple of pages. I just couldn't stay focused long enough, nor could anything sustain my interest.

Except when it came to Nancy Drew mysteries – I devoured those books when I was ten years old. But after I read through all of those books, other than Reader's Digest, nothing else interested me, and I became easily bored.

Fast forward to my sophomore year in high school. I found the book, Les Miserable, and decided that if I could read that enormous book, I could read anything. The challenge was on.

Reading had always been a problem for me, though. I wasn't sure I could handle a book so large, so I made it my mission to finish it.

Staying with anything for any period of time is difficult for me. I lose focus. I lose interest. My mind goes off on tangents. I could be on page 25 and realize I hadn't absorbed a single word from page 1. I start over. I force myself to pay attention. Again I have to start over. Again I retain nothing.

So disciplining myself to read a book the size of Les Miserable was quite an accomplishment for me. Though I struggled through the first several pages, the book eventually grabbed me and held me in its grip.

Because while I was reading Les Miserable, something magical happened. The book, the words inside that book, the story, all of it, pulled me in and engaged me so deeply, I felt emotions bursting forth from deep inside me. I became completely enfolded within the pages of that book. It surrounded me and held me captive.

I never realized a book could impact me in such an emotional way. I sat at my desk with my head pulled forward, my long hair hiding the tears that streamed down my face, held in the clutches of the story that taught me how to love reading – Les Miserable.

Today I wish I had time to read. When I'm not reading articles and blogs, I'm spending time with my grandchildren while crocheting because I can't sit still without doing SOMETHING.

Some day I'll have time to read books again. Some day...

And that completes Day #18 from the A-Z Challenge. Brought to you by the letter, R.

Previous A-Z Challenge blogs:

Amazon Hates Me – Day #1 from the A-Z Challenge

Bored – Why? – Day #2 from the A-Z Challenge

Craziness – Day #3 from the A-Z Challenge

When Your Daughter Develops, DON'T DO THIS! – Day #4 from the A-Z Challenge

Ellen – Day #5 from the A-Z Challenge

Family and Friends – Day #6 from the A-Z Challenge

The Grownup Table – Day #7 from the A-Z Challenge

Happiness & Joy – Day #8 from the A-Z Challenge

Idiots in the Attic – Day #9 from the A-Z Challenge

Jokes Accidentally – Day #10 from the A-Z Challenge

The Kid That Wasn't Named Ker – Day #11 from the A-Z Challenge

Living Out of Suitcases – Day #12 from the A-Z Challenge

Misunderstandings – I KNOW You Didn't Say What I THINK You Said

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The Old and The Elderly – At What Age Do You FEEL Old?


Peacocks Are Not Penguins

Quiz That Changed My Thinking