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Reading Profile

Fiction books tend to be my favorite to read because I like to escape into and explore the lives of characters who lead different lives from my own. Historical fiction has always been a favorite genre of mine. When I was younger, I couldn’t get enough of Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie. I find it to be an interesting way to learn more about the past. I also enjoy fantasy, young adult, romance, and mysteries. Just a few of my favorite books are The Fountains of Silence by Ruta Sepetys (along with every other book written by her), Blink by Ted Dekker, The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. I’m drawn to books with strong character development. Interesting characters are even more appealing and important to me than an interesting plot.

There are some non-fiction books that have made an impact on me and I’ve recently began opening up to more non-fiction. Some of my favorite non-fiction books are A Love Letter Life by Jeremy and Audrey Roloff, The Faithful Spy: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix, Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone, and The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.

I have come to almost exclusively listen to audiobooks. “For many readers, listening to audiobooks provides the same satisfaction as holding a book in hand and turning the pages” (Saricks, J. G.,2005, p. 10). Although the pleasure I get from listening to audiobooks is the same as reading, there is a skill to reading I want to always strengthen and there is something peaceful about learning to quiet my mind and focus on the book, rather than doing chores and several other tasks all while listening to an audiobook. It’s a goal of mine to make the time to sit down and read books more this year, despite audiobooks being so convenient. I find that I soak up more information in non-fiction books if I read a book, rather than listen to it.

Saricks, J. G. (2005). Readers' advisory service in the public library. American Library Association


Comments

  1. Jennifer MillerJanuary 26, 2021 at 11:17 AM

    Hi Christina!
    I like Ruta Sepetys's books too, but I haven't gotten to Fountains of Silence yet. Maybe I'll use it as my YA choice to annotate this semester! I also read almost exclusively audiobooks, but it would probably be good for me to set a goal of reading more physical books- I have so many unread books on my shelves at home.

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  2. Taylor BurgerJanuary 27, 2021 at 5:35 PM

    Hello, Christina!!!!
    First, I LOVED Blink by Ted Dekker. I have never met anyone else who has read it and I thought it was such an interesting concept and well written story. I am so happy to finally meet someone who has experienced it.
    Also, the idea of ebook vs. physical book vs. audiobook is so interesting to me. I personally use all three. I do not like to read paperbacks books that are brand new because I do not like to break the spine or bend the pages, but I love hardback books. Ebooks are convenient, but lack the reading vibe sometimes. Audiobooks are convenient and fun, but the narrator can make or break a book. I have given up on books that I know I would like it book form, but the narrator turned me off from the story completely.
    And you are right, the act of reading does teach us to slow down and concentrate that goes against the busy nature of our society, at least pre-COVID. I do enjoy diamond painting while I listen to audiobooks which is fun, but there is something special about sitting down to read for a few hours with nothing but a blanket and silence.
    Thanks for letting us get to know you!

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  3. Tess B.January 28, 2021 at 1:34 PM

    Hi Christina,

    I loved Little House on the Prairie and Little House in the Big Woods growing up. The idea of homesteading or living in a place outside of the general population has always been an interesting topic for me. Fiction books have also been near and dear to my heart, and I think always will be.
    What you said about audiobooks definitely struck a chord with me. I have fairly mild dyslexia but have never gotten into audiobooks for fear I will lose the reading skills I've gained over time, or that my reading ability may change if I do one thing more than the other. I totally agree with you that while the two things have a similar outcome, they definitely take a different set of skills to process and make sense of. I hope you are able to sit down and find more time to read this year! No matter how hectic the times get, finding even a little bit of time to read is a boon. Thanks for posting!

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  4. Jessie FlemingJanuary 28, 2021 at 7:21 PM

    Hi, Christina!

    I've tried using audiobooks, but my brain doesn't seem to comprehend the information like it does when I'm reading a physical book. I used to listen to audiobooks when I made dinner in the evening, but between also reading a recipe and my family's constant interruptions, I spent more time rewinding the audiobook than paying attention to it. I do appreciate the format, though, and many of the patrons at my library love to borrow audiobook CDs or e-audiobooks. Maybe I'll give them a shot again and try them out in my car. A long drive to work could definitely benefit from a good book.

    Happy reading (or listening)!

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  5. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2021 at 5:57 PM

    Hello Christina,

    Yeah I also like to read fiction because it allows me to escape into lives that are so different from my own. This is partly the reason why I also enjoy manga so much. When it comes to non-fiction I really enjoy history books like The Sleepwalkers: How Europe went to war in 1914 and The Teapot Dome Scandal by Laton McCarthy. Personally though, I never was able to get into audiobooks. I don't even know why, I tried listening to the audiobook of A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin but then again it is George R.R. Martin, I mean he goes into detail with everything and listening to that would be very boring.

    Good luck with class!

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  6. Bambino KidJanuary 31, 2021 at 1:44 PM

    Hi Christina,

    The audiobook format has definitely been a lifesaver for many situations that left me with little time to actually sit down and only focus on reading. What came as a necessity for schoolwork soon became the preferred choice to take in books and not feeling like I have more important things to do. I often enjoy listening to a variety of genres while painting. Currently, I am having a blast listening to the pulp hero, The Shadow, radio dramas from the 30's and 40's.

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  7. Erin CataldiFebruary 10, 2021 at 7:26 PM

    Fantastic reading profile! You got a lot of engaging responses from your classmates. You make some great points about audiobooks and I'm proud that you want to give reading physical books a chance as well. Both are great ways to enjoy a book. Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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