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I always bring a book with me to lunch here at work. (And, indeed, if I'm not going to be eating with other people or in front of the TV at home, I bring books with me to most meals.) Last week, a co-worker (who is not a reader) asked me how I could stand to do that, to just read for 15 minutes and go back to work. And, more importantly, why do I always read at lunch?
Well, his first question's a good one, and sometimes it is difficult and/or annoying to close my book and head back from lunch. But his second question....well, today at lunch, I was very hungry. While preparing my meal (that is to say, microwaving my soup), I realized I was not simply hungry, I was also excited to return to the book I was reading. (Queen Isabella by Allison Weir, by the way; biography of Isabella of France, Queen of England.) And it suddenly hit me--my mind was hungry as well! Sure, I don't always read weighty tomes; sometimes I'm reading something downright trashy. But my mind calls out for occupation and a book fills that need. (As does, I'm afraid, television at home, though I'm generally reading a newspaper and/or something online at the same time.) Truth to tell, I can't understand how someone doesn't feel a similar need, assuming no enjoyable conversation is available. It's the same when I'm on a bus; how can people just sit there? I understand the sleeping people, but some riders just seem to empty their minds on a bus. I can't; for anything longer than a short trip, I need a book.
I know I'm not unusual, insofar as this goes, among all of you. So, any thoughts from those reading this? (Possibly while eating--who knows?)
On another note entirely, Jack Kirby passed away thirteen years ago today, which I find hard to believe. It just doesn't seem like that long. As I've said before, I wish I'd gotten to meet him; reportedly he was an amazing (and amazingly nice) guy. There have been a lot of great reprints over the past few years, with more to come, but I'm still sad we won't see some new, bizarre project from someone who's still the King of the Comics.
Well, his first question's a good one, and sometimes it is difficult and/or annoying to close my book and head back from lunch. But his second question....well, today at lunch, I was very hungry. While preparing my meal (that is to say, microwaving my soup), I realized I was not simply hungry, I was also excited to return to the book I was reading. (Queen Isabella by Allison Weir, by the way; biography of Isabella of France, Queen of England.) And it suddenly hit me--my mind was hungry as well! Sure, I don't always read weighty tomes; sometimes I'm reading something downright trashy. But my mind calls out for occupation and a book fills that need. (As does, I'm afraid, television at home, though I'm generally reading a newspaper and/or something online at the same time.) Truth to tell, I can't understand how someone doesn't feel a similar need, assuming no enjoyable conversation is available. It's the same when I'm on a bus; how can people just sit there? I understand the sleeping people, but some riders just seem to empty their minds on a bus. I can't; for anything longer than a short trip, I need a book.
I know I'm not unusual, insofar as this goes, among all of you. So, any thoughts from those reading this? (Possibly while eating--who knows?)
On another note entirely, Jack Kirby passed away thirteen years ago today, which I find hard to believe. It just doesn't seem like that long. As I've said before, I wish I'd gotten to meet him; reportedly he was an amazing (and amazingly nice) guy. There have been a lot of great reprints over the past few years, with more to come, but I'm still sad we won't see some new, bizarre project from someone who's still the King of the Comics.
