The Power of Reading: Readers Respond

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Last week, we highlighted Ann Morgan’s amazing reading project, Postcards from my bookshelf. For each month in 2017, she’s selecting a book and mailing it to a reader somewhere in the world.

Readers had much to say about Ann’s book-labor of love. Here are a handful of their responses.

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None of my friends or family read and I sometimes feel disconnected from them because of it. It’s almost as if I have discovered insights and ideas they cannot possibly comprehend. But when I do find someone who shares my love of reading, we talk like we’ve known each other for years. There’s an immediate bond that forms and it’s quite magical to discover.

— R.J.Wibberley

I’ve been so impressed about this project that I want to take part in it, of course, if it’s possible. I’m sure your experience as a human being has grown a lot because of it. I’d love to know more titles so I could read those books too. Thank you so much for sharing your passion and for proving me that kindness and love still exists in this world!

— latemojito

I’ve always been intrigued by how books commonly serve as an icebreaker or seamless way of initiating conversation, even with total strangers. I cannot tell you the number of times I’m reading on the train or at a coffee shop and strangers, some of whom I’m certain are otherwise very introverted folk, will come up and initiate conversation by asking what I’m reading, whether it’s any good, and so on. I think this further illustrates how community building and socially engaging reading can be. It is a common ground that so many people can and want to relate on, which is a really wonderful thing.

— jacquelineannemarielarkin

Reading diverse authors, I’ve heard, is one of the best ways we can all build social justice and inclusion acumen. Just as Ann has shown, having the courage to reach beyond our comfort zones and expand not just our reading lists but our life lists — the things or ideas we turn to forpleasure and inspiration — means challenging our assumptions about what a “good” book really is. I read this article at a point in my life when I want to challenge myself to think different, and allow myself to BE different through understanding others in a deeper, more meaningful way. As Ann demonstrates, books are a conversation and an entry point to so much more. Thank you for highlighting her efforts on DISCOVER.

— Angela Noel

Enjoyed this post? Read more from the Inspiration category.

 

50 Comments

  1. Oh! What a wonderful idea! I may try something like this next year. I think I may send a random book to a random address.
    This is the idea that came to me while reading this post.
    I wonder what would happen?

    Liked by 14 people

  2. Love threse responses. Books and reading creste powerful connections to ourselves, others, the world around us and the world within us. The more we read, the more we understand the aspects of life that may be otherwise incomprensible.

    Liked by 12 people

  6. This is interesting.
    I love reading so much. I have decided that every month I buy myself a book…
    Now I’m thinking of a book shelf.😁

    I’d really like to be part of this adventure.
    Details please

    Liked by 14 people

  7. GREAT idea and thanks for sharing it with all of us bloggers and blog-readers. I love to find books on motel lobby shelves or even in cruise ships. The convivial low-key swap of a book seems democratic, wholesome, whimsical. I’d like to do a survey of those motel leftover books someday. Beyond romance novels in Dutch, there may be nuggets. Name a nugget that you found or left behind! Mine would be The English Patient, M. Ondatje. KR

    Liked by 14 people

  10. What a wonderful project and very much in the spirit of “The Gifts of Reading”, a slim volume by Robert Macfarlane, published by Penguin Books. My daughter gave me this enchanting book last week and in turn, I will be passing it on as a gift.

    Liked by 7 people

  14. Reading is what builds my knowledge and stimulates creativity. Both help to make me a better writer. Along with opening ways to conversations with different or similar minded individuals.
    My blog is for readers. Read and #spreadthelove to make reading #TheNorm 🙂

    Liked by 6 people

  18. Wow! It’s been such a surprise to see that you’ve chosen my response. I can’t explain how grateful and happy I am. Thank you so much. I’m going to celebrate this by finishing a book that I’ve post poned for too long❤

    Liked by 5 people

  19. I’ve always had a shallow life before, my conversation with someone somehow always end up irritating and empty, because its topic just about people and events.

    And then I started to read books, all kind of books. I begin to discover new ideas, somehow I attract people by reading books, and my conversations with others has never been the same. we talk about ideas and try to relate it with our life.

    Its wonderful feeling 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

  28. Pretty interesting. English is not my first language, that’s why I read a lot to be more articulatr not only in speaking english but in writing as I started my blog a couple of months a go. 😁

    Keep reading guys!

    Liked by 2 people

  29. This is an amazing post and it really appeals to me because I myself love to read and at moments reading a book it just the best distraction that one can have!

    Liked by 3 people

  30. Once I indulge in reading,
    I forget everything
    It powers and improve my imagination capacity.
    Worth idea to be self-centred
    And book-loving, that won’t let my secrets revelled to others❤

    Liked by 3 people

  31. Reading a book takes you to a different world of imagination, you can just sit in a corner and indulge yourself in whole plot created by the author, its really fascinating to see how differently each author pens down his idea of writing.

    Liked by 5 people

  32. I read the post which they originally highlighted, and was struck by the idea of reading as a way for us to connect with others, and how true it was in my own life. Despite its solitary nature, a book has so much to give us. There is also nothing quite like bonding with someone over a book you both adore.

    Liked by 3 people

  33. What a generous and amazing idea! We are trying to instill a love of reading in our children. We read to them and with them. On my blog I am an affiliate with a company that is combining art and literature…I am excited to help them grow and to encourage others to read and donart projects with their kids. Books open so many doors of imagination, creativity, travel, dreams and more!

    Liked by 5 people

  34. I am impressed with the boldness and commitment a project like this takes. It really shows love for reading and exposing oneself to new ideas. Great post!

    Liked by 6 people

  35. I absolutely love reading and I think this was such a great idea! My friend once asked me why I read and I said because not only do I believe its aided me in my ability to comprehend and learn things faster but also it acts as a way for me to utilise my creativity and imaginative skills.

    Liked by 6 people

  36. I love reading too much as it increases my knowledge and even if it has nothing to do with culture, it’s one of my ways to have fun.

    I wish people have fun reading my posts.

    Liked by 4 people

  37. I love reading it increases my knowledge and even if it has nothing to do with culture, it’s one of my ways to have fun.

    I wish people have fun reading my posts if they’re not gaining and kind of knowledge.

    Liked by 3 people

  40. Once I indulge in reading,
    I forget everything
    It powers and improve my imagination capacity.
    Worth idea to be self-centred
    And book-loving, that won’t let my secrets revelled to others❤

    Liked by 10 people

  43. A wondrous quality attached to the experience of reading a book, is the ability to communicate without the interruption of advertising. It is a fact that literacy standards have dropped, and no wonder, since many young minds are never exercised by literature outside a schoolroom. Reading isn’t an activity which requires compulsion. It is a pleasure which comes naturally.

    Liked by 4 people

  44. the connection I can immediately form with a stranger who has read the books that I hold dear is seriously from another planet. It is like you have just met someone with same soul and heart and brain. It is like music but at even deeper and nicher level.

    Liked by 5 people

  45. I am a Language Arts teacher and can attest that there is nothing like the power of a written story to inspire and shape us. And there is nothing like the shared love of stories to create a special bond with fellow readers. I have kids who love to read, and I could not be more thrilled for them.

    Liked by 7 people

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