MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - This is probably the reason why there are so few readers out there

PitterPat · 01-06-2011, 10:23 AM

My grandmother was born in 1896. She was a school teacher for a few years before marrying in 1918. She lived to be 87 years old. She did not read for pleasure! So this isn't a new thing that people don't read much. For one thing she always lived on a farm and there were always chores to be done so reading was "lazy". She did read for information and to study the Bible.

I was a teenager when my dad moved my grandparents into our home in 1981. My grandmother looked at all the books in the living room and asked why we had so many books. Also, she wanted to know if we had read them all. It just amazed her that we sat around and read books. Yet I wouldn't classify my parents as avid readers at the time.

My other grandmother was not as well educated but read like crazy. She lived to be 92 and up until the last few months would sit and read for hours on end. She would read anything and everything.

We were given books as small children. I can remember pretending to read from my books before I actually learned to read. I spent most of my allowance on Scholastic book orders. I remember going to the library on grocery shopping day with my mother. I didn't read much for pleasure as a teen and young adult but in my mid-30's went back to reading books.

My son was read to from the day he came home from the hospital. He always loved his books. He is now 19 and too busy hanging out with friends to read. In school he always read way above his grade level even though his grades didn't show it. He hated the Accelerated Reader program and avoided it. The questions they asked were pointless to him.

I remember his first grade teacher telling me that he wasn't doing well in class, including in his reading. Just the week before they had gotten their first big hardback reading book full of stories. It was brand new. I asked her how long was she spending on each story. She said "a week per story". Okay, fine. He had read all 8 stories the first night! I know he read them because he read them out loud. He was bored and ready for new stories! At bedtime he was allowed to take a book to bed. I would often find him later sound asleep still holding on to his book.

Oh, there was also the daycare teacher who didn't want him to have a book at the table while waiting for breakfast. The kids could have a toy but not a book at the table. I could understand if there was food there but this was 20 minutes before breakfast would be served!

My sister's daughter and 15 month old grandson live in her house. I just sent the little boy some board books. Everyone was thrilled! They said he already loves his books and these would hold up a little better than the regular books with paper pages since he hasn't learned to carefully turn a paper page.

01-06-2011, 10:23 AM	#145
PitterPat Member Posts: 14 Karma: 846 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Georgia, USA Device: Kindle 3	My grandmother was born in 1896. She was a school teacher for a few years before marrying in 1918. She lived to be 87 years old. She did not read for pleasure! So this isn't a new thing that people don't read much. For one thing she always lived on a farm and there were always chores to be done so reading was "lazy". She did read for information and to study the Bible. I was a teenager when my dad moved my grandparents into our home in 1981. My grandmother looked at all the books in the living room and asked why we had so many books. Also, she wanted to know if we had read them all. It just amazed her that we sat around and read books. Yet I wouldn't classify my parents as avid readers at the time. My other grandmother was not as well educated but read like crazy. She lived to be 92 and up until the last few months would sit and read for hours on end. She would read anything and everything. We were given books as small children. I can remember pretending to read from my books before I actually learned to read. I spent most of my allowance on Scholastic book orders. I remember going to the library on grocery shopping day with my mother. I didn't read much for pleasure as a teen and young adult but in my mid-30's went back to reading books. My son was read to from the day he came home from the hospital. He always loved his books. He is now 19 and too busy hanging out with friends to read. In school he always read way above his grade level even though his grades didn't show it. He hated the Accelerated Reader program and avoided it. The questions they asked were pointless to him. I remember his first grade teacher telling me that he wasn't doing well in class, including in his reading. Just the week before they had gotten their first big hardback reading book full of stories. It was brand new. I asked her how long was she spending on each story. She said "a week per story". Okay, fine. He had read all 8 stories the first night! I know he read them because he read them out loud. He was bored and ready for new stories! At bedtime he was allowed to take a book to bed. I would often find him later sound asleep still holding on to his book. Oh, there was also the daycare teacher who didn't want him to have a book at the table while waiting for breakfast. The kids could have a toy but not a book at the table. I could understand if there was food there but this was 20 minutes before breakfast would be served! My sister's daughter and 15 month old grandson live in her house. I just sent the little boy some board books. Everyone was thrilled! They said he already loves his books and these would hold up a little better than the regular books with paper pages since he hasn't learned to carefully turn a paper page.