I’ve been so serious lately that I’m even boring myself, so in an attempt to lighten up, I’m going to share a quote that Donna gave me at church yesterday and then add a short application to go with it.
“If you cannot read all your books, at any rate handle them…peer into them, let them fall open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eyes, set them back on their shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so if you do know what is in them, you will at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; let them at any rate be your acquaintance.” Winston Churchill
The reason I like that quote so much is because that’s something I always do. Whether in a bookstore, library, or in my own home, I like to pick up different reading materials and dip into them a bit. Here’s an example. A couple of weeks ago my daughter Elizabeth and I were in Sam’s waiting for some pictures to be developed, and I went on a reading frenzy in the book and magazine section. I’m not sure whether Churchill would approve of magazines, but nevertheless, by doing so I learned what not to do if one wants to avoid looking the “o” word (old).
I thought maybe some of you more mature readers might benefit from my newfound knowledge. No more nude panty hose. This was a shock to me, but Elizabeth verified it. “Wear socks, tights, or nothing, ” she insisted. The article also gave advice on lipstick (think pink), cutting and coloring hair, and choosing jeans. The article, based on a book by Charla Krupp, also encouraged women to whiten their teeth and toss their muu muus. Oh, and as far as jewelry is concerned, no more gold necklaces or chandelier earrings.
So I took Churchill’s advice (without even knowing it) and learned a little bit about a lot of things. I came away feeling enlightened…but a little dowdy too. Not to fret. Elizabeth has promised to go jean shopping with her maturing mom. In the meantime, I’m thinking of ordering the book.
What about those of you out in blogland? Can you (will you) share an experience of something you’ve learned from peering into books or magazines and “reading from the first sentence that arrests the eye?”
mom's musings 
I read that same article!!! Alas, I am not going bare, socks, hmmmm…I do own tights. I am good on the jeans! I definitely dress better now than when the children were small. I have no idea what image I was trying to convey but it sure wasn’t good! The girls and I have laughed over this particular shirt I still own and apparently wore constantly with a denim jumper! I wear it now to amuse them (not in public though). Love the quote and I love books, period…mine and everyone else’s. I just like to have them near me. It is not unusual for me to read several at a time.
I have done what the quote suggests, opening a book to any page and starting to read, but not because I am looking for anything inspirational or important.
I have just reread my books so many times that I can pick up the middle of a story and know what’s going on. Very handy in the DMV line.
Great post, Connie. By the way, I’m enjoying Water for Elephants and hope to have it completed by our meeting Thursday night. About our “looks,” my clothes from the past look a little funny, but what’s really weird are the ways I wore my hair. Why didn’t someone help me???
Hayden, It’s always nice to become acquainted with a fellow bibliophile. I’ve often wondered what nonreaders think about. Right now my book club is reading Water for Elephants, and reading it has opened my eyes to so many things.
hmmm. Anytime I’m browsing for a certain subject in the library, I think I pick up a bunch of random facts by looking over books until I find the one I want…
I’m kind of a linear thinker with reading. I like to pick up a book with the intent to finish. I think I could really benefit from some book browsing though… thank you for the idea. I’ll get right on it. 🙂
It’s funny how we are all so different in our approach to reading and to learning in general. I could benefit from adopting your style too! In fact, we discussed Water for Elephants at our book club last night, and I knew of a certain incident that happened before I even began reading it because I thumbed through ahead of time and found it. It would have been better just to read from page one instead of finding out something so major before even beginning.