Input no. 2
How I Am As A Reader
Note: Taken from Literary Visions Journal – An assignment for my literary class in college at PWU-IFAD (GEEN 216) under my professor and friend Ms Janet Tauro.
The first book I ever read was Winnie The Pooh. This was a large picture book which I used to play like a toy tent before I could actually understand its purpose. Then there was the infamous “My Readers” which I think every kindergarten of that time got a hold. Since then I never stopped reading.
I usually read only the books that interest me. And this covers a very wide range of subject. The best book I read was Ideals and Ideologies of Modern Politics by Mark Hagopian. This is a collection of essays on various political lines. It helped me understand how certain groups of people picture the world. I also like the Origin Of The Family, Private Property and State by F. Engels. This helped me formulate my foundations of my philosophy in life which is basically dialectical materialist of some sort (a hybrid type as I inputed other factors). The best novel I read was J. Lacaba’s Days of Disquiet Nights of Rage and Luwalhati Bautista’s Dekada ’70.
By reading a book, I learn how to fix cassettes and radios. By reading a book I am able to understand our history and our spiritual behaviour. By reading a book I am able to understand the twisted mind of the author. By reading a book I am able to decide wisely whether the author is telling the truth or is ther to decieve you (eg Plain Truth magazines). Whenever I buy an appliance or any other devices, I read the manual first, so as I could fully exploit the gadget’s function.
But the book that I have never could put down are the Bible and the Dictionary. There was a time when I read the bible like a novel (page after page). But I haven’t actually finished it. I also did this to the dictionary (which I learned is not an effective way of enhancing your vocabulary). I even read a foreign language book just to hear how the people speak that language, even if I could not understand what the book was all about (Really? – Ms Tauro),
– 30 –
Good reading habits – Ms Tauro.
Post notes: I later learned that the bible should not be read like a novel as these are actually notes from several authors spanning several periods of time. One may be contradicting the other depending on the culture and their own understanding of things. I was able to aquire a claretian guide on how to read the bible and am doing well with it now.
The foreign language book I recall was a book I picked up from goethe institute – a german cultural center. As a fine arts student, I frequent these places along with many galleries around town.
