Maybe I should read more books

• Tweet
• 

I always feel like I read less than I should.

But who can blame me? I haven’t read through a single book since
sophomore year — of high school.

I’ve always preferred watching movies. It puts all the visual
elements right there in front of me so I don’t have to use my lazy
imagination, wondering if I’m following the story correctly.

Besides, every good book eventually gets turned into a movie. Look
what happened to “The Da Vinci Code” and “The Constant Gardener.”

Anyway, there’s a weird thing about the books I read (or lack
thereof). They always end up being great reads, making me wonder why I
don’t read more books.

The earliest book I remember reading was “Shiloh,” by Phyllis
Reynolds Naylor. It’s the story about a dog of the same name, found
astray by a boy named Marty, who makes an intention to keep it from its
previous drunken owner. We had to read this one for a third grade class.

I loved the book so much that,at 9 years old, I rode my bike to the
local bookstore and bought it cheap and used with my weekly allowance.
I still have it to this day.

I also remember reading “Where The Red Fern Grows,” by Wilson Rawls,
in sixth grade. What a wonderful book that was.

It’s the story of a boy who had always dreamt of having two hunting
hounds but could never afford them. When he finally earns the money to
buy them, he takes them ’coon hunting every night, sharing memorable
moments with them.

Neither film based off the book did justice to the story. The ending
is timeless.

J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord Of The Rings” trilogy also was close to
timeless — and not necessarily because they were great books.

The time and effort it took to create a new world (Middle-earth) in
such detail that it could be just as accurate as history itself is
astonishing.

In fact, Tolkien’s world has its own extensive online encyclopedia,
complete with locations, family trees and more. Now that’s impressive.

The latest book I read, for a language arts class in high school,
was “The Count Of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, a story about a man
betrayed and left in prison for 17 years, only to come back and get
revenge on his enemies systematically. It was by far the most
entertaining book I’ve ever read.

But for some reason, even though I love pretty much every book I
have read, I still don’t take the time to read another and that
disappoints me.

“Marley & Me,” by John Grogan, looks great, but I never got
around to reading it. It’s the same with “A Million Little Pieces,” by
James Frey.

If my track record of book reading is any indication, both would
leave an impact on me.

Then again, I can just wait a couple years and just watch it on the
silver screen.

Brian Manzullo can be reached at bmanzullo@cm-life.com.