My wife Mayang got something in her eye, so the next morning I took her to the eye doctor to have it looked at, he flushed the eye and gave her some eye drops and pronounced her fine. While I was waiting, I was reading a book by Vince Flynn (Term Limits) which was recommended to me by a LiP and Facebook friend name Ron LaFleur, and I’ll tell you; Ron was not wrong, it’s a good read.”
Of course I was reading it on my Android Iview Cyber pad 9″ Tablet R2D2, a tiny computer like thingy, using a large font and passing the time. The young Filipino sitting on my right asked me what I was doing, I answered; “Reading a book.” Then he asked if that was all it did, and I explained to him all the things my daughter told me that the do hicky would do.
Can you play games the young man asked, and I responded in the affirmative, so he asked why I wasn’t playing games instead of reading a book? He explained that books were cheap and my machine was expensive and I was wasting money by using it as a book.
There was not much I could say as I did see his logic, so I explained that books were somewhat hard to find, and if you had to buy them new they were also expensive. I asked if he was a reader, and he said he would rather play games. I explained that my generation played all our games at the kitchen table and they came on a board and the other games we played were outside in a large group of friends.
Being that he was an intelligent sounding young man who spoke flawless English, I asked where he acquired his English. He said; “I grew up in Norfolk Virginia. Now knowing he was a Navy brat I asked if he was required to read books while he was in school, Text books only he explained to me, I said that I was required to read a classic every month and then do a report on the books I’d read.
I told him a story about my Dad bringing home a stack of comic books every Friday night on payday and giving them to his five sons. I laughed and said that my Mother would get mad at him because she thought they were rotting our young minds and not good for us until she saw that a few years later we were all reading novels and no longer needed the pictures and she had to admit my Father had been right.
So I saved my page and went to my bookshelf and let him see the titles of the books I had stored, and explained to him what the stories were about and the adventures the books told. He noted that I had a lot of movie titles among the books. I smiled and told him that if you read the book first, the movie will not interest you as Hollywood changes the story and never in a good way.
My wife came out of the exam room and we left, but not before I bid my farewell to my young friend. I don’t or will never know if he’ll ever become a reader, but I sure hope so. I know I never could have survived those long periods at sea without books to help me pass the time, remember we had no closed circuit TV on the ships when I joined the Navy, but they did show a movie on the mess decks every night at 2000.
Hey Paul, where’s the humor in this week’s story? Read: “Don’t Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk”, if that don’t crack you up, nothing I write ever will. If you don’t believe me, ask Bob Martin.
Interesting. I learned to read from comic books also. I was sick and missed a lot of school in the second grade. When I got to the third grade I was started in the lowest level reading group. I could not believe what slow readers we had in our group (or in the whole class for that matter), and I was very frustrated.
I soon was put into the highest level reading group. The comics held my interest better than the simplified readers used in the school, and as you say, I soon learned to read without the pictures.
Mike;
Similar stories about learning to love to read, the thing I tried to explain to my teacher that reading was a pleasure, and her book reports took the fun out of it and made it a chore. But she did get me interested in the classics. Moby Dick by Melville is still a book that I’ll read over and over.
This resonated with me. I started reading early and have loved it ever since. My grandfather bought me a history book for the Christmas when I was 5. The photos and drawings inspired me to learn to read better. It also created a dual addiction of history and reading.
My ex used to get so annoyed because I had books at each place I spent time except at the table; bedroom, bathroom, living room, car, etc. My average is 3-5 a week.
A personal favorite author because of the subject, quality of his research, and readability as well as being privileged to meet him for a time, is W.E.B. Griffin.
I know that shipping 30 totes of books when I move is not practical, but at least one or two balikbayan boxes will have books. I have about 1300 stored in digital form on my laptop but there is the tactile satisfaction of leafing through the pages of an old friend worn with repeated reading that digital doesn’t quite have.
Iin legendo, est delectatio.
LeRoy;
You’re taxing my Parochial School Latin, but a pleasure it is and has always been to sit with a good book and travel the world and time within its pages. I’d thought I’d have trouble putting down a real book and picking up a tablet but the case is not true for me, owing to the trouble of finding the books you want here. So I dragged myself kicking and screaming into the digital age.
W.E.B. Griffin is a favorite of mine also both his fiction and non-fiction. As long as I can keep increasing the size of the font, I’ll keep reading.
I also read books electronically. As you say books are often expensive and hard to find. I have a Barnes and Noble Nook, but I tend to user iPhone because 1) is is always with me and 2) I have Apps for Nook, Kindle and iBooks so I can read whatever is available at a good price in any of these formats.
Mike;
I searched for a Kindle or a Nook here in the Philippines but to no avail, Bob Martin and another friend Tommy suggested a Tablet with an App for an e-reader, and I’ve thanked them both. I love it!
Each of the malls here in Tagum City have used book stores. I have picked up a few. When I was younger I would read a book each night before bed. 🙂
Gary;
A lot of the bars here in my area have a book trading deal, bring one take one, and we also have used and new book stores, but finding the authors you like is somewhat difficult, with the e-reader I download the exact books I want.
Like you Paul, the books in school that were not forced reads seemed less like a chore and were more enjoyable. Just this week I have the urge to read “Kontiki” again…probably for about the nth time. And I might just re-read Hemingway’s “Old Man and the Sea” also, no pun intended! Ha
Randy;
When you’re forced to read something they have sucked all the pleasure out of the book, I told my teacher that over the summer I’d read many books, and she could quiz me on anyone of them, but since it was not a school project she could pack sand waiting for a book report.
Hi Paul.
I do not play any video game. Never have never will. Boring.
I read a lot of books though.
On the ships too.
I haven’t come up to speed to use the e books though.
Too bad the Philippines doesn’t have public libraries…
Jade
Jade;
This is my first month with the e-reader and I’m still learning, but I’ve found that it’s fairly simple, and believe me I need simple. But I’ve read 5 books off it so far.
On board ship I had the video game called DOOM, and after 15 years I could go through every level like grain through a goose, but only on my computer at work, in my stateroom I read.
I like that I can up the size of the print, so I can read longer without getting a headache. I have a year’s supply of books loaded and just delete them after I’m done, the originals I store on the computer with the other 1500 I’ve stored.
I just want my 250 or so comics back from 60+ years ago……My bank account would be over flowing……………
Lenny;
I was thinking the same thing about all the comics me and my brothers had, but I also wish I’s stored some of the cars I’ve owned back then, I wonder what a 1968 Super Bee or a 1965 Ford Galaxy 500 Convertible would be worth today?
Paul you probably know I still read comics from my Facebook page. Nothing better for sheer escapism. I like to read in general and usually pick up spy novels. Jack Higgins is a favorite. This response is actually for Lenny. Many of those old comics are available from the publishers in electronic form. Venture to their websites to find them or just google ‘digital comics’.
I meant to add that Lenny can rebuild that old collection digitally and not only take up a lot less space but do it significantly cheaper if he had collectible ones.
Mark;
It’s been a long time since I’ve picked up a comic book, as they weren’t available here in Asia and I was only in the US a month or so a year so I lost track of them. But I have started reading thriller/Adventure books by Vince Flynn and Brad Thor. Give them a try, and I check out Jack Higgins on my end.
Hey Paul, You probably got a better deal getting the Android Iview Cyber pad 9″ Tablet R2D2. I have the 7” nook and like it but may like the bigger screen better. At any rate these e-readers are the only way to read. I should have got one several years ago. I just bought 2800 books on a disk for around $5.00 and most of the classics are there along with three audio books. I am listening to Huck Fin now, saving the eyes. All of those Vince Flynn books are super good.
Hey Loren;
I might have lucked out with Tommy leaving the Kindle on the plane, I like the large screen, and we’ll trade books when you get here. I used to use those audio books on cassette on cross country trips, I like them. Ron a FB buddy told me about Vince Flynn and I downloaded them all, he’s a great read. See ya next month!
Paul have you ever uploaded any audio books yet?
Randy;
No I haven’t, I still prefer reading to audio, but on a long car trip the audio books are great, I’m only sorry that long auto trips here in the Philippines are out of the question, it would take six months to here the book.
Hi Paul,
I have made the switch to e books now i have a tablet. I bought a Motorola Xoom 10″ tablet. I do enjoy that I can read books on it for one books have gotten so expensive and it uses no paper so no need to cut a tree down. Another thing is a lot of new books are coming out E reader only and you have to special order a printed copy. The one I am reading now “Maybe I should Just Shut up and Go Away” by Neal Boortz is e book only.
But there is something about holding a real book I miss. I really cannot put my finger on what it is that i miss though. I use Amazon’s Kindle app and Google’s Play Books. I do like Google’s app better because when you turn the page it actually looks like your turning a page in a real book.
And keep up the good work, I love reading your articles.
Scott;
Now that you point that out, you’re right, there is something inherently different holding the tablet vice a real book, I can’t put my finger on it either. Maybe after six months or so I’ll forget about what it is and be acclimated to e-book only. We’ll see!
But I do love the large print!
Paul:
I’ve been re-reading the classics on my flights. Just finished Crime and Punishment and got through about 1/2 of The Good Earth last night. I’ve seen them in a new light now that I don’t have some English teacher sucking every ounce of joy out of them. They call them the classics for a reason and I’m enjoying them
John,
As I just told New York Bob below they are great for traveling, if you remember to take it with you when you debark. I’ll read a classic every 3rd or 4th book, just because I like them. And I’m with you about the teachers and their damn book reports!
Waisting time by not playing games on your E Book reader ? From the kid you mention in your article I can see his viewpoint. Even here, I see people all over the place using one kind of handheld electronic marvel or another playing games on them. To me that is a waste of an item that could be used for many other things although I don’t have one myself so I am not familiar with all that they can do LOL.
Bob;
It’s just a very small portable computer, kinda’ like a 9 inch screen on an I-Phone. My daughter uses it to check her face book and stuff like that, and my wife has her games that she likes, me I have a couple of hundred books on it and all I use it for is to read. Oh you can watch a movie on it too, great when you’re flying. Less than $150.00, I love it.
This will get you to the free audio books site. I have not checked it out much but I am listening to a book right now on my computor.
archive.org/details/librivoxaudio
Loren;
Thank you I’ll check that out.
kudos for book reading Paul. it may be becoming a lost art. i was born with Lazy Eye and was encouraged by my doctor to read books to try to strength my eyesight. i dont think it ever worked for the eyesight but i grew an appreciation for reading. i am extremely picky about what i read. same with tv shows and movies. but i can still find plenty to read and i love most reality shows and some game shows.just interacting with people and learning how they think and feel is my days entertainment for me. so i can understand the valued conversation you had with the young man in the waiting room. thanks for the good article
Hi Donna;
TV hold very little for me also, but I do download Showtime and HBO TV series and watch one episode every afternoon, I just finished all seven seasons of Showtime’s “Dexter” and I have other series in my computer for later. But reading has been and will always be my favorite form of relaxation. The part I like most is now I’ve been to most places here on Earth so I can envision where they are in the story as I read.
As for that young man I hope he finds the adventure that reading offers, as I know he’ll view the world through different eyes when he’s done.
“A man who won’t read has no advantage over a man who can’t read.” Mark Twain
Take care,
Pete
Pete;
“Don’t let schooling interfere with your education.”
Mark Twain
Again I believe Mr. Samuel L.Clemens,
was speaking to reading once more.
I believe he was, Paul. And since we’re trading Mark Twain quotes. Here’s one on the opposite side of the coin.
“Experience is a good teacher, but a fool will learn no other.”
Mark Twain
Take care,
Pete.
Pete;
This could go on all day since we both seems to be fans of Mark Twain, he’s has some great quotes! (LOL)
Paul,
The e-reader sounds like something i may get when i get there. All of Vince Flynns’s books are good. Alot of my friends at the jail also read his books. Another good author to check out is Brad Thor. Just counting the days now, time is getting short. Take care and have a nice day.
Randy;
I just downloaded the Brad Thor collection, I’ll check him out. Get your short-timers chain and remove a link every month, that’s how we did it in the Navy.
Paul, Sorry i forgot. My new e-mail is [email protected]. Just switched from Yahoo to Google.
Randy;
I just sent you an e-mail to test your address, please respond if you receive it.And thank Anne for me!
I have a Nook but quit using it. Once I got an ipad it became my go to for just about everything I do. Even now I am using the ipad. I know ipads are not the only tablets but what a technological game changer. I watch movies, email, internet research, maps, skype, face time, books, music, sketch pad for drawing, keep my calendar for my business, write my business reports, take pics and videos with it. Its endless and I don’t need a tv or computer anymore. Its all in my hands.
Ron;
My android does all that too, as I think they copied the I-Pad, but you’re right they do so much and are so easy to carry around, Happy Reading!
Paul,
A few years back, your wrote to the effect “Chester” ask you to write again I’m assuming for the R.A.O. Even though your writings have moved over to hear, the swabby humor injected with each of your writings is most enjoyable for those of us who have similiar experiences of living there and being married to a filipina. I knew Chester (Chet) Gross very well as we served together for four (4) years in Hawaii and drank quit a few magoos together on deployments. Never stop writing as some of us ole swabbies roll on the floor laughing at your antics and life in general we all live. As the month of May approaches, the anticipation of getting there for our month long vacation is killing me. Well not really killing me, but the feeling of being at sea for 6 months and finally pulling into a great liberty port.
John D. USN/RET
Shipmate John;
With the RAO it lacked feedback as with LiP, and except for sitting in a watering hole and some guy would ask if I was the guy who wrote that, I never really knew if anyone read it. Here on LiP most people know that I’m retired Navy but they come from many different walks of life and would not understand if I wrote with that Navy slant Plus only a shipmate would believe those things happened to us. (LOL) I miss Chester as he was a good guy and did a great job for all of us at the RAO, albeit those who came after him kept up the fine work he started. They all are a wonderful group of people.
May will get here quick enough, I look forward to May also as the heat stops and the rainy season begins, and I like that time of year. Have a safe trip
Paul, if you told that young boy that you worte about funny things on facebook, he would never pick up another book. The games would have won out. Ha,Ha
JC;
So I’ll assume he’d become another Face Book adict?