The long version

This is a lengthy response to John Green's recent YouTube video about the state of the book industry. It really struck a chord with me, and I found the response space to be not nearly enough to fully explore my feelings. Here is a link to the video in question.

This may never be read, but here goes anyway:

Quite frankly, (and especially as someone who works in the book industry), I'm terrified by the current lack of respect for books. I have loved books since before I learned how to read them - books are magic. I think the problem is that people aren't brought up with that respect that I was - books are seen now as expensive and labor intensive. Anything that's more difficult than Twilight is too much work for some kids.

"They" (all the book moguls) thought E-books would be the solution to this problem, but E-books don't satisfy the true book lovers and are too expensive for people who will read something only if it's cheap and easy.

I feel like the current youth need more inspiring reads - take Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It bridges the gap between picture book and young reader books, and kids like it - we NEED more books like that. But we also need more books that will transcend that and bridge the next gap, books that will grow with those children who haven't yet developed the hatred that is inspired by teachers making them read things and do book reports.

Also, do away with book reports! How many kids do a book report without even reading the book? What lesson do they get, what inspiration?

The truth is, I don't know the solution, but I have a feeling that it's similar to the solutions to many of the other problems the world faces at this time - individuals have to stand up and do something about it.

Buy a book. Read to children. Read. Just read.

And one year later...

Wow, I haven't been out this way in awhile. Not that anyone missed me.

So I'm a little over a year into the job referenced in the last post and I love every minute of it. It's a crazy crazy store but there's always something fun and exciting to do and it makes me happy. My staff is great, my fellow managers are awesome. It just makes me really happy to be there.

I've also decided to start working on a book. It's going to be fun!

New Job

Starts tomorrow...

I'm nervous and excited all at once. It's a new project... kind of like knitting only with less wrist damage.

I'll be an Assistant Store Manager at a different BN. I have to get to know a whole new staff. It's kind of freaky, but cool too. I'm trying not to let my nerves get to me but I don't think I'll be able to help it for much longer.

Viveka's coming along. I posted a new picture of it over in Ravelry.

Slowly... but surely

I have a tragic relationship with knitting. I would love to be able to knit every day and have all of my projects done in a timely fashion. That luck does not belong to me, as I am saddled with wrist that sucks.

This fact means that a sweater takes forever.

I've been working on Viveka for the better part of 6 months now, and I still haven't finished the back.

Although the upside is that it makes the reward all that much sweeter.

Reading

I've taken to reading more of late. I think it's a product of the need to expand my brain. I feel like I haven't learned anything in awhile. I think this is why I'm gravitating towards non-fiction, where in the past I would read fiction almost exclusively.

I wonder if this happens to everyone when their formal education stops - eventually they turn toward new ways of learning.

In a Funk

And I hate people right now. A lot.

2 days

I'm composing this blog while my computer (lovingly named "Mack the Knife") hums noisily under my fingertips, presumeably tired from all the work I'm making it do for me right now.

I'm coming to the conclusion of two incredibly restfull days off from work, which gave me time for several things, including the casting off of not one but two knit items on the needles (one half of a pair of pedicure socks, and the sash of a kimono style sweater which appears will be a gift as it doesn't look as though it will fit me), and catching up on some DVD watching that I've fallen way behind on.

I've spent the better part of these 48 hours by myself, which sometimes leaves me lonely and wondering if my friends are really mine, and sometimes leaves me glad to have the time where I don't have to deal with people and their baggage.

I wonder what 2007 has in store for me. Changes, I know, but what?