Postimet
I've been suffering from a nasty cold all week. It's one of those without undue headaches or sneezing or coughing, but unfortunately, with all the congestion in my chest, just walking up the stairs makes me so tired I feel like I'm going to tip over from exhaustion.
When I'm feeling under the weather like I am now, I like to do nothing more than read. I used to read a book a week, but the older I get and the more responsibilities I take on at home, at work, or wherever, I find myself reading less and less. So this week, despite the lingering cold, I'm reading like mad and loving it. Yet instead of reading one of the 100s of unread first edition books I own that are bound to be well written and dramatic, I'm reading a Star Wars novel.
I have over 50 Star Wars novels in my library, and I've read nearly every one. The same cannot be said for over half of the other books in my collection. Yet even though I continue to read them pretty religiously, almost no one knows I read these books. My wife teases me about it, and my good friend Jason has all but conceded that he'll never talk me out of it. But other then those two, no one knows. (Until now, obviously.)
It's almost like I'm ashamed of myself. It's like I'm reading romance novels instead of popular fiction that reaches millions of readers each year. I hide it from everyone, knowing that ridicule and jokes are right around the corner when I announce my reading habits. I mean, I'm a grown man. I graduated with an English degree. I understand the difference between a good writing and bad. I should know better, right?
The funny thing is, I know that most of these novels aren't very good. Hell, half the time I put them down and proclaim, "I'm not reading this drivel anymore." No matter the storyline, there's never any real emotion. At least, not the likes of which you'll find in novels not owned by someone other than the author. No Star Wars novel grabs me, makes me want to laugh, or puts a lump in my throat. And here I am, reading Star Wars: Tempest, the third book in the Legacy of the Force series, the 10th or 12th or 20th such series set in the Star Wars universe. And you know what? It's not that bad. Actually, that's not it exactly. The book is familiar. Yeah, that's more like it. I know these characters and I want to know what happens next, despite my inner English student's protests.
This must be how housewives feel about their soap operas. Or why so many comic book readers read the same series each and every month regardless of whether or not the story's any good. It's that serial fiction that compels you to tune in time and time again, because you know that things are going to heat up and really get rocking the second you bow out.
Sure, I can think of a 100 better things to read then Star Wars novels, but despite their shortcomings, they are entertaining, and I know exactly what I'm getting into each and every time. And while that should be the kiss of death, sometimes, when you're stressed, or tired, or have a nasty cold, it's just what the doctor ordered.
