When reading, or more accurately, thinking offline about the story that I am reading, I mentally pull apart the construct of the story itself. It gives me little epiphanies when I discover something the writer did in a rather subtle manner. For instance: “oh, I get it! The lawyer had to die because he could possibly have shed light on the whole mystery! His death kept the cast in the dark longer. How clever!”

Unfortunately, I’m not quite sure how to separate my current writing ambitions from genuine appreciation of good writing. Honestly, I have to say that the one thing most helped me appreciate reading was taking workshops in college. Reading and critiquing the stories of my friends taught me how to read critically, but to this day it sets me on edge when I read published stories that don’t work for me. Kind of a mixed blessing – it takes some of the fun out of reading when you catch yourself analyzing style and syntax in a paperback you picked up for “fun.”

Anyway, I agree with Ann – I read books differently now as a writer. Take Dracula for instance. I loved it the first time because of the great story, but the second time I can truly appreciate how difficult a task the author had. It is a book written in correspondence – letters, diary entries, newspaper articles, etc. So, the author tells the story in first person from 6 or 8 voices/characters. Men, women, different ages. It is really a remarkable book, from both a reader’s and a writer’s perspective.

I do believe that a writer needs to be a reader. It is important to know what is out there, just as a doctor or lawyer keeps up with trade journals.

I do not remember being this charged up about reading when I was in HS or college. I often wonder what could be done to keep people engaged, even what I could do. If the Kindle gets new people to read, I’m all for it.

One last thing – read anything by Jasper Fforde. And, read The Stolen Child by Keith Donahue.

I can’t help myself!!

We decided it is impossible, especially after reading what the said “non-reader” wrote.

I have to admit, since I started reading, I read differently. I see poor writing, feel it, and it hurts. I also feel and appreciate the skilled and beautiful way an author can turn a phrase.

As a writer, I find I thirst more for writing. I read at night and I listen to books while driving around in the car ( I’m currently listening to Widow of the South by Robert Hicks and I’m reading Lost in A Good Book by Jasper Fford — Amy is cheering!)

However, I think I am coming around to agree with the YA author, Louise Hawes, who stated that she can not read the same type of work she is currently working on, she feels it gets too muddled.

And as a writer and reader who currently has a home library of more than 3,000 books…I am an eternal optimist that reading in whatever form (downloaded to a palm pilot, iPod, Kindle, CD, or old-fashioned bound hardcover) reading will endure.