Reeding is Fundumentall

 

Yikes! According to The Guardian article America ranks 36th in literacy. 20% of Americans are illiterate. The article is about the decline of reading for fun. There has been a 40% decline in book reading in the past decade. I think I might be the reason the stats are off kilter. My book reading for fun is in the sewer. It's hard finding something interesting to read. My sister, bless her heart keeps sending me books she loves, mysteries with elderly ladies who own cats and no one swears and everyone drinks tea. No. I keep telling her, as nice as I can that I don't go for this genre. I don't read romance novels, historical fiction, old lady private investigator tales or what they call cozy comfort books. My interest lies in nonfiction, travel, snow, thrills and adversity. I have never ever let a best seller list determine my reading selection. In fact it's a great tool to advise me where not to go. I cannot stand James Patterson or John Grisham. Colleen Hoover!? Who? She's big. I don't know her.

It's not about who. It's about why. Why have people stopped reading for enjoyment? Anything! A book, a magazine, the back of a cereal box... We just don't read unless we must such as a contract or instructions when building an IKEA bookshelf/bed/dining table. 

My book reading has been slim because nothing interests me. I still read. I read enough to verify other people don't read anymore. Especially the yoot who ask dumb questions you can find by reading a book. Unfortunately, it's the rural poor who are falling behind. Black people aren't reading (according to this article) only the elite and college educated still pick up a book. I can understand why people far out in the woods don't have access to reading material but there's little excuse for anyone else. Books are everywhere. Libraries, thrift stores, book boxes, garage sales, dumpsters. There is no excuse to not read a book unless you just prefer to remain narrow minded and clueless. 

I'm guessing a vast majority of non readers are Trump lovers. I cannot imagine any of his aides and lackeys reading for enjoyment. We all know the orange man has never read a book. So what is it, the cause or effect here? Are people reading less because they are stupid Magas, or are Magas, Magas because they don't read? I cannot just point to the red hatters. In my recent semester in c-o-l-l-e-g-e  I was disturbed by the amount of eighteen year olds who stumbled over reading material while reading out loud. It was embarrassing. These are college students who will be in debt until they are dead. The least they can do is fucking learn how to read. It certainly does not give one hope for the future when one writes in abbreviated code. 

Wuz up?

U?

Where u b?

🥶🤒🤧

Anyway... mea culpa. I need to find something I can fall into, forget about real life and find contentment for a few hours. 

For those who can read and come here to read this, I thank you and here's a gold star. ⭐

*Speaking of reading. This article is from The Guardian, the only news source I ever paid for although I stopped my subscription when the orange man won and I swore I'd never read again but now I do and I feel guilty for stealing articles when I haven't resubscribed because I keep forgetting and I'm not rich although it only costs $5 which is a deal. Next month, Guardian, next month.