Saturday Discussion: Why do you read?

When I wrote down this question, I was thinking more along the terms of why do you read instead of watching t.v. See my friend wants to read, she really does but then she watches t.v. instead. So I wanted to talk about this. But I figured an even better question would be why do you read at all? What's the purpose for sitting down every day and burying your nose into a book for as long as you can. So I'm going to talk about my reasons this week and then compare and contrast books and television next week.

There are a bunch of reasons I read but here's a very broad scope of them:

by DusterAmaranth

1) To learn- Reading helps me learn about different cultures, different situations, different places, different people. It just puts me somewhere else entirely and I learn something new every time I pick up a book. It's one of the things I love most.

2) To hone my craft- This goes a little bit with the learning thing. I'm an aspiring author so why wouldn't I read wants fresh and selling? I always laughed at the kids in my creative writing classes that "only read classics". While classics have merit, if you want to be a writer in modern times you need to know about your intended market. What's more you need to help boost your intended market. Every book you buy as a reader is another reason why publishers will buy your book one day. Without a market, no one will even touch your book. Not to mention, you can learn a lot about the craft by studying someone else.

by breathing2004

3) To make a new friend- By the end of a good book, I'll be in love with at least one character. That's what spending a couple hundred pages will do to you. I love looking over my shelf and remembering the adventures I had with Katniss from The Hunger Games.

4) For a goal- When I was in ninth grade, a teacher told us to make a list of things we'd like to accomplish in our lives. I don't remember a single one except "to own and have read 1,000 books". Every book I buy and read brings me one step closer to that goal!

5) To discuss- I'm as addicted to the written word as I am to talking about it with you lovely people. There is nothing I love better than sitting down to dinner and discussing how the slow sizzle of Tris and Four's relationship (from Divergent) was so incredible satisfying that I want to do it all over again.

by MaureenOlder

6) For funsies- Lame, I know but let's not forget the reason we all picked up a book in the first place. To occupy our minds, go on some amazing adventure and smile at the ending. I want to be entertained. I don't really see the point in reading if I don't want to see what's on every next page.

7) For the feeling- There is nothing better in the world then hoping out of a hot shower, feeling the warmth still clinging to the skin as you slide into bed and crack open a book. of falling in love when the heroine (or hero does) and rejoicing when they make their goal.

These are the reasons I can think of right now. I'm sure there are loads more and I'd love to hear them from you! So you tell me, why do you read?