What is reading, anyway? Novels, comics, graphic novels, manga, e-books, audiobooks — which of these is reading these days? Are they all reading? Only some of them? What are your personal qualifications for something to be “reading” — why? If something isn’t reading, why not? Does it matter? Does it impact your desire to sample a source if you find out a premise you liked the sound of is in a format you don’t consider to be reading? Share your personal definition of reading, and how you came to have that stance.
In the younger, idealistic days of my early to mid-20s, I prided myself for having “taste” in books. I would look down at anyone reading a book written by a living author. There were enough proven novels written in the past for me to even bother with something new or within my parent’s or grandparent’s lifetime. Today I am much more confident in myself and in my reading*. I sometimes read for education, edification or simple entertainment. Each way, I’m exercising the most precious gift my parents gave me after my birth: a love for learning.
I encourage everyone to read what they want to because it’s what they want to read. Sometimes you may be compelled to read something, but look at that as a challenge. The more you read, the more doors the reading life will open for you.
* I must confess that I still take much pride in having read Ulysses, but I no longer judge those who haven’t. 
