By Michaela Moreno
Clink. Clink. Shouts come from all directions. The sounds of mutiny fill the air. At least, they do in the world of a book. Rather than view a book as a vile, endless chore, students and teachers alike see those pages as a new world to explore.
Seeing another world does not require the hassle of packing and getting a ticket, let alone leaving his or her chair or clicking a button to turn on a television. What is required is the turning of pages. This can be done anywhere at anytime. “I love to read in my bed. Only because it’s comfortable and quiet,” said senior Jared Beabout. Mr. Mayer, however, has a nice easy chair at home with a lamp behind it. “It’s the perfect amount of comfort and lighting,” said Mr. Mayer. Reading has no limits. Whether on the floor, in a car, or comfortably wrapped in a warm blanket.
There are more than thousands of books of all kinds available to everyone, and freshman Kirsten Morrow is currently wrapped up in Maze Runner. She believes that fiction books are the best because they are more interesting. Sophomore Breanna Morrow, who is reading The Traveler’s Gift, feels that romance novels are the books for her. “They are always so cute, and while they might not depict the real world, it is okay to dream once and while,” says Breanna Morrow with a smile.
Although there may be some fantastic books in the world, there comes a time when someone comes across a book that, in short terms, makes one want to rip his or her hair out. “I had to read Great Expectations for English once. It was a nightmare. It was not very interesting and we had to tear the book apart and take tests on every section we read,” said Breanna Morrow.
“Even as an English teacher,” said Mrs. Jessica Gordon, “I do dislike books sometimes! The Good Earth was one ‘classic’ that I thought I should read, but I could not get into it and never finished…”
Even though finding a book to read may sound easy to some people since there are libraries full of them in Plymouth, finding books can be difficult. Thankfully, that is what friends are for according to Beabout. Mr. Waymouth, on the other hand, looks at the New York Times bestseller list. Mr. Coffman chooses his books through, “Word of mouth or it being a critical success. Otherwise, I judge it on the first line. Great first lines are usually great books.” Mrs. Gordon tries to divide her reading “between classic literature and more contemporary pieces.” For current books, Mrs. Gordon usually goes by the recommendations of her friends.
"Books are my escape from the real world," sophomore Breanna Morrow said with a smile. Photo by: Michaela Moreno
Just as non readers wonder why readers enjoy reading, readers wonder why non readers dislike it. “I’ve never understood how some people can dislike books. You read all the time, whether you believe that fact or not. Magazines, online articles, text messages…..it’s all reading. So why not find a book and read something of some value? Books are just another form of escapism, just like television, music and movies. They do not deserve a bad rap because, in actuality, they are much better then all of those things because they are more detailed and get you much more involved.” says Mr. Mayer on the subject. To all those non readers out there, Mr. Coffman simply said, “Knowledge is power.”