I wanted to put together a discussion on what makes a “great reader” – is it someone who is well read (whatever definition you place on that), is it someone who is well versed in classics, or is it someone who reads 100 books a year? When trying to piece together my thoughts I ended up with the following post, and decided to run with it, just as it is. To all the great readers – from one Book Geek to another –
A great reader is someone who understands the unrelenting need to read the written word.
A great reader is someone who doesn’t judge or criticise others based on genre, style or author.
A great reader is empathetic, accepting and understanding – their reading life has taught them that there are many, many characters in this world, and that there is room for all of them.
A great reader encourages others to read, in whatever way may suit them… perhaps being slightly over-enthusiastic in their encouragement…
A great reader never gives up trying to find that next great story, the one that whisks them up and takes them away on a great adventure.
A great reader reads classics, and contemporary, fact and fiction. Maybe all of them at the same time. Maybe only one.
A great reader will judge a book based on its cover, obsess over book-boyfriends and fictional heroes, and will feel a rush of excitement like no other at the mention of “a sequel”.
A great reader has the ability to pick-up on the mention of “a book” from a long distance – their eyes glazing over with nostalgia, remembering the books that made them fall in love with reading.
A great reader will always appreciate the smell of a book store, because it almost smells like home.
What would you add? Tell me your thoughts on what makes a great reader.
Reblogged this on The Geek Undergraduate and commented:
A reader Is some one who reads, a great reader is some one who reads with passion and understanding. There is a great reader in all of us, we just meerly have to find the right books to unlock the door. I remember fondly the nights in which i would Stay up all night as a child reading book after book after book which sparked my love of books throughout my life. But what do You think makes a great reader?
LikeLike
Aww, I love this! All so true! This warmed my heart and helped my mood today. xx
LikeLike
That’s good to know, B! Love when a little post can put a smile on someone’s face, especially yours! ❤ R x
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a beautiful post, Rachel! I have to agree with everything on this list – especially the third one. Great readers learn the power and importance of empathy through the books they read, and they understand the lovely diversity of the world we live in. ❤
LikeLike
Thank you! I really do find that people who like to read seem to have a more empathetic and understanding outlook – they’ve experienced more and walked in other people’s shoes, if only figuratively! R x
LikeLike
What a fantastically sentimental post about reading! I have shared this one 🙂
LikeLike
Aw, thank you Jeann, glad you liked it. R x
LikeLike
Fantastic post Rachel – and so true too. Readers are diverse, and sure know how to recognise the merits of a book, often being fangirls at the same time 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for commenting, Eugenia! R x
LikeLike
A great reader is one that knows that their interpretation of a story is just as right as the author’s.
Great post (:
LikeLike
Thanks, Felicia! R x
LikeLike
[…] Rachel shares what a great reader is […]
LikeLike
What a great post; I can’t think of anything to add! I’m going to link this in to my Sunday Post next week.
LikeLike
Thank you! 😀 Glad you liked it R x
LikeLike
[…] Bissett’s video with a post called You Want Me To DEFACE My Books!? I waxed poetic about what makes a great reader and hosted a guest post by author Melanie Ansley who thinks animal stories aren’t just for […]
LikeLike
[…] What Makes a Great Reader? wonders Confessions of a Book Geek. […]
LikeLike
[…] Rachel shares what a great reader is. […]
LikeLike
[…] pick just one?! Two posts I’m pretty proud of are Why I Believe In The Freedom To Read, and A Great Reader Is… These were pretty spare-of-the-moment posts, written from a burst of inspiration, that also have a […]
LikeLike
[…] A Great Reader Is… […]
LikeLike
Ha! I love this! Though I don’t know if I totally qualify as a great reader based on all of these qualifications. I’m not much of a non-fiction reader, unfortunately. 🙂
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
LikeLike
Oooooh nooo. I hoped it would read more like, great readers are all of theses things, and none of these things, if you know what I mean? That they aren’t all mutually exclusive. Perhaps I need a reworking… R x
LikeLiked by 1 person