The Open Dosa

Consuming the Ordinary Differently

My poor reading habits

Melbebs with VC

Cartoon by Veena Carmel.

These days, I spend most of my time on YouTube or Watch Series. The habit of picking up a book when bored or actually enjoying it has weaned off on me. Every time I do pick up a book, I begin yawning and the next thing I know, I’ve fallen asleep. I wake up from a wonderful dream much, much later, drooling all over the pages.

When I have to read a book for college, I end up watching a movie adaptation instead. I loved the film adaptation of Gabriel Marquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera, for instance. I watched the movie over and over again.  All this reminds me of the doomsday my mother and teacher had predicted when I first began my obsession with films.

To be honest, it’s been a long time since I touched a book by its cover, especially since everything I need already exists as an e-book. The PDFs keep waiting for me though, but I can’t care less. On the one hand, I am pained to see this change but on the other, I remember I have less free time (that’s how I console myself).

I still have the habit of buying books and storing them in my cupboard, however. Perhaps it’s my high-speed internet that’s spoiling me. I wonder why books can’t be written like movies or TV shows. Often, there is a huge distinction between the way books are written and how motion pictures are made. In an era where people wait an entire year to watch Game Of Thrones on TV, the quicker entertainment option of the internet seems more pleasurable.

What I cannot gain from books, I try to gain by watching movies. There is always something like a Game of Thrones or a Mr. Robot that can literally capture you, although most of the time, I am just going with the flow of images flashing across my screen – I need to watch something while I eat my dinner. Nyan Cat can be seen as the most impossible pop culture read, but I would now rather watch the video than read a thick book. This might seem like blasphemy to the bibliophiles but I am just saying that the medium of consumption is changing a lot faster. A TV show like True Detective follows both the narrative style as well as manages to entertain.

Now again, when I swell up with the guilt of not reading, I pick up a graphic novel or a comic. I remember reading my first graphic novel in the first year of college. In our tutorials, we were expected to read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. Dressed in black and white ink, this beautiful creation is pure pleasure. As my professor told me, graphic novels are a blend of movies and novels—dynamic and static. You can feel the characters move while reading them. You can hear them speak. And often, they have a very bold voice that talks for the character.

This satisfies both my guilty pleasure—that of savoring movies and the need to read books. The only problem with graphic novels is that they are often too expensive for a student’s budget. This would not be a problem if the e-versions existed or were easily available. Even as I typed all that I have said above, I checked my Facebook notifications twice, watched some stupid video on ScoopWhoop and visited my YouTube to check if College Humor posted a new video. This is my first instinct when I wake up as well; to check for new videos and new notifications. Now you see why I don’t have time. I lose around one and a half hours trying to get off Facebook. I think I need psychological help. I really do.

We live in a flood of information and sweep of notifications, likes and videos. Have you heard of the new AIB video? I think it’s sexist!

Bling! ‘You have another notification’.

Listen! Seriously! How am I supposed to read with all these distractions? Sometimes I wish I never had internet at all. I wish I lived in one of those cottages on the outskirts of the city, with only books to read beside a fireplace. Wait! Where is the WiFi?

After a point, I realize that I cannot any longer speak in normal sentences. I speak in slangs and broken sentences; my tenses all wrong. Perhaps, it’s because in all this chaos, I have never managed to finish an entire book. Not one in the entire year. I truly have begun to sound like one of the YouTube videos I am so accustomed to watching.

 

The following two tabs change content below.

Latest posts by Melvin Mathew (see all)

Next Post

Previous Post

42 Comments

  1. Hildegard 6th April 2022

    Fantastic web site. A lot of useful information here.

    I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing
    in delicious. And certainly, thanks on your sweat!

  2. https://autohub.ng/user/profile/1384405 6th April 2022

    It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before end I am
    reading this fantastic article to increase my know-how.

  3. historydb.date 6th April 2022

    I just like the helpful info you supply to your articles.

    I will bookmark your blog and check once more right here frequently.
    I’m slightly sure I’ll be informed lots of new stuff right right
    here! Best of luck for the next!

  4. sc.sie.gov.hk 6th April 2022

    Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post!
    It is the little changes that will make the most important changes.

    Thanks a lot for sharing!

  5. https://www.oneherosuits.com/ 6th April 2022

    I’ve been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I
    never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for
    me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers
    made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more
    useful than ever before.

  6. manchesterclopedia.win 6th April 2022

    Thanks very interesting blog!

  7. funsilo.date 6th April 2022

    It’s actually a great and useful piece of information.
    I’m glad that you simply shared this useful info with us.
    Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.

  8. motogpdb.racing 6th April 2022

    Good blog you have got here.. It’s difficult to find excellent writing like yours these
    days. I seriously appreciate people like you!
    Take care!!

  9. https://pastelink.net/liy61mkz 6th April 2022

    When I initially commented I appear to have clicked on the
    -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from
    now on each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the same
    comment. Perhaps there is an easy method you are able to remove me from that service?
    Many thanks!

  10. notes.io 6th April 2022

    Wonderful, what a web site it is! This webpage gives valuable facts to us, keep it
    up.

  11. avxiong.com 6th April 2022

    Hmm is anyone else encountering problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
    I’m trying to figure out if its a problem on my end or if it’s the
    blog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

  12. myclc.clcillinois.edu 6th April 2022

    Hi there colleagues, its enormous post about educationand
    completely explained, keep it up all the time.

  13. sc.devb.gov.hk 6th April 2022

    It is perfect time to make some plans for the longer term and it is time to be happy.
    I’ve learn this publish and if I could I want to recommend you
    few interesting issues or tips. Perhaps you could write subsequent articles relating to this
    article. I desire to learn even more things about it!

  14. https://linktr.ee/wattslanghoff46 6th April 2022

    Wow! In the end I got a web site from where I can in fact get useful information concerning my study and knowledge.

  15. digitaltibetan.win 6th April 2022

    Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to “return the
    favor”.I’m trying to find things to enhance
    my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!

  16. hawkee.com 6th April 2022

    Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding something totally, however this piece
    of writing gives good understanding yet.

  17. www.ted.com 6th April 2022

    Hi, There’s no doubt that your web site could be having web browser compatibility
    problems. Whenever I take a look at your web site in Safari, it looks
    fine however, if opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues.

    I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
    Apart from that, excellent site!

  18. http://court.khotol.se.gov.mn/user/voicealloy6/ 6th April 2022

    You really make it appear so easy with your
    presentation but I in finding this topic to be actually one thing that I believe I’d by no means understand.

    It seems too complicated and very huge for me. I am taking a look forward in your next publish, I will try
    to get the hang of it!

  19. www.ted.com 6th April 2022

    I quite like looking through an article that can make people think.
    Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!

  20. blip.fm 6th April 2022

    This site really has all of the info I needed about this
    subject and didn’t know who to ask.

  21. wensha.ca 6th April 2022

    Link exchange is nothing else but it is only placing the other
    person’s blog link on your page at proper place and other person will also
    do similar for you.

  22. clashofcryptos.trade 7th April 2022

    Fantastic blog! Do you have any recommendations for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you recommend starting with a free platform
    like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused ..
    Any suggestions? Thank you!

  23. www.hulkshare.com 7th April 2022

    It’s nearly impossible to find experienced people for this subject, however, you seem
    like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks

  24. algowiki.win 7th April 2022

    Pretty component of content. I just stumbled upon your site and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact loved account
    your weblog posts. Anyway I’ll be subscribing on your augment and even I achievement
    you get entry to consistently fast.

  25. blandbland62.edublogs.org 7th April 2022

    I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following.
    unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this
    hike.

  26. cryptomonnaies.me 7th April 2022

    Thanks in support of sharing such a fastidious opinion, post is good,
    thats why i have read it entirely

  27. black superman costume 7th April 2022

    Very energetic article, I loved that bit. Will there be
    a part 2?

  28. https://zippyshare.com/heliumteller50 7th April 2022

    of course like your web-site but you need to check the spelling on quite a few of your posts.
    Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I in finding it very troublesome to tell
    the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.

  29. https://splice.com/chalkfired63 7th April 2022

    Very nice article, just what I wanted to find.

  30. https://www.windsorcn.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=903332 7th April 2022

    This site truly has all the info I wanted about this
    subject and didn’t know who to ask.

  31. mp3-zone.ru 7th April 2022

    Fastidious answer back in return of this matter with firm arguments and explaining the whole thing on the topic of that.

  32. backforgood.faith 7th April 2022

    Excellent post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
    Very useful information specifically the last part
    🙂 I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a
    long time. Thank you and good luck.

  33. rojakmarket.com 7th April 2022

    We are a bunch of volunteers and starting a
    brand new scheme in our community. Your site provided us with
    valuable info to work on. You have performed an impressive task and our
    whole neighborhood can be grateful to you.

  34. nerdgaming.science 7th April 2022

    Wow, that’s what I was seeking for, what a stuff!

    present here at this website, thanks admin of this website.

  35. doubtzebra64.bloggersdelight.dk 8th April 2022

    Very good information. Lucky me I came across your blog
    by chance (stumbleupon). I’ve book marked it for later!

  36. discuss 8th April 2022

    Hey I am so glad I found your site, I really found you by
    mistake, while I was researching on Google for something
    else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post
    and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t
    have time to browse it all at the minute but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more,
    Please do keep up the excellent job.

  37. wshy11.com 8th April 2022

    always i used to read smaller posts that as well clear their motive,
    and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I
    am reading at this place.

  38. cosplay got 8th April 2022

    Thanks for finally writing about > My poor reading habits < Loved it!

  39. http://cryptomonnaies.me/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=dramaapple8 8th April 2022

    Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing many months
    of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have
    any methods to prevent hackers?

  40. https://laodonglinggong.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=136577 8th April 2022

    Thanks in favor of sharing such a pleasant thought, post is pleasant, thats why i have read it completely

  41. http://akvalife.by/user/angoralace6/ 8th April 2022

    It’s going to be ending of mine day, except before finish I am reading this
    impressive piece of writing to increase my know-how.

  42. lovewiki.faith 8th April 2022

    Appreciating the dedication you put into your website and in depth
    information you offer. It’s good to come across a
    blog every once in a while that isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material.
    Great read! I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to
    my Google account.

Leave a Reply to www.ted.com Cancel reply

© 2024 The Open Dosa

Theme by Anders Norén