Life after the terminal degree
As I was blathering on about the latest book I read, a doctoral student colleague of mine (still dissertating) remarked, "You mean you're reading for fun?!" A smile broke across my face. "Why, yes I am. A lot." "How much 'a lot'?" "Oh, probably six books since I graduated in May ..." I let my voice trail off, lest I interrupt her further. She had been taking notes when I arrived for our Sunday morning study time. I had promised to follow through with our study dates, because "Friends don't let friends stay ABD."* While she continued, I opened Pinterest on my iPad. A review of my "Books I'd Recommend" board revealed the luscious truth: in the 11 weeks since commencement, I had read 9 books. Some audio books had been my faithful companions as I made the 7-hour round trip to my mother's. Still others had been secret nighttime reads -- downloaded to Overdrive from my local library and read on my iPad. Two had been rich, hardbound autographed editions, gifts from my bookstore employee son. Once a paper edition purist, I realized I had become a reading omnivore. Any format, any time. While current technology allows me to satisfy my book addition 24/7, I continue to crave the tactile pleasure of opening a new book, caressing deckle edged pages, inhaling its new-book smell. Ah, reading for pleasure! How I've missed you! * all but dissertation, the point in the doctoral degree process where the only requirement left to earn the PhD is completion and defense of the dissertation. Follow Lorie's board Books I'd Recommend on Pinterest.
