Deep Reading :)

I think that I have a lot of deep time, or used to. When I would go for a walk or a run in p.e class I would think whatever was going on in my life. I would have to say though, that most of my deep time is when I am reading a book that has real issues in it. I read many books and most have “heavy” material in it. I read Ellen Hopkins (for those of you who have never heard of her, her books never have a happy ending).
After I read these books, or when I put the book down, I think about what is going on. Normally when I read a book I think of myself as the main character and throw myself into many different situations. Because of this I find myself thinking a lot about what would I actually do in these situations and I am very emotionally attached to these characters. One of my favorite examples of this is the book Candy by Kevin Brooks. This book is about drugs and prostitution and not like the way we see it on TV, but in a way more “real” way. This book filled me with so many emotions, and like many Ellen Hopkins books, made me think about drugs and the effect that it really has on people. These books make me think a lot!
I think this fits Birkerts’ definition because it was deep reading. Not only that but I have read and re-read that book, and fully put myself in it, trying to understand every word. When I read books like these I spend time with them, reading them without distraction. I make them meaningful to me because I try to connect with the characters.