"Over Reading"
Robin's Chapter
By Robin Kall
Motif
(09/15/2004)

B“Hi, My name is Robin and I am a compulsive over reader.”

Whew! I feel better already. I’m sure I’m not the only one out there, and it isn’t anything that I want help with- I just needed to share. How do I know that I am a compulsive over reader? As with most addictions, there are signs, and as they become more prominent, are impossible to ignore (except by reading a good book). It doesn’t take a staged intervention to know that if you lived for the next one hundred years and all the authors on the planet stopped writing, you’d never get to read everything that was currently in the house (intervention has yet to commence).

Each time I run into someone and we discuss books, I am constantly saying, “yes, I have that book, and no, I haven’t read it yet.” This sign is becoming particularly difficult to ignore. I am beginning to feel like a broken record. Now, there’s a reference that kids probably won’t understand!

So back to the self-help group, Over Readers Anonymous (ORA or www.overreaders.com is registered to me, just not sure what I’m going to do with it yet!). If a program existed for afflicted bibliophiles, I imagine that the steps would go something like this:

• "We admitted we were powerless over books - our lives had become difficult to manage. This would include all of the time taken up reading, talking about books, shopping for books, hanging out in libraries, etc.
• "Came to believe that this is just who we are and books are part of our sanity.
• " Made a decision to try to read the books we have before jotting down titles of books that we will never get to read.
• "Made a fearless inventory of our book shelves so that if we’re going to buy more, won’t buy the books that we already own!
• "Admitted that we clip book reviews and articles about writers that we don’t even have a chance to view.
• "Were entirely ready to ask anyone who hasn’t yet returned a book to do so.
• "Humbly asked for the books’ return.
• "Made a list of persons we had borrowed books from and became willing to return said books.
• "Made returns to such people even if it has been an embarrassingly long amount of time.
• "Continued to take personal inventory of all books.
• "Set aside time each day to read the books we own.
• "Having made some progress in this area of our lives, share this knowledge with others who are similar and if nothing else, at least exchange new titles!
  
  *Loosely based on the principles of The Twelve Step Program. This is my attempt at humor and is not intended as anything other than that.
  (Tune into “Reading With Robin” Saturday mornings from 7-8AM on WHJJ 920AM!) www.readingwithrobin.com
  
  Friday, October 1st author Elizabeth Brundage will be at Barnes and Noble, Warwick at 7PM to do a reading/signing of her new novel, THE DOCTOR’S WIFE. Reservations are encouraged; please email robin@readingwithrobin.com.