The Art of Reading, Reduced to a Gimmicky Stunt

“Independent bookstores across the country are invited to take part in a unique reading experience this coming October,” according to a press release that showed up in the inbox this morning. “Booksellers will host 24-hour reading marathons in their stores, designed to highlight the importance of reading to our culture, as well as create an opportunity for booklovers to tackle the next book on their to-read pile.”

Yes, because nothing shows us the power of a good book to change our consciousness like having people sit staring at pages until their eyes go bleary, and we retain so much of what we read when we haven’t gotten enough sleep. I mean, I’m all for “promot[ing] and foster[ing] the love of reading,” but I’m not sure that reducing reading to the level of goldfish swallowing or telephone-booth-stuffing is the way to go here.

(Also, a technical question: Will audiobook listening count?)

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