Harry Potter is My Role-model and Other More Embarrassing Confessions

So in college we read a lot. Seriously, I once tried to calculate how many total pages I’ve read thus far, and it was just too massive. Most of us came to college as readers and most of the time I find my class readings to be pretty interesting, but it’s never the same is settling into a chair with a good book you’ve picked just for you. When I am home for the summer I devour books from the library because it’s so fun to just read a book. I realized, however, that I could do that on campus too.

Swem is a great resource but not known for stocking up on easy-reading books, which is why I did a little research freshmen year and discovered that the Williamsburg library is just a five minute walk from the Wren building. Spring freshmen year I started a tradition that every Friday after my last class I walked to the Williamsburg library and read a chapter or two of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—a nice little reward for a week of book-learning, and always good perspective because if Harry Potter doesn’t show you how important it is to apply your academics I don’t know who can.

These past two years I haven’t always made time to read in the W‘burg library, but I still love to go check out books. I should also mention their extensive DVD collection. Veronica Mars, all three seasons, got me through some intense studying weeks last year. Mostly though, I go for the books.

And now time for a serious confession. I love those trashy and angsty teen novels in the young adult section. I’m a Women’s Studies Major, and I read a lot of theory. I know all about the oppression of women and all that other deep stuff. I love my feminist theory reading (most of the time), but I have an undeniable love of those stories about high school girl meets boy, they dislike each other, hi-jinks ensue, and then love. One summer I challenged myself to read all of the books with pink covers in the young-adult section, and I’ve now extended it to the W’burg library as well. This week I may have read the brilliant novel Major Crush about two high-school kids who just can’t deny their love for each other. Love it!

The point of my confession, beside general TMI, is that books are great. Professors love books too, and they love to assign you lots and lots of books to read. Still, I do my best to also read books that I assign myself, and the Williamsburg library is a great way to do that.