Titania,
I'm also passionate for literature. Wherever I go, I have at least one book with me. This summer I wanted to sea and it seemed I'd have to go by train - for 19 hours. Then a cousin decided to join me and we went by his car. It was much faster - only 9 hours. And there I was, actually disappointed - I hoped I'll spend those 19 hours reading.
But my very best friend does not read at all. She says she can't understand how I can spend my life reading about made up people living their made up fates in made up world.
Yet, she's far from shallow or incapable of deep emotions. But she expresses her emotions by music. In fact I think she finds me shallow and incapable of deep emotions, because although I like music, it's not essential for my life.
It is normal that people want to be liked and accepted, and that they therefore adjust their behaviour to be in accordance with the expectations of society and culture in which they live. Or rather, it is normal in reasonable limits. I do care what my partner thinks of me. Or my parents. And I'm even ready to make some compromises. I'm always questioning my opinions and I'm ready to change it if it's proved that they're wrong. On the other hand, there are few things that are essential for me, that are part of me and those won't change just because someone disagrees. No matter who that person would be.
One of the reasons why I read is that I can see the world through someone else's eyes. I'm not looking for "truth" in books, becaues it
is just
fiction. Neither I'm looking for solutions of my problems because they're not there. They're in myself and nowhere else. But seeing how other see the world and how they react to it makes me more sensitive... I'm often wondering "
I never thought of this problem that way" and I'm comparing it with my own ideas, reactions and solutions... In a way, it's not just passive reading, but discussion with the author.