One thing that always amazes me is the variation of interest that resides over watching a movie in theatres and reading its corresponding novel. Based purely on assumption and observation I can conclude that the majority of people would rather watch a movie then read a book. And as obvious as these reasons may seem, personally they don’t make sense in my eyes. In terms of mental capacity, yes, watching a movie is easier. But for me reading a novel provokes a different kind of pleasure that isn’t obtainable through merely sitting and watching a screen. Reading opens paths into segments of our brains that enable creativity and imagination while also just being easier to do. So below I have constructed a simple argument that might change the way some look at reading a book.

First we can look at the inconvenience of going to a movie theatre. Besides spending a fair amount on tickets, food, and drinks, we are operating off of someone else’s schedule. We have to find a specific time that correlates to our personal availability, arrive there early to secure appropriate seating, while still being at risk of not enjoying the movie due to others surrounding. Whereas reading is easy, it can be done on our own time. Unlike the hassle that comes with going to a theatre, reading can be done almost everywhere you deem appropriate. It can be at any moment during the day and is essentially cheaper. Most likely, one book is going to be less then tickets, food, drinks, and travels costs.

Another, rather obvious, part about reading is the length of pleasure as compared to watching a movie. Typically a movie runs about two hours. Within those two hours we see character development, conflict, plot resolution, etc. Then after the movie ends our pleasure is over. Reading however can be spaced out over time. There is no time limit, meaning there is no limitation of the duration of pleasure we undergo. The pace as which we read is individual which allows for more personal satisfaction. A similar characteristic involves the anxiety and thrill of not knowing what’s coming next. One universal characteristic that makes almost anything good whether it be in cinematography or literature is the element of surprise. We, as the audience, get a thrill when we don’t know what to expect. Sometimes that trait is ruined if the resolution is presented to quickly. This usually happens when being in the theatre. Because there is a set time frame everything must arise and resolve within that period. Reading on your own time eliminates that issue. If we aren’t ready to find out the end we simply close the book and put it back on the shelf. We have the luxury of finishing the story at our own leisure.

I personally think one of the main reasons there is such a big discrepancy is due to the lack of patience and focus we are able to obtain an one given time span. Reading takes patience and attentiveness. Two things usually happen. Either we stay up and attentively read the book, fully engaging in the text. Or, like most, we fall asleep or become bored with the longevity of plot revelation and stop reading. Unfortunately reading isn’t for everyone, but maybe if we all found the right story our perception of reading would suddenly transform.