Yesterday, I ranted a bit about required reading and how my girls, as readers, take issue with it. They read all the time and are annoyed when they have to record their minutes read or list the titles of the books they enjoyed. They just want to enjoy their books. They want to do the things that grown ups do when they read. And when grown ups read, they often talk about and share books with their friends. This is true, authentic, meaningful reading.

I was reminded of this the other day when Caroline came downstairs after reading a biography of the Olympic soccer player, Hope Solo. And yes, frequent readers of the blog, feel free to do the happy dance with me. Yes, she read a biography. A whole new genre but that is a post for another day.

Caroline said, “Do you think T (a girl from Caroline’s soccer team) would like to read the Hope Solo book? It was good. I think she would like it.”

And that, right there, is what reading is all about. I do hope Caroline shares the book and that she and T can talk about it. Maybe the book will be passed around the whole team. Like books are passed around in offices and among book clubs and at the car pool line. Because sharing and talking, not logging and responding, are what the reading experience is all about.