Reading Music

I have recently embarked upon buying some music CDs.  I like easy listening, old cowboy music, and musicals, but not necessarily in that order.  I have some other quirky preferences:  The Ultimate Bolero , for example.  I love John Phillip Sousa, and have a CD of his marches. I recently added to my collection with a CD of bagpipe music and one of Gregorian chants, as well as a mixture of classical selections. 

All of this music is good to play when I am reading.  When I am reading a book that I really, really enjoy, I do not care if the TV is on, the radio is blaring or what CD or DVD might be playing. But, when I have a book that I struggle with, it helps me to have some reading music.  I guess it calms me, helps me to "multi-task" and not feel I am wasting my time with a bad book. 

There was a time in my life when I felt once I started a book, I had to finish it.  I will tell you, though, that my hometown librarian kindly recommended Greyfriar's Bobby, because she knew my dog, Wimpy and I were devoted. He would actually walk into the library with me, and of course, at that time, I had to tell him to wait outside.  Greyfriar's Bobby  was a mistake.  I could not finish the book, and cried through what I did read of it. Wimpy died in February of 1970.

I guess, after that, I did not start a book without finishing it until most recently (2005).  I have since started several and not finished them.  It is a freeing feeling to be able to do so.  I belong to a couple of book clubs, and many of the attendees talk about that: how years ago, they felt they had to finish a book if they started it, but they no longer feel that way.

Where does that sense of obligation to finish a book come from?  I do not know.  I only know that I used to have it, but no longer do.