Non Sequitur by Wiley Miller for February 16, 2010

One sister’s boring is another sister’s treasure.

Fantastic, adventure and treasure, of course!

A simple book outranks all electronics.

Even after reading for 50 years, I still get totally entranced.

Keep it up Kate!

YES, reading is adventure at it’s best…

Hooray! We finally see something from Kate’s point of view!

I love panel 4, with her secret smile and her dog’s all-knowing, worldly-wise expression of agreement.

By the way, what’s the dog’s name?

The dog’s name, IIRC, is Petey. Wiley, help me out dude!

And yeah, this was really cute. Kate doesn’t get played up enough anymore, but since the storyline with Joe and Vic started it seems her and Danae have gotten about equal billing with reaction to it, which is sweet. And once again Wiley proves that he’s a master at facial expressions.

Why is a (good) book better than TV? The pictures (and the sound) are better!

I always thought that the Imagination and a book were better than stupidity and reality…I could be wrong….NOT!!!!

Symbols on a page and the mind builds feelings and pictures, the mind creates from imagination, even as adults this happens. I never actually thought about the process before. There is also technical reading, like how to fix the automatic transmission in my car, and make adjustments so that it works smoothly, that is more physical, but I still have to imagine how it works to make the adjustments, plus the description of the electronic computer control. Words are amazing and what of words in a comic strip, it certainly stirs us up to make comments.

yeah, reading before TV or a movie any day! Go Kate :)

Reading is FUNdamental.

without a fertile imagination, nothing grows. it takes no imagination to watch the “boob” tube.

Happy 18th Anniversary Non Sequitur! Thank you Wiley, for 210 monthes of exceptional comics!

I Luv to read, perhaps a little too much!

I still find my 13-year-old reading by flashlight some nights (so as not to wake his brother). Although I tell him to turn it off and go to sleep, I’m cheering inside.

Avid reader myself (hardly watch TV ever) and raised three avid readers. Not allowing TV on school days may have initially played a part in that, but only until they were “hooked”. And I can get so into a book I find it hard to drag myself back to reality. Way to go Kate!!

If I were to choose between TV and reading, reading would win hands down! :)

READABOOK READABOOK RAH RAH RAH

reading out loud with friends = wonderful. Even did that in college.

Reading has no limits !

Great one, Wiley!

There’s nothing like the feel of a book in your hand. The smell of the ink when you first open the book. And the ability to lose yourself in the adventure is priceless. Don’t get me wrong, a good movie adaptation of a book is great, and I love TV (Smallville, Doctor Who) but a good book will always be the first choice.

One more your way, Wiley. Congrats! Awesome strip!

A good way to point out the joys of reading and bringing to life adventure in your imagination…nothing greater!

If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right.

Ooops! I forgot! Congratulations, Wiley

Sight. Sound. Taste. Feeling. Smell. Anticipation. Wonder. Fear. When I was bad as a child, my parents would send me to my room where all my books were. Do ya think they knew?

I think I learned to read from comic strips and comic books. The great adventures continue.

Congratulations Wiley!

I’ve ridden with Ivanhoe, fought with Aragon (SP?) & gone to the stars with Heinlein, Asimov and Clarke.

@HabaneroBuck

What a lovely simile you have there… Yes, books, like everything else, have their limitations. But a TV show’s limitations are FAR greater and even a good movie’s limitations are much greater than that of a book. A book’s limitations is set by the readers imagination (and the authors ability to write) and by the physical fact that yes, you won’t ACTUALLY be there. This is, of course, as far as pure entertainment goes. Now educationally, the tv/movie can sometimes have an edge on books, because most people are visual learners. But I prefer to have a book along with my visual aids.

aerwalt…you didn’t travel alone : ^)

I wish I could get that excited to read my text books. No adventures in them though.

A recent study showed that people who don’t watch TV and read more are often more intelligent and better educated. I see who got the real intelligence and who got the leftovers. I mean, Jersey Shore!? Jeez, Danae. That stuff’ll rot your brain–if it isn’t already so much hype-riddled, pop culture-spun mush. But I guess I shouldn’t comment on that; I’ve never seen an episode of it. I’m too busy reading. :D

Congratulations Wiley! Here’s to (at least) another 18 years!

Non Sequitur is the best of both worlds, reading and pictures. The best part is getting to share in Wiley’s mental images. It’s a great start to the morning.

Congratulations on the milestone.

pbarnrob said, about 8 media ago

“Why is a (good) book better than TV? The pictures (and the sound) are better!”

Maybe for you. I find that the mental images are much richer with a book. And it helps make them even better for the next book. TV never did that for me.

HabaneroBuck said, about 4 bad examples ago

“Reading is like masturbating…it can’t involve Kate at all…therefore, reading has its limits, before everyone gushes like an NEA representative.”

Not so. Haven’t you ever read aloud to someone, or been read to? Haven’t you ever discussed a good book, and gotten an even better appreciation for it? Sure. reading has its limits. But, as Kate knows, they are more apparent to the non-reader than to the reader.

Look, I love to read, but one thing better than reading is actually going out and experiencing the REAL world. Books have their place, but Danae arguably has the more fulfilling life by this measure.

Of course, there is a place for both, but let’s not put reading at the top of human achievement. Real adventures, experiences and friendships beat pretend ones. Too many “book worms” use reading as a substitute for living life, and that’s far more sad than someone who never reads at all.

Of course it is proof that Danae spends so little time in reality, that she doesn’t need an escape.

Has anyone else had trouble this morning over at Comics.com? I was making my 2nd comment of the day and ran into a 404, now I can’t see ANY ‘toons there, or comments. I emailed them but just got the automated reply ;-(

books: first, last and always! i am a constant reader who almost always has a book close by, and gets a bit antsy if the “not read yet” pile drops below six.

Reading should be a joyful experience. Travel magazines can take you a far flung adventures without the airport misery or crying babies. Tragedy that 10th grade English sucked all the fun and enthusiasm out my previously bibliophilic teenage daughter.

I love reading Non Sequitur - Happy Anniversary! And I really love this particular one. It should be posted in all schools!

I never leave home without a paperback in my pocket.

I love today’s strip! Best of the best!! Keep it coming, Wiley!

I have a question here. How is the dog joining in on this adventure? Is she reading out loud to it or can the dog read along with her?

Time Traveler

: ) It is a comic strip! LOL!

Injun Joe was no one’s friend, Joe. Jim was Huck’s friend and did that ever get him in trouble after the thought police got ahold of his nickname.

I used to carry a paperback in my pocket wherever I went, too! In the Army, it was hurry up and wait, and books made the waiting enjoyable.

TV gives you more information for less effort and leaves far less room for interpretation. Occasionally, some movies have such specacular effects that they exceed the imagination, e.g., Star Wars or Avatar, too. But few things enthrall and captivate a person like a good book, because a person’s own mind connects the dots. Requires more time and effort, but it is almost always much more rewarding.

Congratulations and thank you Wiley. Here’s hoping for another 18 years.

Fantastic facial expressions. Love to read more than just about anything, so thank you for your words as well as your fabulous art.

Of course Petey can read and enjoys going on adventures with Kate.

Audiobooks are where it’s at, then you can still enjoy electronics AND you don’t have to find a comfortable position every 5 minutes.

The Librarian in me is screaming: YES!!!

Way to go Gweedo! That was exactly what I thought. “She must be reading TOM SAWYER.”

Like Lewreader I was sent to my room for punishment. I picked up a book, started reading and totally forgot why I was there until they came looking for me–I’m not sure they ever figured out it wasn’t much in the way of punishment. Love this strip, Wiley, keep up the good work.

Congratulations on your great 18 years Wiley Miller.

Reading is what dreams are made from in real life and ……………

This is the perfect anniversary strip – about readers being swept up in a good story, just as Non Sequitur carries us along each day.

Thanks for your brilliant obvservations (and pretty neat drawings).

May you never run out of ink!

Happy Annniversary, Wiley!

Just brilliant. I read all the comments and I agree with everyone.

Wilphart said, about 4 hours ago

“TV gives you more information for less effort and leaves far less room for interpretation. Occasionally, some movies have such specacular effects that they exceed the imagination, e.g., Star Wars or Avatar, too. But few things enthrall and captivate a person like a good book, because a person’s own mind connects the dots. Requires more time and effort, but it is almost always much more rewarding.”

But, even the best movies are rarely as good as the books. How often does anyone say, “I preferred the movie”? Now, how often have you heard, “I preferred the book”?

BIG PINK MOM said: “The longest weekend of my childhood my dad forbid me to read anything, even the funnies. i don’t know what he thought that would accomplish.”

Maybe he was trying to teach you just how boring life is without reading.

Joe-Allen “Joe” Doty said: “Tom and Huck, along with their friend, Joe, had a raft in ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.’”

freeholder1 answered: “Injun Joe was no one’s friend, Joe. Jim was Huck’s friend and did that ever get him in trouble after the thought police got ahold of his nickname.”

I think that Joe-Allen “Joe” Doty is referring to Joe Harper, the too-oft-forgotten third member of the Missouri Merry-men.

Tom Sawyer! Magic - the first real ‘grown up’ book I read at around the age of 7 - and have reread it every few years all my life (55). It has EVERYTHING - love, laughter (always love the scene with the cat and the schoolteachers gilded dome), drama, terror (when the candles go out in the cave always gives me shivers!), death - PLUS rivers, rafts, pirates, and treasure!

This one is a winner Wiley. Thanks for the memory - I still get like Kate every time I read it.

I have yet to see a story in both film and book form where I did not prefer the book. Sure the cinematography may be fantastic and the soundtrack have something to offer, but some stories just need more time than a movie allows.

Good one, WIley. Keep it up!

thank you for many days of wonder!

Love this, Wiley. I’ve recently started reading books again just for the joy of it. In recent years I felt I could only make time if the books were to learn something about advancing my career or raising my kids, or at least bettering my mind and increasing my knowledge. That was fine, but it’s great to read now for fun!!!

Congrats Wiley on 18 years of great work. NOW PUT OUT ANOTHER COLLECTION! Or are you waiting for the 20th annivesary?

Also, like everyone else I just grew up with books more than TV. I just like letting my mind wander and go free.

I always have a book going–sometimes 2 or 3! I buy used paperbacks and even though I already have a ton that I haven’t read yet, I can’t pass up another one if it just sounds REALLY GOOD!

Man, I probably have 300 books of all kinds, 100 graphic novels and trade paperbacks, a thousand floppies, several hundred magazines, and tons of cd booklets for discs that I can’t even find anymore! Not to mention my own writings!

Congrats, Wiley, and thanks for a great strip :D

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

And, out of gratitude, consider volunteering to teach other adults who weren’t so fortunate. Contact your local library to see if they have an adult literacy program to which you can donate your time or money. I’ve been tutoring for five years, and I’m glad for every minute of it. Three people who couldn’t read before now can:

**take the written driver’s test instead of an oral one **fill out job applications and/or do their job better **read to their children, grandchildren or nieces/nephews **write their own checks to pay bills **write a letter to a soldier or participate in postcrossing.com **shop for groceries w/o trying to match letters on paper to letters on products **read the Bible instead of just listening on CD **text on their phone, use the internet for email or research **read and complete the 2010 census when it arrives next month

I absolutely LOVE this strip! And I love to read. so this is now my all time favorite non-Sequitur comic strip.