These days there are many forms of entertainment for us to choose from. Watching movies and reading fiction are two of the most popular free time activities. I enjoy both of them, but given the choice, I usually prefer to read fiction than watch a movie for the following reasons.

First of all, I can read a novel or short story at any time. I do not have to be at a theater or in front of a TV set at a certain time. I can even read when I have only a few spare minutes, for example, while on a bus. I do not have to read the book from start to finish in one sitting. Second, I can read anywhere because books are portable. If the weather is fine, I can take my book outdoors, and when it is raining I can go to a coffee shop. Most importantly, I can take a more active part when reading a book than when watching a movie. The descriptions in the book require me to use my imagination to visualize the scene and the characters. When reading a book, I create my own interpretation of it, but when watching a movie I can only see the movie maker’s version of the events.

In conclusion, I prefer reading books to watching movies in my free time because reading gives me greater freedom and inspires my imagination more. Both activities allow me to experience a different world, but reading lets me make that world my own.