Why reading is so important
When I learned to read, I discovered a new world — thousands of new worlds. I read everything I could get my hands on, from milk-cartons through fairy tales to historical novels. My heart leapt at the smell of the dusty pages, or at the sight of the newest comic books in our shopping mall. One of my brothers saved his pocket money (10 Pfennig a week) until he had enough to buy a bicycle, the other one spent his on sweets — my wealth was my ever growing library. To this day, I’ve got nearly two thousand books on long shelves in my attic.
What is it that makes books irresistible to me? Of course, it’s well rounded characters, and the discovery of unknown worlds. I love themes that were as true today as when humans were splitting stones to use as tools. Stories that made reality pale in comparison. Also, reading was a chance to hide away in a noisy household where help from the kids was obligatory.
But most of all, I believe, my fascination stemmed from the amazing things I read that broadened my horizons and fueled my imagination. When I put down my book at the end of a day and closed my eyes to sleep, my imagination took me to a land of wonders. A land where I was Rainbow Girl, called upon by Mother Nature to save the world from polluters. A land where I was a princess posing as a beggar to save my family. A land where I rode dragons and talked to the wind.
It was freedom.
A freedom I still feel today when I open a new book and start reading. And I do hope that the books I write will do the same for anyone who opens them.
I always feel most inspired when reading a good book
So do I. All those stories and informations find a nook somewhere in my mind and subconsciously influence my writing.
I’m a terrible cook, and I don’t particularly enjoy it. I watch cooking shows and see how the chiefs grow up in houses where cooking was an important part of the family — and that was never there for me. My own mother didn’t seem like she liked cooking.
But when it came to reading, that was part of the family. We always walked down to the library and came back with armloads of books. Then my mother would eye my books and steal them because she liked them better than hers! She led by example and was always reading something.
What makes books irresistible to me? Adventure, action.
I’m a good cook but my jam is the best there is (at least my kids say so). And with books — yes, it’s a family tradition too. My granny told me, she read under the cover with a candle (which is extremely dangerous, kids, don’t try that because your parents will get really angry if they find out without the house burning down, which is far more likely). I used a flashlight. It’s less dangerous.
Adventure and action are great in a book, but I always want something more. Something, that I can’t learn from non-fiction. I love to crawl into someone else’s skin.
It’s wodenrful to have you on our side, haha!
And that’s where I’ll stay for the rest of my life. 😉
IJWTS wow! Why can’t I think of tnhgis like that?
As a writer, it’s my job. 😉
What does IJWTS mean?
You’re right! I love the way you capture the joy of reading ^_^ Also I love that you put a handwritten signature on the end of your posts, I may steal *ahem* BORROW that idea for myself!
I can imagine “The Witches of Greenwitch” being something I would have instantly picked up and dove into when I was a kid 😀 And I’ve never heard the phrase book-rat, but I love it! Usually over here we say book-worm, but since I despise worms and love rats I think i might adopt this phrase!
I used book-rat deliberately. It’s never too late to add another word to the amorphous mass of the English language. 😉 Feel free to steal the idea, it’s not from me anyway. Just make sure it differs enough from the sig you use on a check.
Maybe you’d like to download the “Witches of Greenwitch” to find out if you would still like it?
Hey, good to find someone who ageres with me. GMTA.