Why do I …
Part 3 of 4 - the silence of libraries, the soft noise of turning pages, getting lost in worlds different from my own.
Why do I - read?
The most straightforward answer to this question is: to escape the world around me, especially now. When the world seems to collapse, I take a book and try to get lost between the pages. Usually, I block out the noise with ambient sounds, like a rainstorm, a crackling fire, or library sounds. A comfy blanket and a cup of steaming tea are also good choices. Just - a corner where you can disappear for a few hours.
Fantasy, romance, horror, thriller … There are many different worlds to dive into. So many adventures to experience, mysteries to solve, or just watching two people fall in love.
I enjoy them all these days, whether I need to think when reading or can let it wash over me.
The other reason is to learn about a subject that I enjoy. History has never been my favourite topic back in school. But without pressure and at my own pace - I enjoy learning more about times gone by.
How it started
Back in school, when my spelling was terrible, my Mom would sit me down for dictation exercises. I hated them with a passion! Seriously, nothing was worse for me than to sit at our kitchen table and try to figure out how to spell words.
The only good thing was that she used fictional books instead of nonfiction. Nonfiction is outstanding, and I enjoy learning from them, but nonfiction was hell for eight-year-old me.
Last week I told you about the first story I wrote - the zoo animals that went to the circus. My spelling was the reason for the exercises. At least, that’s what I think. I never really asked.
Anyway, my Mom used fictional books—specifically, St. Clare's by Enid Blyton. She would read out the first few pages again and again. Not that it did me much good because I just wasn’t interested.
It must have taken a few weeks, but I asked my Mom why she never read further than the first couple of pages one evening. I told her I was curious and wanted to know how the story went. She just looked at me and told me I would have to read the books myself if I wanted to know more.
That certainly wasn’t what I had hoped her answer would be. I had hoped she would continue to read to me. Entitled? Maybe. I didn’t push, though. I pouted for a few days but finally picked up the book - and the rest is history.
Once I started, I didn’t stop.
I started with the St. Clare’s series, then the Wishing-Chair series, and then I started to widen my horizons. I honestly can’t say when the different books came, but I know I always had a book with me. That’s what I was known for in school.
Do I have favourites?
Yes, yes, I do.
For one, the two series I mentioned above. Then there is The Animals of Farthing Wood, one of my comfort books. Lord of the Rings, The Inkheart books, and The Hollows series by Kim Harrison. I also enjoy the Lynley stories by Elizebeth George. Or the Lycidas series by Christoph Marzi.
Maybe, when I have had time to catalogue my books, I’ll share a list of my favourites and notes as to why they’re my favourites.
There are too many books I love. And I love book series. Whenever I find a book part of a series, I get the whole thing, even if it has to be an e-book.
What about you? Do you have favourites that you would love to share?