For those of you who have been reading my blog for a long time, you will know I have a bit of a thing about books.
I read.
Obviously, even if you’ve been reading for a short time, you will know this from the fact that I read so many books last year on holiday. But, if you’ve been reading for some time (and by that I mean years), you will also know that I also have a thing about other people and their reading habits.
So, when my niece (really V’s niece but she still calls me Uncle Andy) was young, I used to let her read to me. She loved it and every time we would go up to his parents’ house, she would rush to show me her latest book from school and sit on my knee and read away. They were not a “reading family” and I think it was the only time, outside school, that she read to anyone. We used to go up there every Saturday, so it was a weekly thing between Ay and me. It was important for me too. I felt that I had to try to instil into her a love of reading, even if I was going against the tide.
Then, there was the time, after V, when I went on my “hunt” for a new man and ended up going to see this guy in Venice (he with the wrinkly elbows) and the most noticeable thing about his place was that there were no books! And that was certainly one of the deal-breakers.
It’s a strange thing really because none of my long-term partners have ever been big readers. V had only read a couple of books in his whole life! F doesn’t really read a lot (he’s more “visual”).
And, yet, I put a lot of store in reading.
When I was a kid, although it’s a long time ago and I don’t remember exactly, my parents would read to us (my sister and I) regularly. If I remember correctly, it was every night, when they put us to bed. As we got older and had separate rooms, the reading stopped but by then I had the “habit” and collected books which my parents bought for me. I had hundreds and read each one more than once. I recall one book that I had given to me when I was about 12. It was called Lone Wolf. It was too difficult for me and I couldn’t read it. I was quite upset that I found it too difficult. But, a couple of years later, I was old enough and read it. Since then I have been one of those people that simply has to finish a book, even if I find that I don’t like it as I read it.
So, it was not a particular surprise to read this piece about reading habits and how they are “passed down”, in general.
If I had ever had kids, I would certainly read to them every night until they were sufficiently adept enough to be reading on their own.
There’s nothing better than a good book to read, even if new technology seems to make books redundant. And that’s quite sad – not for me but for those youngsters who don’t learn (for it is a learnt thing) how to read and enjoy a book.
Books are VERY important in my life too.
This post makes me think about my reading habits, thank you for this. Perhaps I’ll write a post about it.
I am big reader while G. is not (the same as you and F.). I have lots of books and I purchased many (more than 50) ebooks. I couldn’t live without books even though I am not like you: I don’t have to finish a book if I don’t like it (and most of the time I don’t!).
“There’s nothing better than a good book to read”: I completely agree.
Reading a book to someone is a wonderful thing.
Like you, my love of books was fostered by a bedtime story every night. Plus a nursery school teacher who would read to me when I refused to have the then obligatory afternoon nap. My appetite for reading was such that I read all the books we were supposed to read in 4 years at primary school in the first year. And although there are times when I envy my Dad & hubby for their Kindles, I really do love nothing more than starting a pristine new book.
I have a kindle-like thing. But only because I ran out of books at the beach last year!
I love the smell of a book. The first thing I do is flick through the pages, smelling it. Old and new. They each have their own unique smell – like a fingerprint or something!
Have to go now, it’s time for my medication ………..