Reading for the Soul

If you want to be a good writer be an avid reader. Reading an author's perspective on the world expands your own. New vocabulary also expands yours and you can be more descriptive using specific words for things. That's how I morphed from being a reader to a writer. Even if writing is not your thing, reading enriches your world view. There is just something very soothing about reading a good book.

I was a very avid reader even as a young child. I taught myself to read before starting school and excelled from then on. I remember that when I was in the fourth grade I would go to the library after school every Friday with my friend Tina. It was a kilometre from the school and two kilometers back home with an armload of books. I was in my glory!

When I was young, our family spent weekends and summers at what we called "the farm".

It wasn't a working farm but just a large plot of land that was inherited from my grandfather. There was a lake just down the hill from where we camped and I revelled in it there. It was a wonderful time of my life. There was not so much to do there except swim and walk the fields so I filled my days with reading under the trees, hence my love of trees. The shade was pleasant even on the warmest days and the light summer breezes cooled me off nicely.

My parents retired there and I spent a few weeks there when I was on holidays from my job. I spent the majority of my time reading. I spent the time with Agatha Christie and endeavoured to read all of her books during my two weeks there. I didn't finish them but I sure made a good try!

I wasn't truly myself without a book in my hands and I still read a lot to this day. It has to share time with my writing. So pick up a good book and immerse yourself in the excitement of other worlds.