When I was a kid my parents encouraged me and my siblings to read a lot. I read a bunch of kids' books back then including, but not limited to, Sweet Valley Kids, Nancy Drew Notebooks, Goosebumps, and Archie comics. Yeah, yeah, no actual literature, I know. They were easy and enjoyable reading material, so at least I got into reading.
In school I don't think you could ever escape reading. You'd eventually need to read your text books or a novel for your English class. Reading assignments for English class introduced and taught me about well-written books. Some of the books I enjoyed reading for class were "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Le Morte d'Arthur". I never got to fully read both books, by the way. Back then they were just school requirements that I just had to finish so I didn't get to enjoy reading them as much I think I should have. So, yeah, I think I should jot them down as books to read this year.
After I graduated college, I think I started reading less and started being online more. I commuted to work everyday so bringing a book was a hassle. Plus, the fact that I'm really careful and O.C. about my books made cramming a book into my bag, which got squished and crushed during my commute, less than ideal. I have other excuses too, like the internet, gaming, TV, and laziness. Yep, we must never forget laziness.
In short, I stopped reading. I have a number of books still lined up and waiting to be read. The most reading I probably did would just be of articles I see online, and some I didn't even read fully. I think I went more than a whole year without reading a real book. It was sad. I felt my brain degrading.
Yesterday, though, I finished my first book for the year! Well, I've read the book before but since it's been so long I thought it would be a nice start to reading again. So, I finished re-reading "Howl's Moving Castle" by Diana Wynne Jones. Why the sudden change? Because I really feel my brain was going to waste if I didn't continue reading. Plus, I like reading. So there.
I got myself a new toy to help me with my "newfound" hobby. I named it Hiraku, which, according to Behind The Name, means "expand, open, pioneer". I think it's a fitting name for my new reading gadget. I have tons of reading to catch up on and I hope this continues until I run out of things to read, which is impossible.
