The second beginning

I love books. My love affair started at an early age and as far back as I remember my parents and grandparents would sit me on their knee and read to me from books and even newspapers!


As a child I would spend hours in my room reading. I loved the imaginary worlds a book created in my head, and how when I read a really good book I would feel like I had made a lifelong friend. I would read and re-read my favourites and was always on the lookout for fresh reading material. Nobody's bookshelf  was safe and I even started reading my Granddad's Stephen King books at age 9.


I can't quite pinpoint when I stopped reading regularly for pleasure. It was probably during high school but I couldn't say which year, or why. It's not like I stopped reading for pleasure completely but I dropped from a few books a week to a few books a year.


I can pinpoint when I got back into books again however, and it was Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga. Yes, I forayed into the world of Harry Potter and he will always have a special place in my heart, but it was Twilight that sucked me back in to really reading. I didn't finish Twilight, sigh at the end of a beautiful relationship and then go back to whatever I spent my time on instead of books. I finished Twilight, grabbed my coat and joined my local library!


I know,  not everyone loves Twilight. It's probably  not as cool as reading something a bit more obscure, less mainstream and then rekindling my old love affair with the written word. The thing is, I don't care. I loved Meyers writing style, I didn't think Bella was whiny and I couldn't get enough of those sparkly vamps...


The second event that consolidated this 'love affair' was the birth of my niece. She was the first grandchild on both sides, and with a total of 4 grandparents, 2 uncles and 5 aunties- not to mention dozens of family friends - she was the newborn who had everything. I was struggling with what to buy her for Christmas and then it hit me- Books!


 I spent hours on Amazon looking for the best books for babies and toddlers, books she could grow up with. I want to read them with her and encourage her to learn to read as she grows. While I was looking i reacquainted myself with some old friends- The Hungry Caterpillar, Meg and Mog, Burglar Bill..... the list goes on and on. Obviously, some are too old yet for her, but I honestly can't wait to introduce her to all those friends when she's old enough to understand the stories.


And so, I am back to reading at least one book a week and gushing to friends and family about my latest reads. I don't know what made me stop reading in the first place but I am so glad to be back!