“I have always been a reader; I have read at every stage of my life, and there has never been a time when reading was not my greatest joy.”
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This describes me almost perfectly. I’ve loved reading since I was a kid. My parents bought me my first books when I was a little over a year old – an entire box of fat books with cardboard pages, a picture and the corresponding Chinese character on each one. Later, my parents said repeatedly “If we had known that you’d read this much, we wouldn’t have bought you so many books back then.”
I don’t read nearly as much as I used to, but I can still get through a book a month while I’m at school (more when I’m at home). I really do miss the lazy summer days where I could lay on the couch and finish an entire book in an afternoon, though.
The irony is that I don’t actually own that many books. I’m constantly torn between the desire to keep a copy of books I love, the ingrained idea that fiction books are not worth buying (which seems to be a common belief among Chinese parents), and the need to avoid accumulating too many possessions. I also find that when I do buy books, I never read them: I can read those anytime, but I have to return library books in a few weeks, so obviously I should read the library books first. Sigh.
I’m still waiting for someone to make the perfect ebook reader. Or even one that is kind of close. Please?
Currently listening to: Melpo Mene – I Adore You
i only buy books that i’ve read multiple times before… even if i won’t reread the copy that i bought (though i don’t think i’ve ever not reread a book that i own – partly has to do with laziness to go to the library though
), the fact that i’ve read it so many times is an assurance that it’s worth my money
Agreed, if I buy a book I’ve read before, then I know it’s worthwhile. But now I have quite a few books that I love but never read anymore. Somehow, books are less attractive when they’re mine since I know they’ll always be there, you know?