Bibliophilia discussion

I can't remember a time where I didn't love reading. My eldest sister is also a fond reader, so I guess she had an influence on me. My parents would always find me reading after bedtime with a torch. I always thought that if they couldn't see the bedroom light on they wouldn't know I was still up.
When I find myself lost in a really good book I will sneak a few sentences or even paragraphs in at work!

I remember my first book was a Goosebumps book called It Came from Beneath the Sink! written by R.L Stine. I read Goosebumps until I was in 2nd grade, finishing the whole series of that and Junie B. Jones. I love the fresh smell (don't call me weird!) of a book, and the feel of the pages between my fingers the most.

Ḡїҧ wrote: "I remember my first book was a Goosebumps book called It Came from Beneath the Sink! written by R.L Stine. I read Goosebumps until I was in 2nd grade, finishing the whole series of th..."

Oh my sister loved Goosebumps! I remember the one with the mask. I think the main character was called karlibeth?

I love the smell of books aswell =)

I've always been fascinated with reading. We had this big book filled with fairy tales and that was the first more-than-10-pages book I've fully read. ^-^

Kate Ashley wrote: "I've always been fascinated with reading. We had this big book filled with fairy tales and that was the first more-than-10-pages book I've fully read. ^-^"

I used to have so many amazing books when I was little, including fairy tales books. I wish I still had them.

Do you have yours?

Sadly, no. :( I had tons of books back then myself...or more like my sister does and I claimed mutual ownership. XD Most of our books are back in our room at my grandpa's house and since we just moved to this new place (and we haven't bought a shelf yet) we've been stacking books like Alaska did in book Looking for Alaska =)

You haven't got a bookcase! Oh my!

Mine is too small, I'm having to look for a new one! Eek.

I really wish I had my childhood books.

How is your move going? Have you moved far?

Yeah, like across the sea from our grandpa. XD We aren't staying permanently, though--only until me and my sis finish college. But we both like the appeal of stacked books surprisingly. It feels rustic and medieval-cool. Like that elder guy from The Corpse Bride. :]

Across the sea! Wow, brave move! I love stacked books, they do have a good feeling about them.

The Corpse Bride is a great film. I must have watched it like a dozen of times.

Do you know what? I'm not sure why I love reading. I'm not sure I've ever thought about it.

I used to read to escape. I broke myself of that habit a long time ago. Now even when I am completely absorbed I am still in the room.

I read because it's solitary. Reading is one of the best ways of being alone.

I read because it's transcendent. When I read I can have a conversation with someone who has been dead for 2,500 years.

I read because of the flow. When I read my mind functions at its best. The nearest equivalent is conversation. And not many people can do that.

I also read because it is autonomous. Within very broad limits I get to choose.

If I can think of anything else I will post it!

That is probably a really good way to put it Andrew. I think most people can relate to that!

I love reading because it transports you to another world and each book is different with its on story and completely different world from the last.

I came across this today..

9 Things People Who Love Books Are Tired Of Hearing, Because They're Just So Wrong ... And Now Please Go Away, I'm Reading

... some points sound oddly familiar!

My boyfriend always says "you're buying more books? You have loads already that you need to read" I am like.......and your point is?........

I always have a book with me. I always think I am missing something when I forget my book. I just can't settle.

I absolutely love this one: can i borrow your copy of.
I am going to remove the book from it’s meticulously categorized location on my shelf — resulting in an empty space that will now haunt me relentlessly, day and night — and give it to you.

I am going to have to use that as a quote. It made me giggle.

Do I lament the extra weight and missing out on the cute clutch trend?
Hmmm, it wasn't quite a clutch but I managed to fit my eReader in my original, small gladstone bag so I could sneak in some reading during the Steampunk carnival last weekend ;) I managed to to get 3 items in that bag - phone, small purse and eReader - the 'essentials' basically :D

Oh that is funny!

What would Hayley rather do; read or carnival? What did you friends say when you just so happened to pop out an eReader?

I would have laughed my head off!

It was called 'carnival' but was more 'overgrown school fete' tbh... I popped out my eReader when I was waiting for friends trains to arrive, when we were nade to wait around for an hour before the parade started... and when I snuck away for a few minutes peace and quiet ;)

Hayley wrote: "I popped out my eReader when I was waiting for friends trains to arrive..."

I like it! Good use of time.

I just imagined you in a big crowed taking out your eReader and reading instead of being part of the carnival. Was a funny image.

If I could've got away with that I really would have ;)

I should maybe try to answer the question this thread is about I guess....

I have an active imagination that likes to disappear for hours at a time - reading is my enabler :P
I (again) blame my parents for getting me into reading - they started it when I was very little, got me years ahead of my reading group by shoving books at me that they thought I'd like (Dracula when I was 9/10) and then discretely leaving others in my path for me to pick up.... When I was a lot younger (before I could a) tell the time properly & b) had a watch) I was allowed 20 minutes to read before bed. My parents didn't check on me, the door was closed because hallway lights kept me awake, and I walked into my parents room around 2am asking if my 20 minutes was up yet (that was about the amount of time it took me to reread all the books in my room). They started checking on me after that.
But yes, I was brought up with a love for books by parents that encouraged it ina house filled with reading material - my 2 sisters are exactly the same.

That is amazing. I wish my parents pushed books on me more. Rolling up at 2am asking if your 20 minutes was up. Priceless!

I wasn't a strong reader when I was little, so was so jealous when my school friends could read all the books they wanted and I was limited to a few here and there. That actually made me practice more and more and now I can read any book I want =)

I think my sister had a big impact on me. She always had her nose in a book. And me being the little sister wanted to be just like her.

My mum used to read me bed time stories, we had this book full of them and then when I got older we started reason other books, I can't remember them all but I've always been a strong reader and it has been hard to keep reading whilst trying to get through education and I did go through a time where I didn't read but now, thanks to one of my internet friends I've found my love for books again and they've really helped me through everything

My mum used to read me bed time stories, we had this book full of them and then when I got older we started reason other books, I can't remember them all but I've always been a strong reader and it has been hard to keep reading whilst trying to get through education and I did go through a time where I didn't read but now, thanks to one of my internet friends I've found my love for books again and they've really helped me through everything

I love reading because I love drifting in and out of different worlds and characters.

My grandmother got me hooked. She was a voracious reader herself and she always read me fairy tales. She even read me the "A thousand and one nights" books and the Bible. Most of my memories are sitting huddled up with her with a big book in front of us :D (the best part was that sometimes she fell asleep and she just went on reading... she didn't read the story right, but she just went on reading until I poked her and told her to keep to the script ;))

Then there was "A Little Princess" a book I very clearly remember finding at the library when I was maybe 8 or 9(?) and reading obsessively over a weekend... to this day I have good associations to libraries, that book and curling up in an armchair with a new book to dive into! :)

They are lovely stories Teresa & Cathy. I love A Little Princess. I used to have that book, but it went missing and I never found it again.

I also find it difficult to find the time to read. Especially when I never know what time I will get home from work.

I love reading because I get to escape and go to places only books have. My grandma actually got me interested when I was younger the first book she showed me if I remember right was The Berenstain Bears there was probably others but I don't remember but I love that when I open a book it doesn't matter what it's about I instantly tune out everything around me and get lost. :)

Exactly! After a rubbish day at work, I just love getting lost in a book and escaping for awhile.

its absolutely the best. I would so much rather read then do anything else lol

I know right! i love escaping for a few hours. Problem is, I can never find my way back to the real world.....

you and me both that's a struggle

I was an only child, living in a small town before the days of VCR's and colour television. The library was only open Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays, and was there just about each time it was open. Our school was not that big and it was an exciting moment when the Bookmobile came. Reading was, and still is, one of my favourite passtimes. I love books.

I always loved stories, my parents used to tell me and my siblings bed time stories every night. So when i finally was able to read i fell in love with the excitement and amusement of reading. I think i have never found anything that brought me more fun than reading to be honest. That's why i love it and do it as often as i can xD

I was born in Germany and lived there until I was six. My mother would read fairy and I would memorize the verses(they were written in couplets). Then I would "read" the book. When I started school in Canada I learned to read for real. And I haven't stopped reading since then.

Rosemarie wrote: "I was an only child, living in a small town before the days of VCR's and colour television. The library was only open Wednesday afternoons and Saturdays, and was there just about each time it was o..."

We had a bookmobile which came to our school and we could all buy one book each. It came once a month and if I was ill, I still made sure I made it in on that day. I've only just remembered that!

Elisa wrote: "I always loved stories, my parents used to tell me and my siblings bed time stories every night. So when i finally was able to read i fell in love with the excitement and amusement of reading. I th..."

I try and read as much as I can, but other things always crop up just as I sit down with my book. =(

Rosemarie wrote: "I was born in Germany and lived there until I was six. My mother would read fairy and I would memorize the verses(they were written in couplets). Then I would "read" the book. When I started school..."

That's a big move! Do you ever visit Germany?

I visit Germany as many times as I can. My godmother and all my cousins still live there. My husband and I spent a week with them last summer and saw a lot of the smaller places and had a good time. At one point my one cousin didn't know quite where we were because of a detour, and his GPS couldn't find us. We finally found a town that was really charming and had some coffee there.
Where do you live, Annabella?

That sounds lovely. I don't get to travel much.

I am from England, very cold and very boring. Not much happens here, but it's home =)

Annabella wrote: "Elisa wrote: "I always loved stories, my parents used to tell me and my siblings bed time stories every night. So when i finally was able to read i fell in love with the excitement and amusement of..."

I think i have the other problem, i read far too much. Once is start a book i don't seem to be able to put it down, so i just read until i finished it, which is often around 3am, when i should be sleeping xD

Elisa, when I was much younger and an unemployed university grad I would read really fat books until the wee small hours. One of my favourite authors back then( in the late 70's) was R.F. Delderfield. Most of his books were over 400 pages long and very enjoyable reads.

Haha well i'm 20 and an unemployed student, who does excactly that. Seems like i am you in younger years xD

I hope you find a job soon. But, in the meantime, reading is a good way to keep your mind occupied. If you read library books it doesn't cost anything either.

Actually, here it's quite often that students don't work at the same time.

And for the books, just today i got four boxes of books, because the grandparents of a friend had to get rid of them (they're moving). So now i have tons of books to read.

Elisa wrote: "Annabella wrote: "Elisa wrote: "I always loved stories, my parents used to tell me and my siblings bed time stories every night. So when i finally was able to read i fell in love with the excitemen..."

I used to do that. It got so bad that I would be late for work sometimes. It takes all my effort to stop reading and go to sleep.

Elisa wrote: "Actually, here it's quite often that students don't work at the same time.

And for the books, just today i got four boxes of books, because the grandparents of a friend had to get rid of them (th..."

What books did you get?

I hope your studies are going well.

Reading has always been an escape for me. I didn't have the best childhood (not the worst either) but I remember from a very early age always having a book with me. They were my escape from my not so happy reality.

Although I still enjoy reading to this day and it is still an escape, I am glad to say it is no longer an escape from an unhappy reality. I will read anything that can catch and hold my attention!

Emiy, I was an only child growing up in a small town. My favourite place was, and still is, the library. I love to read, and now that I am much older and retired, I love to read just as much as ever.
There was an article in the Toronto Star the other day that stated the readers live longer than non- readers, and they probably have more fun too.

If that is true about readers living longer then I should have a very long life! Does it count if you listen to audio books? ;) Instead of radio when at work listen to audio books. I go through so many books that if it wasn't for things like the library and free ebooks I would go broke! It would be worth it though...

I don't know about audio books, but I imagine it is similar. Listening is certainly good for the brain.

I started reading thanks to the combination of a good home library and a boring day once when I was a kid :) since then on I'm addicted. Reading for me is like living different lives, travelling another worlds and minds. I love re-reading the books that have great atmosphere - the kind of books that make me feel something I wouldn't feel normally.

I agree about re-reading books that make me feel good! My husband is not a reader and he doesn't understand this. He asks me all the time, "Haven't you read that book already?" That's the point sometimes! Books can be your best friends. They are such a comfort to me!