I’m not a bookworm-since-childhood bibliophile. Fun fact: I didn’t know the proper way of reading books (and it’s so silly) because I’d read the same row of words on both pages before moving to the next row on the left page and start over again. After that, I couldn’t take up a book the same way again – whenever I read, or once in a while, I’d reminisce this unintelligent side of me in childhood. I think it was later in primary school, I slowly let myself indulge in the pleasure of reading, which I’ve started with the Geronimo Stilton series. Later in secondary school, I started reading more and embrace reading as a hobby of mine. Wherever I go in school, no matter it is physical education class or lunchtime, you’d find me with a book in hand. That was just how much I love reading.

When I entered university though, my reading time was cut short, and I only let myself read novels during summer and winter breaks. I couldn’t trust myself to start a book in the middle of the semester and put the book down when there are lectures and coursework to prepare. Also, because I couldn’t read that often anymore, I make sure to put on my year resolution to read finish 20 books annually. Lately, I’ve also challenged myself to pick up more general fiction, scientific, classical literature books instead of my usual teen fictions. I’m a girl slowly entering adulthood with every year passing by so I’d like to learn more about the world (and adulthood) through what I’m most comfortable with, and I can expand my vocabulary and knowledge from reading a wider field of genres.

Reading can be something many students find tiresome as now it’s required for us to read academic papers during the semesters. Why would you want to read novels when you have been reading papers right? That was what my friend asked me once and he never really picked up a book to read for pleasure and is more into watching TV series and films. I guess, like how TV producers/directors have different styles of filming, if you read from many genres or authors, you’d find that it’s the same with writing – there’s no universal style (or is there? I’m not studying literature or English to make that statement). Reading also opens you to different perspectives and different scenarios that you may have possibly wondered but there’s no film for it. For instance, there are books like “Love, Rosie” that are written in a letter exchange format; or some, such as “Dorothy Must Die”, that takes you on a storyline where Dorothy from the infamously known Wizard of Oz film has become evil and Oz is not the same as it was, and someone has been transported to Oz to save it again. Such a great series, I’d recommend anyone to give it a go! Love, Rosie is also one of my favourite books and has a film adaptation – I’d say the film is lovely too, although it doesn’t outcompete the original material.

So, when was the last time you’ve ever picked up a book or a few and just read all day? Does reading enlighten you? Do you consider reading an educative, essential activity or an essential one for entertainment? Well, it can surely be both!