This is a guest post by Maria.
From a very early age I used reading as a form of escapism from the real world, I was enthralled by how forming a few words together the author created a scene, emotions or even a fully fledged character in a few sentences. Over the years I have experienced every sensation through my extensive reading, pain, sadness, joy, humiliation, ecstasy and love. I remember my first encounter with a book; my uncle bought me The Twits by Roald Dhal. I was so young I was not able to read a word. I sat on my bed my sanctuary even then and held the book up to my 4 year old nose and ‘read’ the book upside down and made up the story all the while turning the pages.
Growing up is a tumulus experience which you go through and it’s not always easy, transgressing from a child to a teenager to a young adult. Yet I used the library as my haven, engrossing myself in the books there, teaching myself about Greek and Egyptian mythology. I realised I had an unquenchable thirst for reading stories about dragons and magic, and brave knights. True stories about people who had overcome hardship, enabled me to go through their paces mentally and share in their experiences, it humbled me as a person, and I felt awe for what my fellow man could accomplish.
I soon had read every book that was available to me. My school librarian became my friend who knew my tastes, so when I walked into the library she would say ‘oh there is a book for you…’ simple bliss would pass through my mind at those moments. I would start a book eager to get into the story impatient to find out what happened. About halfway through I would look down at the book in my hands and realise that it’s going to end. I would slow my pace down and savour every sentence relishing the prospect of far away kingdoms which my eyes would never see but my mind could explore.
Many times upon reading a book I would cry, loving the story which I will forever remember and which would be a part of me, yet saddened by the prospect that I would never be able to pick up the same book again and be innocent to what secrets it held. Reading to me is more than a past time and a hobby; it’s a part of me, conditioned into me after many years of adoration. From the times when words were written on papyrus to cowhide, and now with our hardback books with colourful illustration on the front page, all are precious to us. To me the smell which u are received by when u walk into a library is one of the most welcoming of all, all those books ready to be picked up and read, to be held close like a lover, and cherished always.
Maria is a SEO engineer who works for a web design company. She also has a huge passion for trampolines as she has lost 3 stones in 3 months using it during the summer. She has always been interested in reading and is in love with the Internet.
