I have made many discoveries during my lifetime but the one that has been of lasting importance was “The World of Books”.
I can't remember when I found this new world, but with both parents being voracious readers and a home where books were treasured, maybe I imbibed it with my mother's milk. I can't remember when I first realised I could read and didn't have to wait for a person to read to me, but know I would have been overjoyed. From then till now that joy has remained.
Books are a source of information, relaxation and a fillip to the imagination. The feeling of expectation when one opens a book for the first time and reads the opening chapter is a constant. Now I experience that even if I have read the book previously but, owing to my failing memory I don't recognise it. It may seem familiar but as I can't remember the ending, I continue. My biggest problem is my refusal to give up on a book. I continue to hope that the writing or the story line will improve and so time that could be spent on reading a different book is wasted.
Books to me are not just stories or information but are of themselves things to be treasured. The feel of the cover, whether leather bound or paperback, is part of the appeal. This also applies to the smell, whether brand new or old. I do have a Kindle, but that is reserved for when we travel. When we went camping, I had a miner's lamp which enabled me to read when there was no power.
Then we come to the contents and there are many different genres.
Travel books take you places where you have never ventured and often ignite the desire to venture off the beaten track. Our trip to the Kimberley, Central Australia and Darwin was the result of reading about explorers and the original pioneers. I always wondered at the courage of those initial settlers. Having visited the area, I was in awe of not only the original settlers but those living there presently.
My favourite fiction genre is Crime and Mystery. I certainly would never make a good detective as I rarely work out the villain prior to the end – in fact I nearly always fall for the “red herring”. This genre does make me use my brain, even if I fail as I usually do
Stories by refugees and about refugees are another source of inspiration as they make me aware of how lucky I am to be Australian born. They also make me aware of the terrible living conditions people endure in other parts of the world and the need for compassion and generosity towards those seeking asylum.
And then there are books about politics, Climate Change and economics. Ross Garnaut's book
Superpower gave me hope for the future but as yet our politicians have either failed to read it or else failed to act.
This discovery of Books has made my life easier as education benefits from the ability to read. Also, life during this Pandemic allowed more reading which certainly made Lock Downs more bearable.
Overall, the discovery of books has had a long lasting and positive effect on my life.
Margaret McCrohan
November 2021
I can't remember when I found this new world, but with both parents being voracious readers and a home where books were treasured, maybe I imbibed it with my mother's milk. I can't remember when I first realised I could read and didn't have to wait for a person to read to me, but know I would have been overjoyed. From then till now that joy has remained.
Books are a source of information, relaxation and a fillip to the imagination. The feeling of expectation when one opens a book for the first time and reads the opening chapter is a constant. Now I experience that even if I have read the book previously but, owing to my failing memory I don't recognise it. It may seem familiar but as I can't remember the ending, I continue. My biggest problem is my refusal to give up on a book. I continue to hope that the writing or the story line will improve and so time that could be spent on reading a different book is wasted.
Books to me are not just stories or information but are of themselves things to be treasured. The feel of the cover, whether leather bound or paperback, is part of the appeal. This also applies to the smell, whether brand new or old. I do have a Kindle, but that is reserved for when we travel. When we went camping, I had a miner's lamp which enabled me to read when there was no power.
Then we come to the contents and there are many different genres.
Travel books take you places where you have never ventured and often ignite the desire to venture off the beaten track. Our trip to the Kimberley, Central Australia and Darwin was the result of reading about explorers and the original pioneers. I always wondered at the courage of those initial settlers. Having visited the area, I was in awe of not only the original settlers but those living there presently.
My favourite fiction genre is Crime and Mystery. I certainly would never make a good detective as I rarely work out the villain prior to the end – in fact I nearly always fall for the “red herring”. This genre does make me use my brain, even if I fail as I usually do
Stories by refugees and about refugees are another source of inspiration as they make me aware of how lucky I am to be Australian born. They also make me aware of the terrible living conditions people endure in other parts of the world and the need for compassion and generosity towards those seeking asylum.
And then there are books about politics, Climate Change and economics. Ross Garnaut's book
Superpower gave me hope for the future but as yet our politicians have either failed to read it or else failed to act.
This discovery of Books has made my life easier as education benefits from the ability to read. Also, life during this Pandemic allowed more reading which certainly made Lock Downs more bearable.
Overall, the discovery of books has had a long lasting and positive effect on my life.
Margaret McCrohan
November 2021
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