Random 1: Why picking up reading habit?

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I find mysef asking this question quite a number of time.

Warning: This is basically Fatin Ilyana looking back in her younger days.

My old kindergarten was turned into a neighbourhood library. Just a small one, and it was (until now) located very near to my house. My elder sister and I could easily walk there without breaking a sweat. During my elementary days (7 to 12 years old), we LOVED going to the library. Albeit not being too spacious, the library was large enough for us young, boisterous kids to play traditional games and read storybooks. The section for kids were accommodated with three round tables with four chairs each, shorter bookshelves and a play mat (where the toys and board games were situated). Adults section had higher bookshelves (with peculliar-looking books) and computers.

I noticed that most of the time, the only adult presented at the library was the librarian herself.

Adults have commitments. Duly noted.

Perhaps because Father did not really buy us books when we were young, the library was the main source of us finding and borrowing books. Our favourites would always be 'The Famous Five' by Enid Blyton. Notorious for being the regular comers of the library, we showed up very frequently to borrow and change books. If we were so caught up with reading, coming for another book thrice a week was almost customary.

It was a habit, until it was no longer one. Sister went to secondary school on 2010 when she was 13, leaving me going to and from the library alone. However, 'The Famous Five' were no longer there. I could not find myself to pick up another book; the series was so close to my heart. Soon, I followed Sister to the borading school in 2013.

And the library was not a common place anymore.

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I started this story with my childhood memory because personally, this is how I discover 'reading habit' (this is almost a bildungsroman but nevermind). But it was not something I could be consistent of; once I got accepted into boarding school, my reading habit subsided. I have to admit that even though I wished I could read more at that time, I lost my pace. The school library was my lair as usual, but I could not borrow books because the system was not yet established during my time (note: my school was a new one at that time, and I was in the first batch). Might as well skipped class just to have more time in the library. Plus, I could not afford being caught reading 'Wuthering Heights' in my hostel; one: my school was a religious school, and two: I was the Exco of Discipline.

p/s: I guess my school library had something for Dickens and Hardy. I don't know. Somewhere in between I found Hemingway.

If I could not buy books when I was a kid, perhaps I could now. 'Harry Potter' series was one of the significant figures in my journey. I began reading the e-books, because I could not buy the whole series at a time.

Perhaps taking up TESL course was a new chance for me. I met 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl during my foundation days, which managed to spark my interest in reading more. I guess I have something for reading children's book. Along with other short stories and plays, I continued with the pace until now.

Degree level allows me to meet more and more genres and types of books. I met 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell and 'A Doll's House' by Henrik Ibsen duirng my first year; I struggled a lot for poetry in the second semester, mind you. On the second year, there were 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini and 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe. You can easily guess that I am a Literature major based on the types of books I read.

Semester breaks are the times I get my revenge. Most of the time; if I am not doing house chores; I will read. I am not really an avid reader, but reading teaches me to be devoted. Which is why I pick up the reading habit in the first place.

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Let me share with you one thing. I was born with high spirit. I tend to be very enthusiastics and daring: intense curiosity, always eager to try and so, so adventurous and most of the time, I dive head first. I may sound exaggerating, but my flaw is bigger. I am prone to not finish what I start. I get bored VERY easily and when one thing no longer interests me, I tend to just leave them.

Had not been the reading habit I try to venture, this big flaw of mine would have been worse. When I read, I try to be patient with the story. If it is a slow-burn, I try to convince myself that there will be something, somehwere in the story. If the plot is all over the place, I just endure it. If I find the book boring, I will take a day or two to rest, and pick it up again on the third day. Maybe I am just being paranoid. I believe each book has something to tell us, so I try to finish all the book I read.

There is so much more about what reading has taught me. But this is the major part of it. In shaa Allah my reading journey is still far ahead of me, so I will try my best to be consistent. Do you perhaps have your own story with reading, or anything is general? Maybe you can start thinking in what way it benefits you.

I end this here with the a clue for the next post: Passion.

Swalk,

𝔣𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔦𝔩𝔶𝔞𝔫𝔞💜