As
an editor and writer, I sometimes get asked why I do what I do, and how it is that I enjoy
it so much. In the past, I’d wondered how it was that people could actually say they didn't read, but over time, I've come to understand we’re all wired
differently, with different strengths, talents and gifts (it’s still no excuse
for not reading!). I've also come to understand that sometimes, our passion
for things can appear a little (or maybe a lot) strange and alien-y to others,
and vice versa. Regardless, I’ll try to explain a little about why I do what I do.
So,
allow me to digress with this post – I’m going to talk less about books, and a
little more about me (although I can hardly talk about myself without talking
about books!).
I’m
a thirty-something-year-old reading junkie who fell in love with reading at a very
early age. Or perhaps I didn't just fall in
love... perhaps I was already created to love books right from the get-go 😉
My
earliest memory of reading a book was at age 8, and thinking back now, I’m not
sure how exactly I got hold of the books I used to read, but somehow I saw, grabbed,
and devoured them like they were food to my soul. Fast forward to a few
years later as a teenager earning pocket money – yeah, you can guess what I used
those monies on! I devoured Mills n' Boon series, Harlequin Silhouette series,
Malory Towers and Famous Five series, Nancy Drew series, Sweet Valley High series…
you name it, I read it all. Through those books, I created my own world in my own
mind, and through those books, I began to imagine and envision my own characters,
settings, plot. Because of those books, I began to write my own stories.
I
was an introvert through and through, living in my own mind and loving it! To the
outside world, I was this quiet little girl, sometimes a little too quiet… if
only they knew how loud my mind was, how energetic my soul felt, living in
these dream worlds.
I
fell hard for the written word, and as I transitioned to university, I knew what
I wanted to do, who I wanted to be. I wanted to play with words for a living;
read them, write them, fix them, whatever it would take, however long it would
take, regardless of what anyone would think.
Today, I’m living that dream, however long it might have taken me to get here. I love what I do,
and because of my passion for words, this awesome blog was born. Through
this blog, I’ve been able to connect with wonderful authors and readers alike,
share my love for books, and appreciate the efforts and courage it takes authors
to put themselves out there – it’s never an easy accomplishment.
You must be a great beta reader, someone once said to me. But
I’m not just a beta reader (although I actively offer this critique service to authors). I don’t simply read books in a robotic-like way and move on to the
next. Reading a good book to me is like savoring the sweet and sour taste of an
aged wine, or listening to music that speaks to your soul. I’m moved by the play
on words by great authors, which is why literary fiction is, to date, my
favourite genre in fiction.
Lit Fic authors like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret
Atwood, Jane Austen, George Orwell, Lois Lowry, Neil Gaiman, and Celeste Ng play
with (and on) words so insanely, I get
pleasure pangs every time I read their works. It’s not because the words used
are delightful or pleasing. On the contrary – the words are sometimes hard to
swallow. They’re deep, revealing, enlightening. The words show, rather than tell. That’s where the beauty in these words lies
for me - the act of revealing the truth in all its unpretty, yet exquisite, nakedness.
In
time, I’ll start sharing my little eccentric stories here for all to read and
enjoy! For now, get on that reading wagon (if you haven’t already), and join me
in my reading challenge.
Happy
reading!
