I Am A Reader

I have always placed people into two categories:  readers and non-readers. I have sometimes been looked upon as an oddity by family members and friends alike.  They have never been able to figure out just why I like reading so much.  For me, it is a habit developed in early childhood that has always served me well.  I cannot think of a better way to escape a sometimes hum-drum existence than to ease into a good novel-whether it be a mystery, romance, police procedural, or a high-tech thriller.  

My choices in reading material are very eclectic.  During high school my homeroom teacher once told the members of my class that it doesn't matter what you read as long as you read.  I suppose that is why I will read practically anything that is available.  I think my life would be much poorer had it not been for my love of reading.  Books are like good friends to me.  They are always available for me and rarely leave me feeling let down.

Through the magic of books I have been allowed to travel to exotic locations that I could never hope to be able to visit physically.  I have also learned much about the cultures, natural resources, and people of many lands.  Reading opens my mind and allows me to visualize the people and places I am reading about.  That is better than any magician's trick.  Sometimes, many years after I've put a book down, I will get an image in my mind that was produced from the material that I read.  I believe that a truly good author has the ability to draw pictures with the words he/she uses to tell the story.