September is Literary Month:

Reading - the everlasting pastime

By Lionel WIJESIRI

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.”
- W. Somerset Maugham

The literary month for 2012 began on September 1 as usual. Literary festivals are organised island wide during this month under the patronage of universities, book publishers, printers and government and non-government organisations. The main objective of the literary month is to create a reading public.

I remember beginning to read books in bold and colourful print at the age of four, when I was in Montessori. That was over six decades ago. At that time, it was a common practice to encourage children to start reading when they were about four or five years of age. Of course, picture books were introduced as early as the children’s third year or so, when they like to look at colourful fruits and vegetables, birds and animals and so on.

I don’t have to explain the wonderful times we have had, listening to bedtime stories read out to us by our parents or grandparents. This reading later on developed as a habit which was very good and healthy and facilitated a disciplined life for me. By about seven years of age, I began reading daily newspapers and gained a lot of knowledge about the world around me. Novels, short and long, came into my life a few years later. They provided me with entertainment while making me understand the creativity and the different perspectives of a varied group of writers.

Books are the outcome of a writer’s unique creative capacity. Anyone and everyone cannot write a book. To become a success and a bestseller, a book has to be created in such a way that it attracts a huge readership. There is something beyond the talent and intelligence of a writer that contributes to the success of a book.

Modern technological advancements have made it very easy for us to get books of our choice at the click of a button. We don’t have to go out to a bookstore if we want a particular book, but can order it online from the comfort of our own home.

Pool of knowledge

Despite being educated and brought up in a rational society, there are times when we fail to understand the difference between intelligence and wisdom. Perhaps, it’s only when we observe and understand the world around us, do we realise that this difference can be altered for increasing our pace of the learning curve. A good book or an informative piece makes the ideal companion; it’s interesting, builds our patience and allows us to grow in the pool of knowledge without us even realising it!

The reading habit has probably survived a plethora of distractions and yet continues to be one of the choicest hobbies one would possess! Avid readers tend to have a better grasp on realities and are known to be better judges of people. Of course the type of books we read quite generally depends on our attitude and personality, but reading as a habit has always allowed nurturing a wholesome sense of well-being.

Internet and TV

The Internet, along with the television, is often cited as a medium that knocked off the reading habit, especially among youth by keeping them glued to the television/computer screen, when they should be reading a book. While it is true that reading as a habit has been on the decline for the past many years, it may not be right to attribute this to the Internet alone.

It would be more realistic to consider a host of reasons such as pressure on time due to a fast life style and changing priorities as having had a negative impact on the habit of reading. Again, it would be unfair to put the Internet on the same platform as the television since the latter is primarily a fun and entertainment medium while the Internet is a rich source of information and knowledge.

According to research data available on reading patterns, the Internet could actually be credited for having kept the reading habit alive and enhancing reading volumes among youth in the midst of a fast-paced life. The Internet has merely changed the pattern of reading from a book to reading online. Today, it is possible to harvest a lot of information on the Internet in a short span of time, aided by powerful search engines, an effort which would have taken months and several visits to the library. Search engines compile news that they gather from varied sources and provide the browser with critical information and knowledge at the click of a mouse.

The popularity of the Internet can be gauged by the boost that online newspapers brought to sagging newspaper circulation around the world. In a fast-paced world, readers found it more convenient to read news off their laptops while waiting in the airport or hotel lobby rather than in the comfort of their armchairs.

In today’s scenario, we can safely assume that if someone was not reading off the computer screen, then the chances are that he would not be reading at all. Given these hard facts, we can conclude that the Internet, contrary to criticism, has actually helped in enhancing the reading habit in a fast world through its convenience and speed.

Tips

Books are a man’s best friend, so goes the old saying. And it is true in many ways. Perhaps this is why the art of reading is considered a very important and necessary task for growing children and adults alike.

Let me give you a few tips on how you can develop the habit.

* Set a time. Keep aside a few set times during every day when you’ll read for at least five to 10 minutes. For example, if you read every time you’re seated on the train or bus and when you go to bed, you now have twice a day when you read for 20 minutes each - or 40 minutes a day. That’s a great start, and by itself would be an excellent daily reading habit. However, there’s more you can do.

* Always carry a book. Wherever you go, take a book with you. When I leave the house, I always make sure to have my book which stays with me in the car, and which I take to the office and to appointments and pretty much everywhere I go, unless I know I definitely won’t be reading. If there is a time when I have to wait, I whip out my book and read it. It is a great way to pass the time.

* Make a list. Keep a list of all the great books you want to read. You can keep this in your journal, in a pocket notebook, on your personal home page, on your personal smartphone or iPad. Be sure to add to it whenever you hear about a good book, online or in person. Keep a running list, and cross out those you read.

* Find a quiet place in your home where you can sit in a comfortable chair and curl up with a good book without interruptions. There should be no television or computer near the chair to minimise distractions, and no music or noisy family members/roommates.

* If you really want to read more, try cutting back on television or Internet consumption. This may be difficult for many people. Still, every minute you reduce of your Internet or TV time could be used for reading. This could create hours of reading time.

* If you have children, you must read to them. Creating the reading habit in your children is the best way to ensure they’ll be readers when they grow up … and it will help them to be successful in life as well. Find some good children’s books, and read to them.

* Keep a log. Similar to the reading list, this log should have not only the title and author of the books you read, but the dates you start and finish them if possible. Even better, put a note next to each with your thoughts about the book. It is extremely satisfying to go back over the log after a few years to see all the great books you’ve read.

* Go to used bookshops. I have two bookstores where I drop off all my old books and get a big discount on used books there. Although I read a lot, books aren’t a major expense. And it is fun to browse through the new books people have donated. Make your trip to a used bookstore a regular thing.

* Have a library day. Even cheaper than a used bookshop is a library. Make it a weekly trip.

* Set a high goal. Tell yourself that you want to read 25 books a year. Then set about trying to accomplish it. Just be sure you’re still enjoying the reading though - don’t make it a rushed chore.