At 02.14 this morning, going by my bedside clock-radio thing, which is 2 minutes fast and I haven’t got around to fixing it, I woke for the first time. Pretty good, when I think about it, it’s usually the 3rd time.
Naturally, I couldn’t go back to sleep, just lay there, listening to my cicada chums and the rain belting down, when a strange thought came to mind; again!
I was tossing up whether to fire up my steam-driven computer, and write a new,or finish a draft ‘Blog’, or turn on the idiot box and watch some rubbish. So being a decisive sort of bloke, I decided to do nothing, except listen to my chums and the rain.
Of course, the old grey matter started to wander, and I started thinking about different books I’ve read, and the strangest realization came to me regarding my reading habits.
I’ve been reading for close on 80 years now, started school in September of 1938 and it was real school, not kindergarten playtime, I can still recall quite clearly the teacher giving me a wallop, because she thought I was messing about with writing my letters. And I was all of 3½ years of age. 🙂
Over the decades I, like most ‘readers’, have read a countless number of books, who knows how many; hundreds? Thousands? Who ever thought of keeping count? None of us, I imagine; we’re too busy doing what we do best.
Those amongst you, who’ve read my posts from time to time, have in all probability come to the conclusion that I’ve read a bit of history. It’s always been right up there in the number one spot! Sometimes I think it’s my strong suit.
It must have been shortly after V.E. day in 1945 that I joined my first library; would you believe it’s still there? 
A bit run down and dilapidated but at least it’s still operating.
I thought you’d all be dying to see a picture of it and thanks to Google Earth you can! XD
It was after joining the library, that I started reading fiction of my own choice, for the first time, like most I had to read Shakespeare et al at school, which I didn’t particularly like, however, I must have done something right, as in my leaving school certificate, it said I’d done very well in English Lit., and history naturally!
Edgar Wallace became a great favourite of mine, those not familiar with Mr Wallace are probably familiar with “King Kong”; I however, was a follower of the”Just Men” and “Sanders of the river”. He also wrote the first crime novel that I ever read: “On the spot”.
Back in the beginning of the 1960’s I came across a paper back Penguin Classic, I believe it may have been the first, or one of the first, of their ‘Classics’; a translation of Homer’s ‘Ilaid’ by Dr. E.V. Rieu.
I became hooked. Couldn’t put it down; it wasn’t easy reading as such, all these ancient ‘Greek’ names, impossible to pronounce at the time, he was a good man at the back he’d added a glossary and an aid to pronouncing names & places. I still have that very book, hidden somewhere amongst my stuff, all very old, and very yellow now.
These books raised my interest in the history of ancient civilizations, so I embarked on Herodotus, Thucydides, Sophocles et al, and all this lead me onto Assyro/Babylonian, Teutonic, Roman mythology.
As you can see, my taste in reading has been nothing, if not catholic, and for those that might be getting excited about me, and Catholicism, calm down 👿
But there has been something missing! 😳
Biographies, auto or otherwise; I cannot recall, try as I might, ever having read a biography!
Why, I have no idea, but it’s a fact. So, as you can see;
“It’s rather odd to say the least!”
🐻
LordBeariOfBow 
Ahhhhh, the joy of a book in the wee hours of the morn – cicadas or no cicadas.
ira
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Yes but I didn’t pick one up this time, Ira, I stayed in the dark so that my Coco could rest.
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I was a voracious reader as a child. But as an adult my job entailed reading intently all day (proofreading, editing, etc.) and the last thing I wanted to do in my off hours was read some more. Now I read stuff online all day, so still haven’t gotten back to books.
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Yes I’d imagine that would take all the pleasure away from reading,there were a few occasions when I went ‘walkabout’ as the Aborigines put it, that lasted for some great periods of time, I missed out on my reading. I more than made up for lost time once I came back in.XD
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Funny . . . I just commented on another blog that I read a lot of my stuff these days as a way to fire up my writing engine again (said engine died on November 4th).
I used to read a lot, even when I had the business, but my physical book reading slacked off in the last ten years. I do read a fair number of books on my Kindle. Pretty convenient, it is.
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I shudder at the thought of a Kindle, one of my children suggested buying me one and I had apoplexy. I get a great feeling when ever I take up a book and turn to the first page, no matter how many times I may have read it,I just love it, the feel of the pages it’s one feeling I find hard to explain. Always have had it and I suspect now that it’ll be with me ’til I die
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Fascinating, Brian. My Dad was an Edgar Wallace fan.On the strength of that, many years ago, I bought a second-hand copy of ‘The Flying Squad’. I’ve never read it, but perhaps I will now. You may like this post: https://derrickjknight.com/2012/05/25/miss-downs/
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Thanks Derrick, read that post, you were a naughty little boy ducking out of church, if ever I get to finishing a post that I’ve been mulling over you’ll be in for a surprise.
I did leave a comment on the post.
I think if I read Edgar Wallace now I’d wonder why I was a fan, I never read the Sweeney Todd, I’ll wait your review and recommendation. 🙂
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Thanks, Brian. I look forward to your post 🙂
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I read everything I could lay my hands on as a child—reading was my entertainment, and my escape. Mostly, I loved stories, and it wasn’t until much later, in my 30’s that I started reading non-fiction, an activity that kept me busy (and well-informed!) for several decades. Now I’m back to reading novels, and appreciating the richness and variety they bring to my life!
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I cannot imagine living without a book at hand; I dread to think what will happen to all my books when I eventually turn my toes up 😥
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I already thought you were odd 🙂 Now I know why. I was a bookworm too, from way back. We 4 daughters/sisters joined the public library and lived there as often as possible! A great place to hang out and look for forbidden fruit. Some books were locked away to keep them from children, but if you could read at an adult level, they were all there in the adult stacks! We also joined summer reading competitions–receiving a star beside our names for each book read and returned. No TV back then or while I was living at home. Just the radio and the library and a small record player. Your post brings back great memories. 🙂
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I don’t recall ever reading books from anything but the adult section. I must admit that I was addicted to the English boys comic books. I doubt my parents would have known what I was reading. They never asked or questioned me. I’d have read Lady Chatterleys Lover had it have been on the shelves, (and received my sex education from that) and they’d never have known. Sad really; is it any wonder I’m odd? XD
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Not really so sad…I find the effort to shield children tends to backfire. Especially when parents aren’t willing to talk about whatever children ask without the whole encyclopedia of adult knowledge and wisdom included in the sermonic response! I never heard about the English boys comic books. That could shed a different light on things….
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I did a blog in my early days nobody ever got to read it, so you can be the first. Perhaps I should re-blog it my current readers might enjoy it. Please let me know what you think of that idea.
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https://lordbeariofbow.com/2012/07/19/comics-cartoons/
😳 forgot to add it 🙂
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