Column: Books, books, books!

What are you reading? I read everything, whether it’s newspapers, poetry, letters – it doesn’t matter what it is.

Books have always been my escape, my relaxation, my pastime, my solace. Books can be found everywhere in my home. I have two full bookcases in my bedroom and I love waking up and falling asleep looking at them.

Baskets of reading material are in my closet, spare room, my bedside table, living room, dining room — I love having my companions close at hand.

Libraries house numerous books and therefore I love to spend time there as often as possible. So many books, so little time. Because there are so many I want to read, I have decided that if a book has not grabbed me by page 50, I close it and find another. Why read a book you don’t like when there are so many enjoyable ones just waiting on the shelves?

Children’s books are a special pleasure. To read a book with a child creates an intimate bonding. I read to my own daughters at night as they were growing up and now have the incredible opportunity to read to my grandchildren and my great grandson.

I wonder which books they will remember later. One thinks about “Bears in the Night,” I know that for sure! She asked for it every night to the point where she had it memorized. Her teacher came to me to tell me that this little one could read, but I knew immediately which book the teacher had read to the class — “Bears in the Night,” of course.

”I’ll Love You Forever,” by Robert Munsch became very popular and still is because even though the story is written for children, the message touches adults, too. The universal theme of a mother’s unconditional love throughout her son’s life is emphasized numerous times.

When the mother becomes elderly and frail, her son realizes now it is his turn to love and care for her. There are important lessons contained in this cleverly written story that apply to all.

Once you have the gift of reading, you can enjoy this pastime all of your life. You can read a book anywhere at any time.

I always have a book with me. I never know when I may have to wait somewhere, and by reading, I am never bored — I am not even aware of the time passing.

Erna de Burger-Fex is a writer and retired teacher.