It’s Read a Book Day! Rediscover The Joy Of Reading

I remember the early days of my childhood. Although it may sound as a tale from long forgotten times, before I went to sleep, for many, many years my mother read me a bedtime stories. Sometimes two, if I was lucky or persistent enough. Usually she picked them, but sometimes I did too and I chose lengthier works on purpose so I could enjoy them longer. As soon as possible I learned to read so I could read books myself. I was always more of a bookworm then a jock.

But why all this reminiscing, you might ask? Well, tomorrow, September 6th, is a Read a Book Day. Don’t be afraid. On this official date, it is not mandatory to read a whole book in one day, although we’re sure that there are some of you who bask in that. Not to mention that not all books are the same, so there is a difference between reading Anna Karenina and Nora, for example. Although we’re sure that this tradition started before electronic readers or audio books, do not refrain from using those methods too. There is no discrimination between book lovers, although you will surely miss that first whiff of book smell when you open it. Personally, right now I’m on a journey in several books. I’m pissed off on Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler and their, well, whatever it is, and I’m also pissed on King Joeffrey Baratheon. I can’t wait for his… khm, wedding day. A good book will take you in its world, you will be entangled in the story, and sometimes you will be sad when it comes to an end. Good thing is that you can always start over.

But not everything is a work of fiction. The point of the book day is to encourage reading. Maybe you need a little escape from the real world or you need some valuable information it does not matter. You can read alone or you can organise a book gathering.

Taking the opportunity to enjoy some time out to relax and read is good for the soul and the mind. However, if you thought that this is the only book day in a year you are very, very wrong! General World Book (and copyright!) day is on April 23rd. We are not opposed to book giving at any time of the year, but International Book Giving Day occurs on February 14th and we are just in love with it. Pun intended. If you are more of a night person mark April 23rd, because that is World Book Night. We would recommend some Bram Stoker. If you need something pretty to look at, do not worry because very soon is Comic Book Day, on September 25th to be precise. There are many benefits of reading, but it is almost wonderful what reading stories can do to a baby’s mind and brain development. Studies proved that reading stories to babies helps them in connecting printed words and vocals much faster than those kids that learn that in school. Even famous Dr. Seuss wrote: “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” Well, if you do not believe him, you can believe me, because if you remember the introduction, my mother read to me and I learned to read way before I started going to school. Ooops, bragging? Sorry I’ll go and bury my nose in a book.

There is absolutely no excuse not to pick a book, especially since there are so many places where you can get them in digital form, if you’re not up to taking a walk to the library: find some classics at the Guttenberg project, Open Library, Free eBooks, or relax with an audio book from LibriVox! So get ready, set and read!