Wednesday, January 30, 2008

I Need Books!

I'm starved for a good book. I desperately need one right now. I haven't read a book in months, especially since I started blogging. I haven't sat down and read ANY books at all since then and I'm not too proud of myself. I'm not saying that I've given up reading but I've just not had the time to cuddle up in bed with a nice good book in ages. Besides I don't have anything new to read. I've spent just a tad too much time with blogging that I've forgotten my other passion, which is reading.

'Just a TAD too much, Nick?'

Ok, ok, maybe more than a tad. My passion for reading started way back in my younger days as a kid. I think I've posted about that sometime before so I'm not really going to elaborate on that again. There's something about reading that to me is so much better than watching a movie, well unless of course it is a Transformers movie, that one you just have to watch to enjoy :)

One thing I noticed these days is that kids don't really read anymore and I'm sad to say that is also true with my kids. I don't really see them reading anything at all besides their school books (which they have no choice in the matter) and the Astro TV guide to check on programme times! The love for reading is no longer apparent in the younger generation (well, in this country anyway) and that is really a very frightening thought.

I guess my reading habit was influence by my grandfather. I can still remember him sitting in his little reading room, which was actually sort of store room that he converted as his little reading haven. Many a night he would be up until the wee hours of the morning totally engrossed in whatever book he was reading. I used to like sneak into his room and mess with is books and he'd get so annoyed with me. Little by little, over time, I started to actually read some of those books. Of course it didn't make much sense to me back then cos I was still on my staple of comics and Enid Blyton books.

My grandfather had a huge and I really mean huge collection of books and novels back then. I don't what happened to do them now. I wish I had the sense of mind to actually take some of them for my collection. Who knows, some of them could be worth a lot now, right? Not that I would ever sell a book mind you. I collect books and I would never sell them no matter how much they cost. Even comics for that matter and I have quite a pile of them to begin with. I even have this Daredevil comic book that I know for a fact is worth some good money but I ain't selling it no matter what. Well, maybe for a million or two, I'd consider ... LOL!

I have a very small collection of books in my ... urrrrmmm ... mini library which is really a chair next to a bookshelf in my room ... hehehe ... Quite a bit of them are actually books I've rented and never returned. Like I mentioned in my other blog, Spiff, I paid for them anyway and they're a lot cheaper than getting new ones, some of which cost 3 times the price of these rented ones. They may not be the best of quality cos they're dogged eared and all but they're okay by me. I think I've read the collection I have close to a minimum of 10 times already and I never get bored reading them over and over again. Wifey always asks me how come I never get bored of reading them when I already know how the book is going to turn out. I just don't have a good answer for her :D

I love immersing myself deeply into a book. I tend to put myself in the place of the lead character at times and imagine every single aspect of what the author is trying to convey like the greenness of the trees, the heat of a blazing desert or in the case of my Star Trek novels, the silence of space. Reading leaves a lot to the imagination and I have a very vivid imagination, that's for sure. A book is like a TV in the mind. And you make up the pictures yourself. All this talk about reading is making me feel like picking up a good book, curl up in bed with some peanuts and a warm mug of coffee and reading the night away. That is if I can find a good book at home that I haven't already read and if the pull of my blog is not too strong ... LOL! Then again, maybe not cos it's American Idol night, there goes my reading stint for tonight ... hehehe ...

38 comments:

  1. Nick, wow, two posts about reading in a day. You must really love to read:) I was just at your other site commenting in your latest post.

    My two girls are not into reading all that much and it saddens me. They're more into things like celebrity gossip mags which I don't consider real reading.

    I'm at my wits end trying to get them to read something with more substance like Pride and Prejudice or something... LOL!

    Great day to you pal.

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  2. I LOVE to read too but thanks to the distraction that is the intarweb, I haven't been reading as often as I like. So what else do you like to read besides Star Trek novels and comics? I'm always on the lookout for book recommendations.

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  3. You know Nick before I had kids and then started blogging I was never without a book. Now I don't even get to read a magazine these days. There just aren't enough hours in the day. Sometimes I really wish I could have a bit more control of myself with how many HOURS I spend a day on the computer. Yes, I did say hours. No matter how much I try to do something else its like a magnetic pull that I can't resist. Do you think the novelty will ever wear off?

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  4. I also can't remember the last time I read a book. This from a girl who grab a book the first thing she did when she woke up.. thus causing this not 20/20 vision...lolzz

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  5. Hey Nick, I love reading too but nowadays got no time to read la..it's usually blog, TV or work! ;)

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  6. I love reading books too and I have a few books on my rack that still have the wrappers on! The thing is, whenever I try to read, there always seem to have A LOT of distractions. Great tv show, blog assignments.. and not forgetting.. falling asleep while reading. :-P

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  7. Hi Nick! I know what you mean...blogging can be time consuming as well as social networks. In fact today I was thinking of deactivating my Facebook and Hi5 accounts...we'll see...I would recommned P.G. Wodehouse, the author that I am reading at the moment. He is really good!

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  8. Andy - You think? LOL! Yeah, buddy, reading is something I thoroughly enjoy though I've been missing out on that quite a bit.

    Buddy, even I wouldn't read Pride & Prejudice ... LOL!

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  9. Lis - You and me both Lis. This blog is definitely a real distraction these days ... LOL!

    I read the likes of Clive Cussler (one of my all time favourite authors), Harold Coyle, Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, etc, etc.

    If I come across a good one, I'll definitely let you know. What genre are you into anyway?

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  10. Gypsy - It's the same with me. Ever since I started this blog I haven't touched a single book to read.

    It's evil, this blog, I tell you ... LOL! As for the novelty wearing off, not in the near future I think ... hehehe ...

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  11. Lady Java - LOL! Yeah, book reading has contributed to my deteriorating eyesight too, especially when I read in bad lighting conditions at times ...

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  12. Marzie - LOL! I can relate to that. But for me it's mostly this tie consuming evil blog of mine ... hehehe ...

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  13. Cindy - LOL, you mean you haven't even opened them yet? I'd have ripped off the plastic off those books the moment I got home and gobbled them up ... LOL!

    I agree with you on the distractions though, there's just too many of them to even concentrate on reading these days ... sigghhhh ...

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  14. La Delirante - LOL! That's why I don't bother with these social network sites. My blog alone is more than enough to occupy all my time!

    I'll check out P.G Wodehouse. Thanks for the recommendation ...

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  15. Ive been so busy reading BLOGS I havent read a decent book in.....hmm....how long?

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  16. Meleah - I think a lot of us here with blogs have been just too consumed with our blogs and reading each others blogs that reading a real book has taken a back seat for the moment.

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  17. I'm glad you're keeping up with an old habit. I used to read alot but have slowed down tremendously these few years because my eyes tire so quickly. I'm surprised that I find it easier to read on the computer these days (maybe cos the screen is bright).

    Keep reading!

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  18. I'm reading Stephen Kings' Cell right now. There is no way I am every using another cell phone after reading this book.

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  19. I have to say, I get like this often. I find reading book reviews really sways what I want to read. Like in Tammy's comment there, I really want to read Stephen Kings' Cell like RIGHT NOW and then probably i will want to cancel my cell phone service (sorry bell!)
    Anyways, I hope you're ready for this one because I just finished it and it's AWESOME!
    It's called Shades of Darkness, Shades of Grace. It's based on a true story, and THAT is what makes this a really great read that will fix your appetite for a good book!
    I loved it, I love the Author, Catherine Johnson and I love recommending it to all my friends because 2 of them have read this now, and they love it too, my one friend even - is buying this for her mom's birthday because she's sure this book was written about her past!!! Check it out, you wont be disappointed I promise!

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  20. nick,
    the PayLessBook which sells 2nd hand books is having 50% off their books as they are closing most of their branches by 15 Feb. There is one at Subang Carrefour, in case u r wondering :P

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  21. BT - I'm trying my best to keep the old habit going but these days the only thing I have tie reading is the newspapers and even then I only read it late at night!

    I used to read ebooks a long time ago but it just somehow couldn't replace the feel of a real page when you flip it and besides I couldn't lie down in bed while reading ... LOL!

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  22. Tammy - the last horror book I read gave me the creeps that I gave up reading horror stories ... LOL!

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  23. Chrissy - Book reviews do tend to play an important part in whether I get a certain book or not. In fact I do research and read reviews of almost anything before I actually buy them.

    I'll give those books you and Tammy mentioned a look see. Thanks for the heads up though. Oh, and welcome to my blog

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  24. Jen's Place - Hmmm, I didn't know Payless is closing down? How come? They're my source of cheap books. Drats! I better go check them out soon then. Thanks for the heads up though.

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  25. you know.. I just can't imagine you reading Enid Blytons.. hehe

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  26. You know...i love to blame blogging for my sudden decrease in interest to read books nowadays. I've bought three books last year October and i have not finish reading even one. However, ive completed reading the book my nephew gave me as Christmas gift last year.

    Maybe i should ask someone to buy me books instead me buying them. LOL!

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  27. Sting - Oh, but I did, I read loads of Enid Blyton books ... LOL! And I loved them ...

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  28. Carol - I am blaming blogging for lack of reading ... LOL! I've not really read a single book since I started a blog and this Weekend I resolve to at least pick up a book and start reading again :)

    LOL! Yeah, you should get people to buy you books instead ...

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  29. Oh! I know how you feel! I looove reading. I have to have a book with me wherever I go, and I read as much as I can when I have the chance. Maybe while waiting for the LRT or the bus.

    There's this absolute gem of a bookstore that I found in Amcorp Mall, it's called Book Xcess. They sell the books cheap! And we're talking about new books here, not second hand ones. Paperback novels that usually cost about 30 bucks, you can get there for less than 20. :D

    And for the record, books are always better than the movies they're made into.

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  30. Hi Nick

    I always have a book on the go, I love getting stuck into a good novel.

    So have you mananged to pick one up tonight after American Idol?!

    On that note, I'm going to curl up in bed now with my latest read.

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  31. he he last december i read three books and it is all about financial..they are like a 'financial bible' to me..but like some of you i still havemany 'untouch' new book.hehehe normal ba tu..ya ya blame it to blogging!!!

    hey, i have an idea, read a book and blog about it..may be 1 a month..then we don't have to feel guilty of not reading and this will help fellow bloggers who has no time to read. what say you? i've been planning to do that..

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  32. i love reading!but can not find time for it since i started blogging :(
    besides books are expensive like hell!!


    PS: have a wonderful weekend!!

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  33. Haizum - The strange thing I really can't read anywhere else but in the comforts of my own home. Public places are just too distracting for me.

    I hardly go to AmCorp all that much anymore but I'll definitely check it out the next time I'm there. Thanks for the tip.

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  34. The world according to me - Nope, I did the next best thing after American Idol tonight, I went to bed ... LOL!

    I'm going to get myself a book this weekend, that's for sure ...

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  35. Deana - At least you managed to read books in December. I haven't read any since Febrauary last year when I started my blog ... LOL!

    Hey, that's a good idea. I think Nessa does book reviews on books that she's read. It;s a good idea though, At least it'll give me the inspiration to read :D

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  36. Lena - Don't worry, join the club ... LOL!

    That's why I rent those books and don't return them, it's much cheaper ... hehehe

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