Tuesday, June 3, 2008

A Book Worth Digesting ...

I was going through my old magazines and books last night. And I have quite a few of them mind you. Wifey has been bugging me for ages to get rid of some of them. I really can't bring myself to throw away any of my old mags and books. I already have an overflowing bookshelf in my room (which holds all my precious books that I will NEVER ever consider getting rid off!) Then there's the batch that I have in the living room downstairs. That's also overflowing with old books and magazines.

Those I could probably, and I use the term probably very strongly here, get rid off. I make no promises honey but I just don't have the heart to thrown any of them away. They're like family to me. Some of those books are so old I'm afraid they'll crumble to dust in my hands if I open them ... hehehe ...

In fact I came across some Reader's Digest books (or do you call them magazines?) that I have that are dated way back to 1976. Yes, really 1976! And it's still in pretty good condition. I wonder if they're worth anything now? Anyone wanna offer me a million dollars for it? I'll gladly part with it :D:D:D Ok, I'll part with it for half a million and not a cent lower ... LOL!

I'm not sure if you younger kids out even know what Reader's Digest is? Heck, do any of you kids even bother to read books these days? I used to love reading this stuff back in my younger days. I'm a bookworm and these Reader's Digest books kept me company (besides my comics and all those Enid Blyton books) on many a cold afternoon. Hey, the afternoons in those days weren't as hot as today.

And my favourites were the 'Laughter, The Best Medicine, All In A Days Work & Drama in real life' sections. My mom use to bring them back from work those days (she worked in MPH, a local bookstore here) and I always fought with my cousins over who got to read them first. Of course being the spoilt brat that I was, I always won hands down :D

But in recent years, I haven't been reading them all that much. In fact I can't even remember the last time I actually picked up a Reader Digest. I have no idea why though, probably due to the fact that I'm most of the time online and surfing the net for things to read.

The other contributing factor would be a lack of time to read these days. So, can you imagine my surprise when I read in Nessa's blog that they now have Reader's Digest online? My eyes grew wide with excitement. How cool is that! I seriously had no idea that they have an online version, but in this day age, I shouldn't be too surprised.

And I immediately headed over to their site and was happily indulging myself in some of the wonderful and interesting articles, tips and stories that they have. Having a family and being parent now, checking out the RD.com - Parenting and RD.com - Family Life sections were an obvious choice.

And if you're a parent with kids and want to keep your kids entertained during the current school holidays but don't really want to spend too much (especially for a cheapskate like me ... hehehe ...) then I recommend you read the article on 'Family fun on a budget' cos they've got some pretty good tips there :D

Oh and they also have a section called laughs and it's already become a favourite of mine. I've even bookmarked the site on my office PC to keep me entertained when I feel like bumming off, urrrmmm, I mean when I have no work to do ... LOL! Gosh just writing about Reader's Digest has brought back so many memories.

Well, I know that once I really go through all my old magazines and books again tonight, those Reader's Digest books will definitely NOT be on the list of books to dispose off. And knowing me, I probably won't have a single book listed on that list at all ... LOL!
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31 comments:

  1. oh yes I so remember those days! I was into comics, enid blytons and reader's digest... and my fav too is laughter, the best medicine! I think my mum and I sent one in before and it got published but I can't remember what we got for it! LOL!

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  2. Get rid of the old mags Nick!! I know...sayang to throw them out, especially when you've collected so many, but seriously...if you don't use/read them for 2 years, it's time to get rid of the stuff. I threw out boxes and boxes of magazines when we moved to our current home! ;)

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  3. Reader's digest of the seventies! Wow! That's impressive :) I think that they should be worth a lot!

    I also have lots of shelves packed with books. We will try to put some in the living room because we would need too many bookcases :)

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  4. I too have over-flowing book shelves! And I have an old readers digest book on one of my shelves. Not sure of the publication date though?
    So you have one from 1976? Crikey, I was only 3 years old then!

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  5. I still read Reader's Digest! My grandma used to have them subscribed to our house every month and I became an RD fan ever since. I guess I'm just one of those rare ones left! LOL! But no la, I know a lot of us still out there! I converted Rafiq into an RD addict a few months ago! Hehe.. And I too have overflowing book shelves. I keep telling myself I need them for my future library! Hehe..

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  6. I feel your wife's pain! My husband is a musican and wants to keep every Guitar Magazine that comes in the mail as well as equipment catalogs no matter how old or outdated.

    Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/

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  7. Hi again Nick, would you mind sending me an e-mail so that I can invite you to read my private blog? I am inviting my close blog buddies only :) Thanks, wendyfb@gmail.com

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  8. I always read Reader's Digest in the waiting room at the doctors office.

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  9. Oh, I have tons of RD at home too. My mum even has those called Argosy from the pre-RD days. They're quite similar. Ours date back to the 1960s!

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  10. Sting - Wow, you actually had a joke published? That's cool. In fact I may have even probably read that joke you sent in ... hehehe ...

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  11. Marzie - After 2 years I'll probably forget what was written in the magazine and it'll become like 'new' reading material again ... LOL!

    I'm planning to get rid of some though with a very heavy heart ... hehehe ...

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  12. La Delirante - Yeah, from the seventies! Maybe I should go see how much they're worth now ... hehehe ...

    For me, getting a new bookcase sounds like a great idea :D

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  13. The World According To Me - You were only 3 years old then? Darn, I was like 9 years old!

    We all seem to have over flowing bookshelves, huh? LOL!

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  14. Syura - I think Reader's Digest in one of the best overall reading materials out there and the fact that they come out with issues every month and have been around for so long speaks volumes for them ya.

    I tell myself the very same thing when it comes time to clean my book/magazine junk ... LOL!

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  15. Anonymous - LOL! I'm sure they'll all come to some use in the future ... hehehe ...

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  16. Tammy - loL! Yeah, that's one good place to find a Reader's Digest book isn't it?

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  17. BT - Wow, those are old. And your date back to the sixties? Darn, they could be worth a fortune now, you know ... hehehe ...

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  18. I used to love reading RD. I love to read. But I don't keep books or magazines. I pass them on and get new.

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  19. Magazines? I still have all my monthly subscription of Cleo, Female and Women's Weekly magazines since 1999 neatly stack in one of those dusty shelves at home. Wanted to get rid of 'em by selling them to the 2nd hand shop. But gosh, it's really hard to part with things you've been treasured like gold for so many years. Even if they are just magazines. LOL!

    Anyways, thats a news for me too. RD has gone online?? Wow!

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  20. I used to read RD years ago when I was still in school. My mom subscribes to them and she'd encourage us to read RD coz it's very informative and has a lot of interesting stories.

    Coz of its small size, I used to carry it around with me and take it out whenever I'm bored. And we have the same fav section! :)

    Even now,whenever I go back to my parents' home and I stumble upon her old RD issues, I still read them.

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  21. my dad had a subscription to Reader's Digest too and he "forced" me to read it when I was a kid.. :-D

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  22. Spicy Bug - I'm possessive with my books and magazines. I'll always make sure I get them back if I do lend them out to anyone. :D

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  23. Carol - LOL! I know what you mean. I can't part with my stuff too. I've got so much junk that the house resembles a junk yard at times ... hehehe ...

    At least I wasn't the only one who didn't know RD was online ... LOL!

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  24. Perky - Those Reader's Digest were a whole lot of fun to read. Maybe I should start subscribing to them. I know I can read it online, but nothing beats having a real book in your hand :)

    I think everyone loved those sections too ...

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  25. Monica - LOL! He actually forced you to read them? Well, good for him ... hehehe ... So, do you still read them now?

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  26. I have loads of RD magazine at home..Subscribed it for 2 years then terminate it recently..hehe Hate it when they flood my mailbox with so many mails..

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  27. No, I don't read RD now. I read women's magazines only..hahaha...

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  28. Kadus Mama - Yeah, the flooding of mailboxes is something I don't like too ...

    I don't have all that many RD left though ... But I'm actually going to reread the ones I have ... hehehe ...

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  29. My uncle used to collect Reader's Digest books. He had a lot of them. I liked to read the jokes.

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