The Return of the Voracious Reader...

I've always been a bit of an avid reader... right from the age of ten or so when my father, tired of seeing my brother and I at each other's throats all the time, got home an Enid Blyton novel and somehow convinced me that I would find reading the book more enjoyable than showing my brother who the boss was. I must have thought his claim ludicrous at that time, but the fact is that the Enid Blyton novel introduced me to a hobby that I've held on to steadfastly over the years.

My total lack of predilection for any particular form of writing or even genre, meant that I was never too far away from something I found engaging. Historically, I've been as entertained by a PG Wodehouse as I have by an Arthur Clarke, Wilbur Smith, Alistair McLean or even a Tintin comic book. My motto's pretty much been - "If it's there, I'll read it!!". So I've been more than a little concerned by my inability to get any reading of consequence done over the past year or so. In that time, I've started on an autobiography, a critically acclaimed piece of fiction and a light novel, and not managed to make any headway anywhere. I had previously never taken more than a few days to get through a piece of fiction, no matter how voluminous it was or how unoriginal a storyline it had, but was now having trouble closing a 150 odd page, large print, RK Narayan novel. Oh, the shame of it all!!!

So, it was with great trepidation and no great expectation that I launched my latest assault on the literary world. My target: "The Moon and Sixpence" by Somerset Maugham. I wondered for a bit whether a Somerset Maugham was an apt target in my weakened state, but decided to proceed anyways. And as I started with the book, a strange thing happened... I found that I was enjoying myself. The 120 odd pages I have scythed my way through so far have been an absolute delight, and for the first time in an year I'm beginning to believe that I might finally be able to get through a novel enjoying myself in the process. Well... it's still early days and a lot can happen, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed and thoughts positive. Hopefully, I can soon deliver news that'll be music to the ears of the multitude currently contending with a seemingly immovable "reader's block". And then... there'll be wild celebrations all around and the world will rejoice. Ok, not quite... but a man can dream, can't he? until later... cheers... 8-)