Each time I stumble on posts about book or novel reviews, I often wonder why I, a one time novel freak, stopped reading novels. I can't imagine how I abandoned that one hobby that brought me so much joy for years. Maybe writing this in response to #marchinleo day 2 would help me find the missing pieces, or maybe not. 😂
My journey into the novel world began at a young age, sparked by my dad's portable library, and his own love for reading. He'd always lend me books from his library to read. It was a routine that after I finished reading the book, we would discuss the story, the characters, and what I learned from it. These conversations helped me understand the stories better and also sparked my passion for reading.
While still in primary school, I recall devouring books high school literature books - "Guiliver's Travel", Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart", "A Man Of The People" and so on. One notable example is 'Jụọchi", an Igbo literature novel meant for junior class three, which I read and mastered in primary four.
By the time I got into junior high school, I had already mastered the art of reading literature novels, and this passion for reading earned me a special role in class. During English and Igbo literature lessons, the teachers would call me to read aloud to my classmates, and I always enjoyed doing so.
Throughout junior and senior high school, I remained a devoted novel enthusiast. I was always glued to the pages of a novel, and equally carried it along wherever I went. Whenever I wasn't doing chores or watching movies, you could find me reading a novel or exploring a new book that caught my attention.
Once I pick up any novel to read, I'll stay glued to the pages until I finish reading it. Sometimes, I would miss doing chores as a result of this, which would earn me some scolding by my mom. I recall one time she punished me for not carrying out house chores by seizing my novels for days. For those number of days, I wasn't happy. I felt empty as if my whole world was taken from me. 😅 After that, I learnt my lessons.
While in high school, I always choose friends who were novel enthusiasts too. I wanted friends I would swap books with, discuss what we've read, and then learn from each other in the process. I'd jokingly say, "You can't be in my circle if you can't match my reading skills."
I even inspired two of my best friends to develop a love for reading novels. Sadly, one of them passed away few years ago.
My passion for reading novels led me to devour various genres, including romance novels, thrillers, action, fiction, detective, etc. My best romance novel was "Love Works Wonders" by Bertha M. Clay. I was also particularly fond of series like "Mills & Boon", Thrills & Boom, Pacesetter, including James Hardley Chase, and James Bond.
I recall reading "The Spy Who Loved Me", The Man With The Golden Gun, You Only Die Once, Diamonds Are Forever - all James Bond's series. How would I forget "You've Got It Coming", "Just The Way It Is", "Strictly for Cash", "No Orchids for Miss Blandish", "Come Easy – Go Easy", "Knock, Knock! Who's There?", "Believe This – You'll Believe Anything", among others from James Hardley Chase series.
I didn't stop at these, I also explored the pages of "Shell Game", a bestseller fiction novel by Douglas Terman, and "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown.
Exploring the pages of these books brought me immense joy and fulfillment, while improving my language skills, critical thinking skills, and intellectual knowledge.
Getting into the higher institution, I adjusted my novel reading habit. I prioritized reading my course books and had less time for novels. But after I graduated and went for the one year National youth service (NYSC), I had all the time to enjoy reading my novels again. In fact, while at the NYSC orientation camp, I bought the novels that I read all through the camping period. Novels like "The Maltese Angel" by Catherine Cookson, Agatha Christie's "Murder With Mirrors", some Nora Roberts' series, and "Stardust" by Charlotte Bingham.
The funny thing was that I used my first "allowee" to buy those novels. 😂. But it was worth the purchase because the novels were bestsellers and I got them at good prices.
However, after completing my service year and starting full-time work, my reading habits gradually declined. Despite initially finding time to read during my early months of working, eventually, it all fizzled out, replaced by work responsibilities and the demands of my career, including family responsibilities. It's been that way for years now.
But the love for reading never completely disappeared. Even though I no longer read novels like I did back then, I still find myself drawn to articles, blogs, and other forms of writing that sparked my interest.
An avid reader is always an avid reader.
Once you develop passion for reading, it stays with you. Busy life or priorities shifts can never change it.
Thank you for reading.
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