Love reading? Join the Club

Within a span of just five minutes, the average working person will split their attention between working on a task, checking e-mails, chatting on the phone, social networking and interacting with co-workers.

Having these demands imposed upon us, it’s easy to feel like we are prisoners of others’ expectations, obligated by the rules that govern society and trapped by circumstance.

In a world where the most reading you might get comes from Facebook feeds, tweets and the instructions on instant meals, taking the time to crack open a book and replenish your soul is more important than ever.

While book lovers are undoubtedly a dying breed, there is still magic in being able to transcend into a world of make believe where anything is possible. There is still adventure to be sought from embarking on a journey where there are no rules, and there is still happiness to be gained in conjuring a world where we are all supposed to live happily ever after.

The benefits of reading books regularly are apparent. Reading improves your vocabulary and exposes you to new words that allow you to express yourself more eloquently. You will be able to write better by learning from others who craft literature. Everything you read fills your head with new facts and information. Reading stimulates your mind and people who read have better memories, are able to focus, and have better problem solving abilities. In fact, reading books has been shown to reduce the cognitive diseases associated with old age.

Most importantly, however, when your imagination is captured by the gripping story in a book, the rest of the world falls away. No matter the stresses you face in your daily life, it all just slips away when you lose yourself in a great story.

When you find yourself in a dismal situation in which you stand to lose everything else, your job, your possessions, your money, your health… There is still joy in being transported to the enchanting realm within a captivating story, and knowledge that can never be taken from you contained within the covers of a good book.

There is also a literature genre that caters to every taste on the planet, from adventure and mystery to the supernatural and also romance and drama.

To celebrate and share all that books have to offer, Fathima Buckus and Estella Naicker hope to breathe new life into Newcastle’s Reading Club. If you are interested in being part of the Reading Club, please diarise the first meeting, which is scheduled to take place on October 19, at 10am at the Mother Earth Cultural Centre and Restaurant on Bridger Street.

For more information contact Mrs Buckus on 083 600 5163 or Ms Naicker on 079 256 7570.