Read a book and go on a magical journey
Read some books in celebration of World Book Day.
One of the characters in George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones books said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”
This quote resonates with me, as I have experienced this since the tender age of six, when I eagerly entered the library for the first time with my brand-new library card in my hand. Since that first day in the library, I have not stopped reading; getting lost in the magical and fantastical world of books and my imagination.
On April 23 we celebrated World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book). This day is an annual celebration of all things literature and affords everyone the opportunity to reflect on their enjoyment of books and reading, no matter their age, and was set up in 1995 by UNESCO in an attempt to encourage everyone to read more and discover the magical worlds books have to offer. It is supported internationally by three major sectors of the book industry – publishers, booksellers and libraries.
You may wonder why this date was chosen, and the answer is simple; three of the world’s best-known authors, William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, all died on this date.
Even though World Book Day is only one day, there is no law that says we should only celebrate on this day. So, in honour of this day, I would also like to challenge all our loyal readers to pick up that book and start reading again. Books will take you on a journey to places you would never be able to visit physically; it can make you laugh or cry; and there might just be that one book that could change your life forever.
I also came across a list of books to read as part of a 2022 book challenge, and I would like to share just a few with you. Challenge yourself to read a book …
• With a colour in the name
• Recommended by a friend
• Already on your bookshelf
• From an author you already know
• Released in the year you were born
• That was made into a movie
• Over 500 pages long
• Under 100 pages long
• With a magical element
• That’s a guilty pleasure
Until next time, stay safe, look out for each other, and happy reading!
