I remember as a child using the local library which was a huge old building with dark wood panelling, stacks of shelves and a very strict “quiet” policy. There was a separate room for children’s books which I had to climb a few steps to and then could lose myself in the variety of books on display.
The size and smell of the building, the “authority”, the librarians and the vast number of books made a strong and lasting impression which has stayed with me throughout my life.
When we moved to another area the new library was modern, single story and very light and I was at an age that was between children/young adult and adult books. It felt exciting and very grown up to eventually move onto looking at books in the adult section.
My very earliest memories are of being read bedtime stories and at a pre-school age the Listen with Mother radio programme. It allowed me to use my imagination and create the stories in my mind as I imagined the characters.
My whole family were and still are avid readers and I always have a book on the go with fiction and crime thrillers being my main genre but happily reading biographies, true life adventures and historical novels.
I love the tangible feel of a book in my hands and the joy of discussing a story with a friend. Sometimes a novel will just hit me emotionally and I’ll be reading with tears streaming down my face. I have learnt so much through books – Chairman Mao atrocities Wild Swans by Jung Chang, to true survivor tales The Choice by Edith Egar and Call of the Wild by Jack London
Often people store up reading until their holidays as they feel they have more time to read. Making time during the day can feel a bit of a luxury but for me it is part of my wellbeing and my time out from the busyness around me. There are times that I can’t wait to get back into my book to read what happens next!
2026 is National Year of Reading with 5th March being National Book Day. The aim for the year is to inspire more people to make reading a regular part of their lives. Access to books is greater than it ever has been through the use of Kindle, book clubs, book festivals, village book swaps and audio books.
Sharing stories, before the written word, is an ancient part of human culture and at one time the only way to pass on understanding or wisdom but also to create a shared sense of belonging through stories.
So maybe this year is an opportunity to rediscover, in whatever form, the joy of books. What will you be reading on national book day?