The "Book" Case

As a kid I loved stories. My dad used to read to me. Those days were heady yet predictable days. On Sundays, my dad and I would ride to church on our bicycles. After mass we would go to the market and have some breakfast at a restaurant, buy veggies, newspaper, and my weekly dose of comics. Indrajal gave me hours of fantasy and impressed on me the need to be super-whatever. I owe a debt of gratitude to my pa.
A few years later, my English teacher in school decided to give me a present on my birthday - a novel titled, "The Three Investigators - The Mummy Case" and I hated the darned book. You see, I had grown up until then on picture books. My dad had a simple solution. "Read a few pages everyday," he advised me. A few days later the book was still unread. Running out of comics to read and encouraged by my pop's advice, I picked up the book and only stopped reading when the book was finished.
Memory is a funny thing! I can't remember names to save my life. But some incidents are so vivid that it feels like it happened just yesterday. I remember the first book I ever read. And since then I must have devoured hundreds of books. My personal collection of books number over a thousand hand-picked books.
If you think books are inanimate objects you need to think again. Books have the power to transform life (even dyslexic ones) and bring out a new "flavour" which is totally indigenous to the reader.
I have made love to the fairest of the fair; braved the ravaging seas; battled the monster and terrors of the deep; hoarded treasures beyond belief; killed a thousand men; climbed the highest mountains; fought the fiercest of battles; died a thousand times; sailed the seven seas; been betrayed by loved ones; rescued by strangers; lived through wars; walked through hell; been enraptured to Heaven; seen God face-to-face; challenged the devil; saved nations; destroyed some; lived on Mars; barged through a black hole; walked alone...
Amazing how the imagination of a person would cause him to live so many lifetimes. I surely have.