Reading as a Comfort

I've spoken recently to many about their reading habits, and realized that I hadn't a clue about how times have changed. Many read an hour a day on social media and believe it is adult reading. Some read self-help books. Religious readings are important to many. Certain age groups enjoy sci-fi or romance or LGBT or young age group literature.

What is lost is the compulsion to read; you know that feeling "I must lose myself in a book." I have that compulsion. I must listen to new ideas. New ideas are distributed in both fiction and non-fiction. I believe I've learned more about history by reading seriously good historical novels. Sci Fi is a vehicle, not my favourite, but when I read it, I often turn to Google to chase down the basis for the read. I always find it. Murder and mystery and spy stories allow me to read (and in my case write) about horrors that occur in reality but do not threaten me or other readers. Often motives are examined in a mystery murder plot that expand my or our view of why events happened in our news life.

My philosophy is to read just a little in anything that I come across. After ten pages, I know what to buy to finish or to sit in the library or bookstores and read. Every author offers an opportunity for me to grow emotionally and intellectually expand. Since I love to travel and have traveled to many exotic places, my mind in reading allows me to travel in a special way to feel and test in a safe place many ideas.

Reading for me is a necessary comfort.

K. B. Pellegrino, Author