A BIBLIOPHILE FAMILY

 

A Bibliophile Family

I really can’t remember exactly when I fell in love with books maybe since I learned how to hold one. Being a teacher’s daughter meant books were all over our house and accessing one was not a hustle. Our home was literally the neighborhood library where parents and kids came to borrow storybooks, textbooks, and past papers. Those were communal books, but there was my first book. I call it my first because it was the first book that had my name, a perfect birthday gift for daddy’s girl. The book was Mugo’s Flute by Hilda Van Sockum which I held dearly and pained me to the core when my classmate lost it. We were great friends but the loss of the book led to the end of our friendship.

Being an ambivert, books have always been my safe haven whenever my introverted personality took charge. I have read hundreds if not thousands of books over the years. Not only has reading been a hobby to me but it has really helped me during my lowest moments in life. I have read books like Broken Glass by Alain Mabanckou that have made me laugh like a mad person while others like When Breath Become Air by Paul Kalanithi has made me appreciate life. I have also read inspirational books written by great men and women e.g.   The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama, What I Know For Sure by Oprah Winfrey and Becoming by Michelle Obama.

Am currently reading Darby Kane’s Pretty Little Wife with my book club members. At 52 Weeks Reading Challenge, we read a book every month and analyze it via WhatsApp.Pliny the Elder said, home is where your heart is and over 200 of us from all over the world feel at home here. The club has really helped me maintain my reading culture and also given me a platform to socialize and share ideas with my fellow bibliophiles.

Am hoping to slowly recruit my 8-year-old daughter into the reading culture soon and make it a family thing. I have been buying her books lately which she barely read. Looks like she being an extrovert is more inclined to outdoor activities which I encourage too.  But I will keep trying to have her read some books. We all know what a great mind a book lover is, I wouldn’t want her to miss on the wealth in books.