Recently, someone sent me a tweet asking what my favourite thing is about books. It took me quite a while to narrow it down to just one reason, but with 140 characters, I had to.
Here I thought I would share with you my top four favourite things about books:
The Power To Take You To Another World
I love how a book can make you feel like you’re really visiting another world – whether it’s literally a whole new world, another country, or just the world as seen through a character’s eyes. If the description of the place is vivid enough (and not so long I get bored and skip it altogether) then a good writer can truly make me feel like I’ve seen this other world.
Words Paint A Thousand Pictures
We’ve all heard the quote “A picture paints a thousands words”, and to an extent it’s true. However, I feel it’s far more true that words can paint a thousand pictures. What I love about words over a picture is that everyone sees the place or person slightly different. We are given the basics, and then our imaginations take over, and we are truly seeing our own version of the story unfolding.
An Escape From Reality
Reading a good book pulls you in, and with a really good book, for that time, we are living the character’s reality instead of our own. Its the perfect way to forget your stresses, relieve boredom or just experience something new. I often find myself thinking about a book long after I’ve finished it – what would I do in that situation? It can keep reality away for quite some time.
Wakes Up Your Imagination
Reading can really inspire you to write or to go out and do something that was described in the story that you’ve always wanted to do. The only limit is your own imagination.
Bonus Point:
I adore the smell of a book – old, new – it doesn’t matter.
Do you love reading? What are your favourite things about it? Let me know in the comments 🙂
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I do love to get lost in a really good story. One that grips you in its claws and won’t let you go.
Me too – when you can’t wait to see how it ends, but then when you do, you’re gutted it’s finished!
I love the smell of an old book, too!
Glad it’s not just me!
I totally love how, as a blogger with far too much screen-time and already wearing glasses (long sentence!!), by making a point of reading a book for a little while before bed, I get to escape, empty my head AND kind of rest my eyes. Win-win! 🙂
Yes, I totally agree, it’s a great way to unwind!
The feel and smell of a book is something I adore.I have my childhood collection of The Enchanted Wood series and they still smell like they did when I was a child. #anythinggoes
I loved the Enchanted Wood – I think I still have a copy somewhere too!
I love reading. Since my first was born I’ve struggled to find time to fit it in, I really miss it though.
#anythinggoes
It can be hard to find the time to read, but I do try my best to fit it in, I couldn’t imagine not reading. Then again I don’t have a baby to deal with lol 🙂
Those are all the things I love about books too! And these days I’m apprectiating the smell and feel of a physical book more and more. Technology has us reading from devices rather than experiencing the book itself. To me, the book is all a part of the experience of the words themselves. My son is having to read from a website as homework. I’m so sad about that. Thanks so much for hosting #anythinggoes
Nothing beats a real book – I don’t mind a Kindle in small doses but that’s it. It is sad when even school’s are doing it – you would think a school would be one of the places you could rely on to try and instil a love for books in kids!
I am obsessed with historical fiction books- I could read them all day long. I am currently on the third Outlander book and I am already sad that they will not continue forever.
#anythinggoes
It’s so good when you find a series you love 🙂 I must admit I’ve never tried historical fiction, I will have to give it a go!
I love reading and i too love the smell of books (so glad i’m not alone as i always thought that made me weird lol).
I’ve started to get Agent M into reading too and he loves it. He has all these creative ideas after finishing a book (like the How to train your Dragon series is making him try to learn dragonese lol)
Agent D bought me a kindle for our first Christmas together thinking it would be an ideal gift. At first i was horrified as it was like turning my back on my beloved books but after i started to actually use it i fell in love with the ability to take so many books about with me. i always have it with me so i can read whenever i have down time. I still buy the occasional paper copy though … just not as often.
#AnythingGoes
Haha, I thought it was weird too, but quite a few people have said they like it too! It’s great that Agent M has taken to reading and that’s its fired his imagination – Dragonese sounds fun lol.
I use a kindle on very rare occasions but I’m still kind of old school in that I love a paper book 🙂
I love books for all the same reasons you have listed. There’s nothing quite like getting lost in such a good book that you don’t want to put it down and can’t wait to get back to it! And as much as I live my Kindle for convenience – you really can’t beat the smell of a book. #anythinggoes
I love it when I find a book like that that I just click with! I agree about the kindle, its great in small doses, but it can’t beat a real book 🙂
I completely agree on every count. I can’t imagine a life without the escape of reading #AnythingGoes
Thank you – me neither!
To be honest I was never into books growing up, and I love love love that my daughter adores books now. It’s given me a second chance to get into books and we both love our weekly visit to the library 🙂
That’s great – its a lovely way to bond and great that you’ve found a love for books 🙂
I love reading too. There’s something so satisfying about getting stuck into a good book. I love the pleasure you get when you finish a good book. I also love the smell. The kindle is practical but isn’t as real as a physical book.
Sally @ Life Loving
I occasionally read kindle books, but I have to admit to being a bit old school!
I have to admit, I’m not the best reader – I truly wish I was, I try to get into books and I start off great. But as each day rolls by and takes its toll, I’m too tired to read and when I’m like that, reading just knocks me out in seconds so I get nowhere fast! That said, when I do like to read, I love to read auto biographies (normally sports or comedians) & funny / humour. I like reading what’s happened in their life and it proves, although they are famous, they are just human beings. Nice post. #AnythingGoes
I love reading, but it can be hard to fit it in at times! I like autobiographies too – it’s good to get to know the real person behind the persona. Thank you 🙂
I’m a fan of smell of a book as well 😀
#AnythingGoes
Glad to find a fellow enthusiast lol 🙂
I love love love reading. I wish I had more time for it, you really can’t beat escaping into a good story and forgetting about the stresses of your own life for a bit. I love the smell of books too!xx #anythinggoes
I know, I always wish I had more time for it too, although I do squeeze in as much as I can!
I love all of these things too, particularly the power to take you to another world. #AnythingGoes
Thank you 🙂