I have always loved reading. I couldn’t wait to
learn, and once I had started to learn I would torture my dad by insisting I
read the newspaper to him! I would read bedtime stories to my sister, and I
would read, read, read just about everything I could get my hands on! I was a
regular at the local library, I always had such a hard time choosing which to
read first. I read just about all the popular childrens authors, Enid Blyton,
Oliver Hassencamp, Rolf Ulrici, Jack London, Alfred Hitchcock, Karl May, Astrid Lindgren to
name but a few. Lateron I devoured Agatha Christie, Edgar Wallace, Heinz
Konsalik, Sir Artur Conan Doyle, Frederick Forsythe. As my english improved, I
started to re-read some english authors in their original language. Agatha
Christie is still a favourite – but in english, I discovered fantasy- and
science fiction which became my favourite genres. As much as I loved Sir Conan
Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes – my favourite book by him became ‘The Lost World’. I
still love Sherlock Holmes – and particularly enjoy the 1984 Series with Jeremy
Brett – but I enjoy The Lost World more. Douglas Adams, David Eddings, Isac
Asimov and my absolutely favourite author Sir Terry Pratchett! Since his death I have been keeping his last
book as a special treat – not really wanting to to finish the final book! I
have recently finally started reading it ... rationing out page by page,
savouring every word.
I usually have at least two books open at any
given time. One a ‘should’ and one a ‘treat’. The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett
is my current treat. My current ‘should’ is Djinn Rummy by Tom Holt.
So, what’s this ‘should’ list? Well, remember
how I had lugged this incredible hoard around with me for decades, then finally
cleared out most of it – only to inherit my mum’s? Yeah, that’s right! It’s all
books, remember? And books are precious! You don’t just throw them out, like
garbage! Never! With my own books, I could sort through them and decide whether
it was likely there would ever come a time when I would enjoy reading them
again. Some are like dear friends, who take me to a time and place of
happiness. Like ‘Mein Unsichtbarer Freund’ (translation: my invisible friend)
about a kid called Lasko, who has made friends with a handful of aliens, who
have technology which can make them invisible. Or The Secret Garden, which
always turns me back into a little girl with her garden. Or my most precious
book: Die Brüder Löwenherz which has a very special, precious meaning for me. Or
the Burg Schreckenstein Series, which takes me back to 1979-81, when I felt an
equal member of my class for the first time – not like the weirdo or stranger I
usually felt. But then there were also books which left me indifferent – some
bored (the Wheel of Time Saga comes to mind! Which was the first time ever, I
didn’t even care to find out how it would end – and yet I’ve had people tell me
how they are absolutely mesmerised by it!). And those latter books I could let
go, knowing I would not regret the decision at some later stage.
In my first de-hoarding, I kept books I had not
yet read. Obviously. In Pretoria there is a German Old Age Home, who also take
german books as a donation. They either add them to their own library for
residents, or sell them at their bi-annual booksale to subsidise the Home. But
in Port Elizabeth I have not found any store / charity / institution who want
german books. Second Hand Book Stores can be found throughout South Africa –
and if not bookstores, then pawn shops. So, now I’m going through my english
books, reading them so I can decide whether they are keepers or not. The method
of selection? Ha Ha Ha: Size! I select the largest, hard-cover book which I
think will not turn out to be a keeper! And yes, I’m afraid that’s where this
particular Tom Holt landed. I’m nearly finished – the jury is still out, but
I’m leaning towards ‘once is enough’. Apologies to Tom Holt fans, but it’s only
the book, not the auther I’m letting go.
Just thinking back to some of my favourite
childhood books, I’m re-entering the past – living again alongside Enid
Blyton’s Famous Five, laughing at Astid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking and her
funny ideas, following the serious intensity of Jack London’s Call of the Wild,
searching for clues alongside Astrid Lindgren’s Kalle Blomkvist.
I’m trying to remember TV Series which left
equally strong impressions – Michel aus Lönneberga? Daktari? Catweazle? My Favorite
Martian? Pan Tau? Flipper? Lassie? They bring back snippets of atmosphere, the
occasional image, bits of story but that’s about all. Even Series I watched in
my teens, like Space: 1999 and Star Trek I don’t remember anywhere near as well
as I remember the characters, backgrounds and adventures of so many of the
books I’ve read. As an avid Star Trek fan I’m sorry to say but the TV Series left
no impression on teenaged me.
I’ve tried re-watching Series from my childhood
– but there is absolutely not connection to the younger me. Yet every book I’ve
re-read has sent my mind back in time, who I was, what impressed me then,
travel to now and how do I see the same scene today. I learn something about
myself, too, every time!
And now, I think, I will treat myself to
another page or two of The Shepherd’s Crown!
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