Sunday, February 13, 2011

Readers and Writers

There is a saying in Spanish that people who read a lot will soon start to write. In my case, I think it is true to a certain extent because I cannot remember a time when I was not fascinated by words and their meanings. I particularly liked foreign words, especially the way their spelling and pronunciation did not often correspond, at least according to the dictionary.

I think I always had a talent for spelling because I could see the words mentally and know if a letter was missing or needed. This enabled me to always ace the exams where spelling was involved. Unfortunately, my grades in arithmetic were below par because this subject did not come easily to me.

When I began reading, the first books that I devoured were the ones dealing with myths and legends. Even though these were adapted to children a few years older than me, I found that I could readily understand the content. The illustrations were also attractive and aided greatly in the formation of mental images to accompany the text.

Among the books that I read after my initial foray into myths and legends was Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. The adventures of Mr. Toad and Mr. Badger enthralled me for hours. I reread it now and again and still find it a very good read. A Basket of Flowers by Christoph Von Schmid was another book that I found interesting. Even though its protagonist is a young girl, it was written in such a way as to appeal to children of either sex. Even today I find that it still has the power to inspire me.

In High School I quickly gravitated to the books that were popular among the other boys. The Biggles series of novels by Captain W.E. Johns were a great source of delight for me. The books were always filled with daring escapes, adventures on sea and land, amid the warn-torn Europe of the Second World War. Biggles was followed by the Hardy Boys series of novels by Franklin W. Dixon. The setting was completely different and the young detectives introduced me to a world that was new to me.

Today, I find that my reading varies according to my different interests. Science fiction novels are one of my favorites, especially the ones that deal with present technology. Robert Heinlein, one of my favorite authors, said that a good story should take one aspect of technology and extrapolate from there. The factual basis of the story would lend a certain degree of credibility and make the reader's experience more vivid.



2 comments:

  1. Great ideas for how to write. Did you really read Balzac and Trollope? I salute you for this.
    Sincerely, H. Elliott

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  2. Thanks, Harriet. I have read most of Balzac's stories after reading Boule de Soeuf, his first popuar story. I have also read most of Trollope, especially his essays on writing.

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