by Aimee Coulter

Created on: December 10, 2008

If I had a book for every time I was asked "Why do you read?" I would have a good sized library. Alter the question to "Why do you read so much?" and my book collection would rival the Library of Congress. Yet, despite the frequency with which I hear these statements, I still cannot fathom while people feel the need to ask it. Would you ask someone, "Why do you breathe?" or "Why do you eat?"

When faced with the question, my response varies depending on who is asking. A man on the bus will hear, "Reading broadens my horizons." My children get told either, "Mommy loves her stories, too" or "Don't bother me! I'm reading." My sister understands it is because, "The problems of people in novels make my own seem so inconsequential." In reality, broad horizons, love of literature and escape are only by-products of the truth. And the truth is actually a dirty little secret. It is a secret of mine that even I am reluctant to speak aloud or acknowledge even in thought. The truth isI am addicted to reading!

Since childhood, I have been a story addict. My mother made certain I learned to read on my own at an early age. Although once I considered her efforts an act of selfless giving, I now recognize it for what it was. She wanted me to be able to read unassisted so that she could get lost in her own novels. Once I learned to read on my own, reading quickly transitioned from an occasional diversion to an integral part of every facet of my day. I read while waiting for the school bus, piano lessons and appointments. I read during the commercials of my favorite television programs, downtime at school and even while using the bathroom! There were few functions and activities I participated in where I could not consume the written word. If books weren't available, then I would make do with cereal boxes at breakfast, shampoo bottles in the shower and dessert menus in restaurants. Without understanding what I was doing, at the age of twelve, I was arranging my life to ensure regular reading fixes!

By the time high school rolled around, my reading habit had progressed from borderline preoccupation to full blown obsession. My school work was completed hurriedly to allow time for reading. I was continually sleep deprived as I stayed up half the night reading. Weekends were spent at the library gathering more reading material. School holidays were spent devouring novels. It was no surprise to anyone that in college I majored in English literature. This way, I could justify feeding my

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