by Marsha Coles

Created on: July 25, 2010

As a writer it is hard to consider the fact that some people in this world are not readers. Sure, they may read business reports at their office or the sports page in their local newspaper at home but they never seem to find the time to sit down and pick up a good book to read.

When asked why they always have their excuses on hand. ‘There’s just not enough hours in the day’ or ‘reading a book is just not their cup of tea’. When asked where we would be without books they just simply shrug their shoulders. They know that books are important in our society but yet they don’t see the importance of it in their own daily lives.

What would have happened if there had been no one interested or had the time to read during the time of Agatha Christie? The wonderful detective skills of Miss Marple would have never been revealed. Just think of all of the unsolved mysteries that would have never been developed had Agatha not had her fans, the readers, to compel her to write just one more story.

If there had been no one to read the sonnets and stories of Shakespeare Romeo and Juliet would have never been able to touch the hearts of millions of people through the ages. Edgar Allen Poe would have never penned The Raven and it would have been quoted ‘nevermore.’ It’s hard to imagine a world without these great literary classics.

So is reading important? Yes. Without reading no one could use their imagination to travel to different destinations. Books are needed to escape the day to day strife and fight pirates and vampires. A child that lives in the city would not be able to read about all the trees and animals that live in the country without the help of a book such as Old MacDonald’s Farm with all of his cows and chickens. People wanting to travel to distant lands who cannot afford the trip can go for free by just opening a book. Books and reading are the tickets to a freedom not found in the regular world. Without reading there would be nothing to imagine.

The importance of reading begins at a very young age. Start reading to your children right away and watch their minds develop as they travel without you to places unknown. Who knows, perhaps one day they will be an author themselves.

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