How weird am I?

I have this compulsion to buy up any book that strike my fancy. Not necessarily to read them of course, just to revel in the knowledge that I have them secure on my shelves, ready to be devoured whenever I have the time and inclination.

Which does not come often these days. What with work commitments, family matters and leisurely pursuits, book reading has been relegated to the lower ranks of my daily priorities.

It didn't used to be this way. Time was when I wasted whole days just reading and reading anything that enters my grasp. Books, comics, magazines and especially newspapers. My writing style and my reluctance to speak English unless in grammatically correct verse and sentence stemmed from my voracious appetite for the NST, particularly during my early teens. I even discovered Roald Dahl during this period. Granted, he was more suitable for a younger set but I just didn't know he existed when I was smaller.

With me coming from a 'kampung' family, I simply wasn't exposed to many of the literary influences, be they children's authors or adult writers. I had to make up for lost time during my late primary and the whole secondary school years to catch up with Captain Biggles, the Hardy Boys (and even Nancy Drew). Thank God for my primary school library back then. I think I read its entire collection of English language fiction.


Then I found the district library. Being located in the admin town of Besut (Kg Raja), it was blessed with past librarians and administrators who were more exposed and knowledgeable. Thus they stocked up many English books, which I systematically borrowed and read. Going back there these days tend be an enterprise in despair. Knowledge is not valued any more. The library is is a state of disrepair and good books a rare commodity.