Books are fun!

BOOKSTORES are a source of solace for me, even amusement. I was browsing through the children’s section one afternoon when a little girl appeared out of nowhere. She was stomping her feet playfully and clapping her hands in rhythm. As she did her little march, she chanted, “Books are fun! Books are fun!”

Books are fun indeed. Some use reading as an escape, some to enrich knowledge, others to walk in someone else’s shoes. Books are playmates of our imagination. And that’s why we bookworms can’t get enough of them.

Each of us has our own concept of book fun. Fun can be a chapter of an inspirational self-help book, or it could be understanding the childhood of a Nobel Prize winner. Others may find books on DIY (Do It Yourself) more fun than science fiction. Here are some of my own ideas on book fun.

You choose it, you live it. Remember Choose Your Own Adventure? You’re given several scenarios and it’s up to you to choose how you want to end your story. I remember re-reading my CYOA books over and over, trying to get to the best possible ending. The various choices heightened my anticipation. CYOA books definitely rate high on my Book Fun list! Several chick lit books also use this format. Instead of choosing whether to go down into the depths of the Great Pyramid or follow the tracks of the Abonimable Snowman, you choose between following that cute guy to the country cottage or going aboard a sailboat for a political party to meet a charismatic fellow. Which adventure would you prefer?

Get to know yourself more. I enjoy books that make self-discovery fun. Kokology, for example, is a book with more than 50 psychological questions on how you feel about your life, love, career, passions, etc. The questions and situations presented are hardly boring and clinical, so it’s fun to toss it around with friends. All About Me by Philipp Keel is also fun. It’s a journal with questions that can range from your favorite food to how your relationship with your parents is. These can also make for great icebreakers during a party.

You’re never too old to read children’s books. The children’s section at a bookstore is one of my favorite spots. One, I enjoy watching children read. It makes me happy that they choose to hold books in their hands instead of portable video games at that very moment. Two, the mood is always fun and light. Three, the books remind me of how fun and simple life can be. Little Golden Books were my favorite as a child, and even if I’m already 30, I still enjoy them just as much.

There are many more ideas on why books are fun and how they can be even more fun. You probably have your own definition of book fun. Whatever they are, let’s celebrate it. Let’s stomp our feet, clap our hands and chant along with the little girl in the bookstore.

“Books are fun! Books are fun!”

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