Funny how I wrote and posted about not forcing myself to read a book, but after a few weeks, I got the urge to pick up a book and read. And within a few days, I managed to finish three books. In a few days! That’s a big accomplishment, and I guess that not obliging myself to read a book because of some part of my personal agenda is really the only way to go. It just has to be.

It’s been so long since I read a book prior to picking up the Anne of Green Gables series. Well, I did read Restore Me, the fourth book of my all-time favorite YA series, Shatter Me. I think the enthusiasm was still there, and when I said favorite, I meant it, so I know that I will pick it up no matter what. It may not be as fast as I devoured books before (or as much as I read manga and webtoons nowadays), but you could say the fondness is still there. But picking up a book, it not being part of anything and akin to an “A-HA!” moment when it chanced upon, I was completely pleased! I still have it!

Being a bookworm will still be part of me. I may not read as many books as before, but I still have that compelling desire to do it, sans the whole “I-need-to-read-again-cos-I-have-to” sort of strange life program. But I learned to let it happen to me naturally, not as a goal to be accomplished, and definitely not to show off. I was reluctant to say that I love reading books because I don’t read as often as before. as plenty as before. It may come off as insincere. I remember this one time an internet technician went to our house and was amazed by the sheer number of manga and books we have (I even pointed out that little book storage hiding behind his back, haha). He said, “You love to read books, huh?” I said yes. I hesitated, but in retrospect, I am! I always love reading books. I always will! It’s not about consistency; it’s about honesty towards it.

Do I love reading books? I do! The number of years I did that was a solid testament to that. I will no longer entertain the idea that I’m not a lover of books based on the number of books I read per year. The scarcity isn’t the issue, and it shouldn’t be. You have to love what you read. You have to be interested in what you read. You love this hobby, regardless of the quantity!