Outside of a dog a book is mans best friend....
My parents used to take me to the library when I was a nipper. I dutifully got out some books that would sit in my bedroom unopened until they were due back.

Until..

Mr Salisbury he was our teacher in the last year of junior school. He was new to the school and we were the first to get him. In the hour period just before lunch he stopped the class

"listen up everyone, it is my experience that you lot lose concentration about now and don't learn much and you are all generaly thinking about lunch. So I think a better way to spend our time is with a good book so I'll read to you"

Now being 11 or nearly 11 being read to seemed a little babyish but we let him off. He read us "the Silver Sword", "Danny Champion of the World", "Stig of the Dump" & The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar" (maybe more those are the ones I remember ..this was in 1980)

He did different voices and read with passion we were all captivated and I have never been without at least one book on the go ever since that year

Thank you Mr Salisbury I owe you ;)
(sittingduck Attention seeking, bullshitting fuck-knuckle, Thu 17 Mar 2011, 13:44, 1 reply)

I read 'The Silver Sword' at the same age - in a very similar way - the whole class had a copy and we took turns to read it
I bought and re-read the book a couple of years ago - it still makes me cry. Brilliant, brilliant book.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Sat 19 Mar 2011, 15:37, closed)