Dear Readers,     Welcome to our READ-n-REAP family of Reading Enthusiasts ! Readers of all ages, young and old are welcome to join this Family of Readers from around the world for we are an e-connected global family unlimited – bridging geographical, political, cultural, age and educational distance. If you wish either personally, or as a family, to connect with other readers from around the world and share about books, news or feature articles, you’ve come to the right place. READ-n-REAP is a project of the Bones-n-Flesh Arts, a not-for-profit Society committed to bringing the benefits of arts enrichment to the broader community. We charge no fee for joining READ-n-REAP. Only basic requirements are that you’re conversant in English and you genuinely want to READ, READ, READ !
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Talking about Reading “Reading is as vital to human minds and spirits as eating three meals a day is to our physical body.” - Nellie Har-Ko, President of Bones-n-Flesh Arts

Drawing the analogy between READING and the vital function of EATING, Nellie says:

“Ask yourself if this is always deemed good advice : ‘You should eat MORE ‘

And what about the advice to ‘Read MORE’ ? Don’t we often hear language teachers giving this
well-meaning advice to their students : ‘Read MORE’ ??

I believe parents today can become too anxious FEEDING their children with MORE food, MORE BOOKS and MORE of whatever they think will advance their children’s future. I even know of parents who have told me that it’s not MORE but more precisely, MORE of WHAT THEIR CHILDREN WANT. Whether concerning EATING or READING, quite a lot of parents are saying that unless they give their children what they want, the children simply refuse to eat. So what to do? And it’s the same when it comes to READING, the children will only read this book or that series. And these parents feel pressured to give in to their children. But thankfully not all parents do that. There are responsible parents who assume their parenting roles conscientiously.

I find responsible parents by and large do carefully monitor what goes into their children’s tummies but it’s sad to observe that increasingly there are more busy parents who don’t know what their children are reading. I’ve watched parents looking blissfully content when they see the eyes of their young are glued to pages of a book but very few parents actually take the trouble to check the book out.

Well, we all know what happens when we eat too much and worse still, eat too much of the wrong stuff. Let us be reminded that this SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES to the READING process as with eating. In fact, in the case of READING, the consequences are far more severe.

Therefore I say to all our readers who love reading, please be alert to what you’re reading. Parents of young ones, please look at the books your children are reading and IT’S TIME PARENTS TAKE BACK CONTROL.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

I hope in READ-n- REAP Family of Readers we’ll NOT boast about the number of books we read. I hope we’re not among those who fiercely object when the public library limits the number of books we may borrow at any one time. I hope we’ll not be paying library fines and perpetuating the practice of this punitive library rule arising from borrowers returning books late. Why do I say this? Because I happen to think people who borrow MORE BOOKS from the library or pay more library fines are not necessarily more enthusiastic readers.

I believe there’s a vast difference between genuinely reading and thoroughly enjoying a book as opposed to the sheer pleasure of holding the “Topselling Book” in your hand and having the proud satisfaction of seeing the Topseller sitting at home or on your desk. And there’s a vast difference between reading a book for facts, figures, information and enjoying a book for its wealth of content, richness of language, brilliant illustrations, quality print, beautiful and thoughtful design. There’s also a vast difference between the genuine reader who will find in books the animated and eager spark of life and the tired reader who takes to books as an escape from life. As a great man of letters once said :

“ There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who wants a book to read.” - G.K. Chesterton

May we in READ-n-REAP be a family of eager men, women, youth and children who want to read a book - not just people who want a book to read !

Have Endless Enjoyment of Books and Happy Reading my dear Readers !

Have you considered the social benefits of reading with a group? Would you be interested in joining our groups to:     Read with other families? Read with other families? Read with a group of new friends? Read with fellow-workers during lunchbreak? We encourage all these. Bones-N-Flesh Arts Society is keen to form “Reading Groups” and you're welcome to register through email or fax telling us your preferences of type of group and reading topics & literature. Fax to us at (65) 6250 2162 or email us at nellie@bones-n-flesh.com NOW!