I love my job (reading)

Not many of us land themselves a job where you are paid to read.
For the past couple of months, that's what I've been doing. Not that I am really paid to read per se. But because workload diminished to virtually zero, that's what I've been doing for a long time now. Initially, it was t-o-u-g-h having nothing to do. But after I started bringing in books to read, its absolutely heavenly.

Once I pick a book up.. I literally cannot stop.
I remember sleeping at 4am in the morning when I was in sec school, all because I wanted to finish a book. This habit stayed with me. Though now, being more sensible I force myself to put the book down just so I can catch some sleep.

Reading a book is different from watching a movie.
As much as I adored Memoirs of a Geisha (the book), I couldn't bring myself to catch the movie. Because it would pretty much destroy what I've always imagined when I read the book 6 years ago. When I read, images of what is described fills my head, all down to the finest detail. So watching it on screen is really an insult to the book. Because the author painstakingly describes every detail beautifully to enable the readers room to imagine. Having it turn into a movie just kills the imagination of potential readers.
I realised that with the Harry Potter series. Because after Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone (the movie) all the subsequent movies were a major disappointment (at least to me). Not that it was not entertaining. I concede that it was, truly.
But when I read those books, I had in my mind pictured how the blue ford that Harry and Ron drovelooked like when it flew to the skies in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, just like I had already imagined how Sirius Black looked like when I read Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkahban. But when I saw all that in the movies, and they weren't like what I had imagined. I was at conflict with myself. Because I kept wondering how what I had imagined and what was in the movies ain't the same.

It can't be, because everyone's imagination is unique.

I viewed the trailers of Memoirs of a Geisha with great anticipation.
But after much contemplation, I realise I just couldn't. I know before I even watched the show, I will be greatly disappointed. Because the book was so detailed, I reread it so many times I can still imagine certain snippets that I read about the book.
I just didn't want to be disappointed watching someone else's imagination come to life. Because I know it just ain't the same as mine.

Reading is soothing.
Thus, the addiction. Regardless how upset I am about the life around me, the moment I pick up a book. All those worries just melt away like they never once exist.
I could be crying one moment but once I pick up a book to read, time's lost and grief stashed aside. Because I would be in the imagination. The story unfolds in a fuzzy image at the back of my mind, and I'd be watching it.
It takes just so much to read the small details and put them into an image. And I applaud how those writers so successfully weave their imagination into words for us to interpret and imagine.
It's no mean feat truly.

Till this day, being a writer remains one of my greatest ambition.
One that I can't seem to be able to fufill.
I can only seek consolation in reading, and knowing I can never be as capable as those writers.

The greatest gift of all ain't love.
It's one's imagination.
For once, I am thankful for mine.