Some memories remain untouched by the passing of time. In my case, many of them carry the smell of a freshly opened book, the feel of pages turning too quickly, and the excitement of discovering a new adventure.
As a child, I read everything I could get my hands on. It wasn’t a passing hobby, but a necessity. Every book was an open door to another place, another time, and other characters with whom to share a few hours. The Enid Blyton collections hold a very special place in my memory. The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, Malory Towers… Each story was an invitation to go on adventures, solve mysteries, and dream of endless summers when anything seemed possible.
I still remember the feeling of wanting to finish one book so I could immediately start the next. A few years later came the novels of Emilio Salgari. Sandokan, The Black Corsair, and so many other characters took me to distant seas, exotic jungles, and unforgettable battles. Through his books, I discovered that books could also make you travel without ever leaving the sofa.
They weren’t the only ones. There were many more authors, many more stories, and many hours of reading. Each one left a small mark that, without me realizing it at the time, was shaping my own way of imagining and telling stories.
Over time came the pencils, the notebooks, the illustrations, and finally, my own children’s books. Looking back, I realize that it all began long before I wrote the first page. It began with reading.
I believe all readers carry a little map of the books that changed them forever. The ones that taught us that imagination has no limits and that, when we close the final page, we are no longer quite the same.
And you, do you remember which book or collection first sparked your passion for reading?
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