People busy writing. And more people should be busy reading. When last unnu read off a whole book? Yes, I know I've asked that question of my readers before. And yes, I know I will definitely ask it again because I have a thing for books. Well, not just books, I have a thing for reading, generally. Yeah, man, I strongly believe that people should read more.

Hey, I'm much too busy [and old and tired] to read as much as I would like to these days, but unnu know say I was a voracious reader in my young days? Yeah, man, as a boy growing up in the ghetto, while the other boys were busy riding board skates or making slingshots or stoning people's mango tree, I was busy devouring every written text in my way - from the Hardy Boys to the Bobbsey Twins, to Mills & Boon, to every kind of comic book available.

But I read everything else as well too. Yeah, man, from street signs to advertising billboards to the label on the sardine can, once something was written and visible, I would be reading it. Of course, in my days we only had access to one deggeh-deggeh form of book - the one made of paper. And I had to travel to the library to borrow and read those books because the only books my auntie who raised me used to buy - when she did buy any was school books. Thankfully, she used to buy the STAR, too, though, and I read it religiously, then and now. It continues to provide information, inspiration, entertainment and education.

Yeah man I grew up on the STAR. I was an awestruck youngster who used to so look forward to the uplifting and enjoyable experience of reading columns like Stella Seh by Barbara Gloudon. I never imagined that the little boy who sat by Miss Becca's fish cart on the sidewalk at the corner of West Road and Third Street reading the STAR aloud for all the vendors and passers-by would one day be not only still reading from, but also now writing for, the STAR. But that's part of the beautiful nexus between reading and writing.

Even if readers don't become writers themselves, readers are people who know the value of writers.

As a diehard reader myself, I love, admire and value writers. And as an aspiring writer, I have the utmost respect for readers. Yeah, man, everyone and anyone who takes time to read the words I write actually do me a great honour, and I'm eternally grateful for it.

Nowadays, people actually have easier and quicker access to the work of writers via all forms of books and other media. There are audio books, video books, e-books and more.

Look here nuh, I just realised last week that people can actually go to a site like YouTube, for example, and enjoy a complete book like Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers.

Mek mi ask a different question now, though. When last any of you who reading this actually bought a book? Yes, I know plenty people buy school books out of necessity, but when last unnu buy a book for the pleasure of reading? I did it recently, twice!

Yes, folks, I've been fortunate enough to attend two different book launches two Sundays in a row now! Sunday before last, I was at UWI for the launch of Navel String - a collection of powerful, passionate and poignant poetry by Adrian Augier. And Sunday gone, I went to UTech to catch the launch of an enchantingly enjoyable novel about boyhood by my friend A-Dziko Simba Gegele. The novel is called All Over Again and is published by a Jamaican outfit called Blouse & Skirt Books. I highly recommend it.

Yes, friends, contrary to modern myths, our people are actually writing and publishing. And more of us should be busy reading.

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