The reading bug has hit me, like it always do, after staying dormant for a much longer time than I can remember.

I can’t remember when was the last time I read a book, but whenever I feel like reading, the urge to finish book after book is hard to resist.

It is the perfect way to escape from reality, and at the same time, getting to know things like I never did.

I used to love thrillers, and fictional books that have lotsa suspense in it. I am a fan of surprises, evidently.

After some work errands which ended later than expected on a quiet Monday evening, the Times bookshop nearby had its draw on me.

I pranced around the bookshop excitedly, and then called JD for some recommendation on books to read.

Not feeling chick-litty, I opted for the “very good book”, Princess, by Jean Sasson.

But it had ran out of stock, and I went out of the bookshop empty handed.

Just as I was about to call it a day, I was randomly reading a poster, and the read signage above it caught my eyes.

It was that of a 2nd hand bookstore!

Woohoo!

I went up and I managed to get 2 books which I was earlier looking for, a book highly recommended by Effy - My sister’s keeper, and Jean Sasson’s Princess.

I started with Princess, and I think it isn’t very wrong to say that it was one of my very first times reading a non-fiction book.

I didn’t finish a chapter before I fell asleep at 9 plus on a Monday evening. Loser.

The next day, I continued on during lunch time, and caught up quite a bit over the 1 plus hour of treacherous journey home. From waiting for the bus, to on the bus, to waiting for another bus, and even when I was walking.

When I got home, my very own princess vied for attention and I didn’t manage to continue until she was out doing grocery shopping with my parents.

She has grown so much, you know. It won’t be long before she starts stringing a sentence and drown me in her endless “why”s.

She now searches for people closest to her, and will go into rooms calling out “Mama” knowing that’s where I normally will be. When I ain’t there, she will flip her little hands over and over and say “Mei you(don’t have)”.

She now pronounce her “please” as “pleaaa”, and she now knows how to pass object to other people.

Most importantly, she shows care and love to little things, like the little bear given by grandma, and she will hug plushies like babies, and will squeal “Baaaaayyybeeeeee!” before she tuck the little toy under her chin and hug it with lotsa tenderness and love. And she will always lean her head in on the “baby”, and hold it closer whenever I say “Hug tight tight!”

As much as she is stubborn and stingy with her kisses, she will always have spares for the little “babies”.

She is getting more active, and extra efforts have to go into “goal keeping” as we try to keep her away from hazards in the house.

Her smiles are amazing lah.

I managed to finish my book on the Saudi Arabian princess by 1am, and can’t wait to start on Jodi Picoult one.

And I think my interest for non-fiction books are officially stirred, for I learnt much more of cultures, history, and other people.

Strangely, now I have a certain lust for history books, a genre I have never ventured into.

Maybe something about the life of Lenin, Stalin or influential historical figures who led dramatic lives that fascinated generations(King Henry VIII is fascinating too!).

Yeah, I am a fan of drama, what can I say?

And now, I wonder how long my excessive reading obsession will last before I will stop for months, before being bitten by the reading bug again.