Books Have Always Been My Escape
Books have been a constant in my life—each one carrying a little bit of magic.
One of my earliest memories is reading proudly to my grandparents, so serious and determined, as if I were unveiling some great discovery. That love for stories grew fast, fueled by trips to the library, where I’d grab as many books as I could get away with. I don’t remember if there was a strict limit or just my mum’s tolerance, but five seemed to be the magic number.
Buying books wasn’t really an option back then—too expensive. Owning one was a rare treat. So the library became my treasure trove, and book covers? Pure magic. The way the artwork hinted at the adventure inside, sparking my imagination long before I knew how to read the words.
The Books That Shaped My Childhood
Some books never left me.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe transported me to a world where anything was possible—talking animals, enchanted lands, and the ultimate battle between good and evil. The Famous Five let me escape into mystery and adventure.
Then there was the takahē—a bird thought to be extinct for 50 years before being rediscovered in 1948. It felt mythical, like something out of fantasy—except it was real. Now, I can actually see these incredible birds at Auckland Zoo or on Tiritiri Matangi, which is an amazing full-circle moment.
Books and the World Beyond New Zealand
As I got older, my reading habits shifted.
Schoolwork was heavy, and I dove into music magazines—my passport to a world that felt impossibly far away.
Back then, New Zealand was so disconnected—the only travel stories I heard were of people heading to Australia. Except for my mum’s cousin, who had done a big OE (overseas experience), international artists and overseas travel felt like a life that existed for other people, not me.
A Lifelong Love Affair with Books
Despite my teenage detour into magazines, books never really left me.
When I wasn’t allowed a dog, I turned to the school library and borrowed every single book on dogs—there were only about five, but I read them all. That might have been the beginning of my love for nonfiction and research.
Years later, after slogging through correspondence study to get my degree, my reading habits shifted again. Instead of novels, I leaned toward magazines and cookbooks—lighter reads that didn’t require too much concentration.
But if I find myself on holiday without much internet access? You can bet I’ll have a novel in my hands. Complete relaxation.
Recently, though, I’ve been diving into biographies, and they’ve been unexpectedly magical.
Neil Finn’s was like a time machine back to childhood, Rod Stewart’s had me laughing out loud, and Bill Gates' Source Code? I had to read that digitally—but his journey, building Microsoft from nothing, was seriously fascinating.
I’ll always prefer holding a real book, but sometimes, that’s just the sacrifice you make for living at the bottom of the world.
Passing the Magic of Books to the Next Generation
So how do you get kids hooked on books when they’re surrounded by screens and instant entertainment?
My teachers used to read aloud to the class—stories like The Hobbit and Gulliver’s Travels that captured my imagination in ways I still remember. That love for books was something I instinctively wanted to pass down.
Ever since my grandson was an infant, I’ve been reading to him. A close friend gifted me My Nanna’s a Ninja—the perfect book for a new Nanna to share with her grandson. I would cuddle him close, and he would sit quietly, gazing at the pictures as I read.
Now that he’s learning to read, he’s picking up words everywhere—signs, song titles on my car dashboard, anything in his environment. But, like most kids today, he’s drawn to his devices.
Recently, I saw a couple of childhood favorites on sale—ones that came with an audio feature, bridging the gap between traditional books and digital experiences.
The next time he stayed with me, he was—as usual—completely absorbed in his game. I handed him the books as a surprise, and he thanked me politely before setting them aside and continuing his game.
I started reading Five Little Ducks Went Off to School, and then—magic happened.
He put down his device and was completely engrossed in the book. By the time I started If You’re a Kiwi and You Know It, he asked if he could read that one himself.
His mum arrived before he finished, so we’ll pick it up again another day. But that moment—watching him shift focus, watching him step into the magic of books—it was a win for Nanna.
Celebrating Stories and Storytellers
Speaking of writing your own story, I want to celebrate a dear friend who has done just that.
She published her own poetry book, The Lotus: A Journey Towards Light from Seeds of Life, Love, and Loss, which went to number one on Amazon in the rainbow community. Her work is a testament to the power of words—to inspire, to heal, and to connect us all.
You are the star—write your story the way only you can.
