*Or, How to Fall in Love with Books Without Losing Your Sanity*

**A little advice from Professor Page to the wonderful readers of Lanka Books Online.**

Dear LBO fans,

I have spent years studying a mysterious species known as the *Avid Reader*.

These extraordinary creatures can miss a bus stop, forget their tea, and stay awake until 2 a.m. — all because somebody in a book hasn’t yet revealed who committed the murder.

How do ordinary humans become members of this remarkable species?

After extensive research (mostly conducted in my favourite armchair), I present my ten commandments.

### 1. Read What You Love, Not What Makes You Look Clever

If you love detective stories, read detective stories!

You don’t need to tackle a 900-page philosophical masterpiece to impress the neighbour.

The neighbour probably hasn’t read it either.

### 2. Twenty Minutes a Day Keeps the Bookworm Awake

You don’t need to spend six hours reading under a tree like a Victorian poet.

Just 15–20 minutes a day.

That’s probably less time than you spend wondering what to watch on Netflix.

### 3. Never Leave Home Without a Book

Waiting for the doctor? Read.

Waiting for a bus? Read.

Waiting for someone who said, “I’ll be there in five minutes”?

Excellent! You might finish an entire chapter.

### 4. Give Your Thumb a Holiday

Your thumb has been scrolling Facebook, TikTok and Instagram all day.

The poor creature is exhausted.

Give it a rest. Turn a page instead.

Your brain will send a thank-you note.

### 5. Don’t Eat the Same Literary Curry Every Day

Imagine eating dhal curry every single day.

Even the dhal would get bored.

Try a thriller today, a biography tomorrow, some history next week and perhaps a little science.

A varied literary diet keeps the imagination healthy.

### 6. You Are Allowed to Divorce a Boring Book

Yes, you heard me.

If a book refuses to interest you after a fair attempt, you may gently put it aside.

There are millions of other books waiting to meet you.

Literary loyalty should not become a life sentence.

### 7. Build Your Own Reading Kingdom

Find a comfortable chair, decent lighting and a quiet corner.

Add a cup of tea.

You don’t need a magnificent library with a ladder and a fireplace.

Although, if someone offers you one, Professor Page strongly recommends accepting.

### 8. Gossip About Books

Finished a wonderful novel?

Tell somebody!

Discuss the characters. Argue about the ending. Recommend it to a friend.

Unlike ordinary gossip, literary gossip improves with every retelling.

And fictional characters are unlikely to sue you.

### 9. Keep a Diary of Your Literary Adventures

Write down the books you’ve read, the passages you’ve loved and the questions they’ve raised.

Years later, you’ll rediscover your notes and think:

“What a remarkably intelligent person I was!”

Or perhaps:

“What on earth was I thinking?”

Either way, it’s entertaining.

### 10. Never Turn Reading into an Olympic Sport

Some people proudly announce they read 100 books a year.

Wonderful!

But reading isn’t about winning a gold medal.

One book that changes how you see the world may be worth more than fifty books you barely remember.

Read because you enjoy it. Read because you’re curious. Read because books take you places no airline can reach.

—

## A Final Word from Professor Page

Dear readers,

The secret to becoming an avid reader isn’t buying enormous quantities of books.

Although, naturally, Professor Page has absolutely no objection to that!

The secret is discovering the pleasure of reading until picking up a book becomes as natural as reaching for your morning tea.

**And remember: a bookworm is simply an ordinary person who discovered that one lifetime isn’t enough to read everything worth reading.**

Happy reading!

**Professor Page** 🎓📖

*Lanka Books Online*

**A Little Piece of a British Bookshop, Right Here in Sri Lanka.**

🌐 www.lankabooksonline.com