At the beginning of the month I promised this blog would not be neglected. It’s the end of the month and I notice I haven’t kept my promise. Would it help at all if I told you that writing itself has definitely not been neglected? Some exciting ideas are hopping around in the creative centres of my brain that have so far been very determined to break out onto paper. The unfortunate side effect is that I haven’t been blogging very much. But keep an eye open for a book review next week…and that note is a perfect segue into this edition of Link Lasso, which is all about reading.

The reading lifestyle, like any other, comes with its own set of difficulties. Be understanding and open-minded when interacting with a reader. Maybe you could give reading a try and see how you like it; as with so many things, there’s an app for that.

Speaking of interesting ways to read, have you ever tried it with a microscope? Or perhaps you’re one of those silly people that finds Shakespeare boring. Well, now you’re free to rewrite his most famous play any way you choose.

But however you approach it, you should really try reading. Some advocate especially that it should happen outside the realm of social media and the Internet. And if you’re a person of faith, you might find that “promiscuous reading” is an important and necessary part of searching for God’s own Truth.

Now you might be thinking, “Reading sounds at least a little bit fun, but I hate how it cuts me off from real people, and real conversations, and real relationships. Reading is too solitary for me.” It might be a bit maudlin to try and persuade you with an inspirational quote, but here’s a thought from the novel War In Heaven by Charles Williams:

“An hour’s conversation between two ardent minds with a common devotion to a neglected poet is a miraculous road to intimacy.”