A fellow blogger CW recently blogged about the wonders of the Internet and how it has affected her life.

It got me thinking: the kids that grow up today can never imagine life without the Internet and computers. What did I do when I was a kid? I played with other kids and I read. A lot. In fact I am ashamed to say that I don’t read as much as I used to. Well actually I don’t read, period. Blame it all on new media: TV, Internet, video games. And when I’m not on those things I’m out with friends clubbing and socialising.

I remember the type of books I used to read growing up: Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Famous Five. Those plus all those Choose Your Own Adventure books, and other similar gamebooks. These gamebooks had multiple storylines where you determine the outcome. My favourites were the “Grailquest” and “The Way of the Tiger” series. They rock! The books are the equivalent of computer games today, except you have to read to play them. It was a great way to get kids to read - too bad they are no longer in print. I did find a great reference site with downloadable copies though.

A typical reading session with one of these gamebooks would go like this:

Let’s see. Turn to pg. 23 if you want to camp here for the night and risk being attacked in the open, or turn to pg. 47 if you want to push on but risk falling asleep at the wheel? Hmmm.
*puts one finger on current page, and flips to one of the choices*
Eh, die lah….go back go back.

Or

Ok, roll dice. F**k! Not enough! Roll again. Cibai! Still die!!!
I was a very foul-mouthed kid who got smacked for it

I cheated and it was still fun. When you read you are enhancing the story with your own imagination. And no computer programmer can replicate that in a video game. Not now anyway.

I would really like to read more books again. I really would. Unfortunately for me, “turn off that TV (or Internet for that matter) and read a book” is easier said than done. I am too plugged in. ;)