I’ll rather commence with this excerpt from a narrative published on 26th September 2020, which was a recollection of my first attendance at an event of Punchline Poetry Society:
Vivian Daniel is awesome. [After the event themed “Deceptive Truth”, organised by PPS], we walked from Rukuba Road, through Gada Biu, to LaMed Pharmacy, along Zaria Road Jos. The conversation we had was interesting and impactful; in that, we did not worry about how far we had to trek. On that walk, I learnt about Book_Troverts and got admitted as a member before the official induction.
That was in 2018.
I was awarded my certificate of participation from Book_Troverts at her “Quarterly Celebrations of Bookworms” on 25th August 2018. The certificate was for participating in the “Weekly Book Challenge” organised by the book club. The weekly book challenge had appointees ( members of the book club) who would review a book each week. The review is then assessed by members and ultimately by the chamber (admins of the book club). Afterwards, the most outstanding and compelling review makes the reviewer the “Bookworm of the Month”.
Prior to that moment, I had never reviewed a book. The closest experience I have had to review a book, as required by the chamber, were discussions I engaged in during my Sunday School years. Then, we were assigned Bible readings. At the next Sunday meeting, we’d have a conversation about the assigned readings. Besides that, I can’t recall any.
I am a student in the sciences; all through school—save my junior secondary years—I had not been exposed to literature as a necessity. I did not consider reading—beyond school textbooks—as an activity of immense value. “Of what importance is reading to a science student?” was the strongest opposition we had.
I was appointed for the Weekly Book Challenge in July 2018. The book I reviewed was You Can Fly Like the Eagle by Steve Ogan. That was my very first attempt at writing a book review (if I remember correctly). In fact, I remember that I wasn’t done reading the book before I undertook the session. I was persuaded not to back out via a phone call with Vivian Daniel, some few hours before the set time (8:00 p.m.). My excuse was that I wasn’t done reading and I wanted to give a wholesome review. She encouraged me and I took the challenge. I did not emerge as the “Bookworm” of the month but, not only did I receive a certificate of participation, I entered a journey of evolution.
Today, I read a lot. I now appreciate erudition, as the utmost way of learning. I now write more proficiently than I ever did. I now run this newsletter (using Substack), writing narrative essays and book reviews to over 700 subscribers (and counting). I am currently sharpening my proofreading and editing skills; I have done some jobs even. I emerged as the Bookworm of May in 2021. I am not slowing down in devouring more and more books, as the world continues to open up to me through the pages of great books.
This is my testimony of how Book_Troverts impacted my reading habit, and consequently my life.
NB: This article, excluding the first paragraph, was first published by Book_Troverts during her fourth anniversary this year.
My book will be available from 21st August 2022, tomorrow!
The first publication bearing the RANDOM DESPATCHES colophon is still available: Purchase Levography and Grace.