Authors asked to promote reading culture

By Daniel Adeleye

Despite the filtration of internet, the importance of hard book cannot be underplayed, and reading would be so exciting when authors are contemporary in the languages they use to write books in other to salvage the reading culture among Nigerians which has currently brought on its knees.

This was the position of an author, Segun Shonowo during a book launch titled “Success Notes on Marriage” at National Broadcast Academy, Lagos last week.

He emphasized that using abstract languages by the authors is one thing that can make reading difficult for many people.

Shonowo noted that acceptability of Shakespearian books among people of old, is what make them relevant in literature till date, adding that present generation of authors should also strive to write books that will acceptable among people and that will make their works outlived them.

Taking inference from the new book, “Success Notes on Marriage”, the reviewer said one major thing he found most interesting in the book is its practicality, which devoid of using abstract languages that can makes its reading bored.

He acknowledged that the dying reading culture among Nigerians especially the youths is having adverse impact on society because knowledge is embedded in reading of books and it is application of knowledge.

Shonowo who is also a youth counsellor stressed that when someone does not read he cannot behave wisely, which according to him formed the bedrock of follies that society is contending with today.

“People that are reading Shakespearian books today simply do so for academics and not for morals. People read them because they are literature books that they need to read and pass their exams”

“Because people don’t read they don’t know what to do and because they don’t know what to do they rely solely on social media to get information and most of the information they got on social media are always negative,” he submitted.

Earlier during his remark, the author of the book, Pastor Ayobami Adeyemo said he was inspired to write the book while he was home for the bereavement of his departed wife.

He said being a marriage counsellor spanning for decades, had made him to discover that many people assumed that successful marriage is automatic whereas it is not.

The author acknowledged that marriage is established by God and its beyond human comprehension, adding that foundation and sustenance are the most important ingredients for a successful marriage

“Success Notes on Marriage is a marriage manual for intending couples as well as for newly married and aged couples who are still in marriage.

“It is a book that will help intending couples not to go into wrong marriage in the first place, and also outlines the right steps for the couples who are experiencing storm to save that marriage from imminent collapse. Even the already divided homes it will give them ideas to resolve their differences. When the home or marriage is save the society too is save,” he explained.