For the most part my reading habits have been haphazard, to say the least. I have always been a voracious reader right from the time I could start putting words together from my basal reader. I naturally f
inished my schoolbooks to start with. The only book we had at home was the Bible. It took me over a year to finish that. I must have been big enough to make the trip to the library which was two miles away. I could go only there once a week on Saturday afternoons when my father was home and could look after my two younger brothers.
inished my schoolbooks to start with. The only book we had at home was the Bible. It took me over a year to finish that. I must have been big enough to make the trip to the library which was two miles away. I could go only there once a week on Saturday afternoons when my father was home and could look after my two younger brothers.
We were only allowed to take out two books at a time, and they had to last me until the following Saturday. For my trips to the library I started using a system which gave me the widest selection of books, but not always those which would have been the best suited for my purposes. I made a list from the catalogue of those books which were over 600 pages. That way the librarian selected the books after my list, because those were the days when books were not yet on open shelves. The system worked very well. Many times I had to read at night time to get my books read before I had to return them.
I was an omnivorous reader, who did not care what the book was about as long as I had not read it before. That’s why I came to read Nansen’s book Across Greenland on Skis. I remember the book well, because about six years later in high school (lyceum) my teacher asked if anybody had read it. I was the only one. My teacher seemed to be impressed, but asked if 
I had not found it a bit long winded. I had no answer for that, because I had never thought it to be anything else other than a task that had to be finished. But now I know that I would never anymore find the necessary patience to read it again. Later on in night school I had one year of English. I did very well and liked the language so much that I read it by myself. Pretty soon I was able to read pocket books, which I bought from second hand bookstores. They were mostly cowboy and detective books, and for over twenty years I didn’t read anything but them. I left over 500 paperbacks behind when I emigrated in 1957.
I had not found it a bit long winded. I had no answer for that, because I had never thought it to be anything else other than a task that had to be finished. But now I know that I would never anymore find the necessary patience to read it again. Later on in night school I had one year of English. I did very well and liked the language so much that I read it by myself. Pretty soon I was able to read pocket books, which I bought from second hand bookstores. They were mostly cowboy and detective books, and for over twenty years I didn’t read anything but them. I left over 500 paperbacks behind when I emigrated in 1957.
The next phase came when I moved to Lapland and got interested in fishing. The hobby developed first into fly-fishing and then into fly-tying. All literature available was in English, and even that 
had to be borrowed to start with. I promised to return the first two books on fly tying in two months time, and there was no way to learn the skill in that time period. That’s why I translated them, and it started a trend which is on going. Afterwards I was able to buy my own books, and because books were almost the only item which could be imported without a license, I started building up my own library. Or better to say my collection. Now I have read most of those books at least twice, some of them many times. And those most dear to me I have translated into Finnish.
had to be borrowed to start with. I promised to return the first two books on fly tying in two months time, and there was no way to learn the skill in that time period. That’s why I translated them, and it started a trend which is on going. Afterwards I was able to buy my own books, and because books were almost the only item which could be imported without a license, I started building up my own library. Or better to say my collection. Now I have read most of those books at least twice, some of them many times. And those most dear to me I have translated into Finnish.
When we emigrated to Canada (1957)and in a few years time joined the LDS Church, a new avenue of study opened to me. Since then I have read several of the Church books yearly. When I found one which was especially interesting I translated it. Then one day reading the Book of Mormon I got a bright idea (I had been thinking about it already earlier too) that why not join two purposes and read languages using the Book of Mormon? Last summer I just started that. I had the English, Finnish, Norwegian and German versions to start with. Later on my daughters sent me Swedish, Danish and French versions. I finished the project only about two months ago. I don’t think my pronunciation in Norwegian and Danish is right, but my purpose is to be able to understand what I am reading and get used to it so much that I can translate from those languages if need be.
My reading habits have been changing through the years. One could call me an unselective (eclectic) reader for the most part of my life, but now my interest is directed mainly to two fields of knowledge, namely the Gospel and fly fishing. These are going to keep me busy in the future. Reading about and studying these things should give me enough of a variety with my translating activities.
To avoid monotony I still have other fields of interest. Genealogy has always in the later years taken a part of my time. To add some more to the list, I would mention the Finnish language and its etymology, Finnish history, ancient history and archaeology. Not to mention different languages - I always seem to reach farther out in that field and try to learn a new one every now and then.
My reading seems to be still quite diversified, but now I have special goals to reach. Religion gives me a purpose in life, and when I need a change in pace, I follow one of my favorite authors to the clear waters of salmon and trout rivers, wherever they might take me. The beauty of the Gospel and the beauty of Nature are my constant companions. How could I ask for more?
VAT to Dr. Don Norton, BYU, 1979
Leena, thank you so much for adding all these to Daddy's blog! I hadn't looked here for. While and these are such treats to share with the family.
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