STAR LETTER
Hearing voices
I recognised myself as a fellow ‘reluctant reader’ (Letters, WM May), facing the same difficulties, taking much longer than anyone else at school to read. My dyslexia diagnosis at university didn’t improve my reading speed, but did provide an explanation, and reassurance that I wasn’t stupid or not trying hard enough.
Working in libraries, I’m professionally embarrassed to admit I’m not a reader, as it’s part of my job to encourage a love of reading in others. This changed when a new job had me driving across the county and I started borrowing audio books to keep me company. I found the joy of ‘reading’ at last.
Occasionally some people say audio ‘isn’t proper reading’ but it’s a lifeline to those with visual and physical impairments, those who (like me) find reading challenging, and of course, the lonely traveller. I also take great comfort listening at night, distracting my anxious, racing mind, helping