Terry, being a prolific reader I really don't understand how none fiction readers turn off from the rigours of everyday life, but I guess we all have our own methods. Both my daughter and I read all the time but my son and Bill only read fiction on holiday, and don't read much at home.
My own love of books goes back as long as I remember, way before I could even read.
I can even remember being told at the local library that I couldn't take certain books because they were from the adult section so Mum or Dad would book them out for me if they thought they were ok.
Like you I love maps and read them like books. Google earth is the best thing anyone invented for the computer, but it's not as good as holding a real map.
As you say people tell the best stories and written down they become history.
Most fiction is based on knowledge of life, from classics to rubbish it tells of things that we don't experience in our own life, and maybe will never want to, but it carries you to those places.
You could say it gives you insight to the rest of the human race, just like history.
Val x
