Well, from my own experience reading fiction books does make a world of good. Certainly, speaking practice is very important, but it's hard to speak without at least some feeling of a language (not to mention you will need somebody to speak with), and it is this intuitive comprehension of how a language works that you can gain just by reading.
Reading is not so boring as attending courses, or trying to learn English by yourself studying textbooks, and it really shows you the language. Of course, reading will not teach you what tense is this or that, and what mood do we use here and there, but somehow all these know-hows infiltrate you after a while.
You will still be making a lot of mistakes and your English will not be precisely like that of Tony Blair, but I can guarantee that you will be pleased with your progress.
PS personally, I remember no rules or smth
PPS doesn't look like we'll find a lot of followers here, though