What reading does to your soul
I recently rediscovered the joys of reading a novel. I began reading a novella by a Bollywood actor (I can hear your sighs of disapproval). Browsing through Amazon, I came across this book by Soha Ali Khan — ‘The Perils of being Moderately Famous’.
The title was catchy, the book cover was attractive and the reviews were good. The story line was appealing to me; a kind of self deprecatory account of her life and times till date. Soha Ali is much of a star kid. She is Saif Ali’s sister, Kareena Kapoor’s sister in law, Sharmila Tagore and Mansoor Pataudi’s daughter. Sharmila Tagore was a veteran actress in Indian cinema and Mansoor Pataudi was a star cricketer in his time.
I impulsively bought this book online, and I don’t even regret it. I am still midway but I am glad it has rekindled the dead spirit of the avid reader in me. I still reminisce my school days, where after a 9 pm dinner with family, I would retire to my room and read for about an hour or even more. Quiet times with no disturbance or worry whatsoever. I did not have to worry about anything except if my homework was done on time. Or if I had attended all my classes and extra tuitions.
Oh, the books I used to read. The murder mysteries by Agatha Christie, the wizard novels by JK Rowling, and the beautiful tales by RK Narayan and Ruskin Bond. I remember exploring the works of Mulk Raj Anand and Khushwant Singh. Growing up, I was a fan of authors like Enid Blyton, and Roald Dahl. Reading used to transport me to different times and bring me different perspectives. It is very difficult to teach this to a 12 year old by instruction. That is the power of reading.
I enjoyed reading Fiction; and I still do. Most people recommend the reading of non-fiction, as it is more ‘practical’. And you can gain wisdom by non-fiction books. I have nothing against that. However I feel nothing can ever replace a good fiction read. Why must reading be with a purpose and an objective? Why can’t a book be what it is supposed to be? A nice story which is engaging and satisfying.
I am almost a 100 pages down in Soha Ali’s book in 3 days. That is a very good average for me in today’s time. With the daily grind of getting a college education, a post graduate degree, a full time job and other things to occupy the mind; reading has sadly taken a back seat. I pick up books but always tend to leave them midway. The one hour of solitude at night which was taken for granted in school, seems like a luxury to my grown up self. I look back and wistfully sigh at the simpler times of being thirteen and in school.
Reading connects like minded people. Two people who have read the same book, or even the same author can connect so well. Even two people who generally read usually listen in and think on similar lines. I remember making friends based on our like reading interests in school. Fitting in is easier when you have the same fictional character heart throb to crush over. (Hint: Augustus Waters from John Green’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’).
I truly hope and wish I can continue on the golden path of reading and rediscover my joy and passion for listening to untold stories and travelling through beautiful lands and times.
