To read or not to read?
READING has always been my refuge.
I owe my love for books to my parents, who made it a point to be creative and inventive when reading to us before bedtime. They invented interesting characters and innovative storylines that left my sister and I wideeyed rather than sleepy.
Even when life got hectic as we got older, they continued to cultivate and nurture our love for reading through games, storytelling and discussions.
When I entered university, the first thing I did was join the book club. Being among readers allowed me to ease into university life better and has helped me gain a greater appreciation for the literary field.
Recently, my university’s book club organised a forum titled “To read or not to read?” that discussed this question at length. We thought it was an important issue to discuss, especially today when we live in a world that revolves around gadgets.
One of the panellists, L.M. Valiram, said she was a recent convert to e-reading as she was able to read without worrying about space constraints.
But, for me, there is something special about opening a book and feeling the pages. Books have always filled me with a sense of wonder as they make it possible to see life through someone else’s eyes.
Books give readers access to different viewpoints, address deep-seated issues and modernday problems that cut across all age groups and walks of life.
For me, the novel, The Hunger Games, isn’t just about a fictional annual event in which boys and girl compete in a televised battle to the death: it touches on the topic of governance and how it affects people, while Perks of being a Wallflower addresses the effects of abuse.
Biographies offer deeply personal narratives that allow readers to understand the writer’s take on things, while finance books provide snapshots of how successful people think and act.
Fantasy novels use mythical creatures such as orcs, elves and dwarves to explore issues such as prejudice and racism.
The love for reading is transferable from one generation to the next.
It’s pointless to buy books in bulk on discount if they end up lying untouched on the shelf. Children should be allowed to buy books that they like.
Valiram said she told her sons, who were not into reading, to select books that appealed to them at a book sale and they managed to finish reading every one of them.
“As parents, we have to fan the flames, but the spark should come from the readers themselves.”
I benefited greatly from my parents investing time to develop my sense of curiosity. It is not an easy thing to do nowadays, given the many things that parents have to do, and the need for balance between reading for educational and recreational purposes.
Storytelling is the best way to reach people as it gives readers the ability to see the world through different lenses.
When was the last time you picked up a book? You might just be surprised at what you can learn about yourself and the topic the book is about when you do.