Books: catalyst for life

"I declare there's no enjoyment like reading". These words by Jane Austen seem so true now, but being a kid I was never a reader, I still remember my first novel was 'Heidi', and how I sympathized with her for living with such a grandfather. But reading didn't come naturally to me, it was always like tumbling upon some book by mistake and then reading it. That's how I read 'Faraway tree' by Enid Blyton but that simple book, those imaginations about literally residing near such a tree, meeting people like moon-face, and having hot and cold chocolates left me awestruck. Series like 'Harry Potter', 'Narnia', 'Percy Jackson' and 'Divergent' made me question the number of worlds that haven't been explored yet. It fascinates me how authors lead us to their web of thoughts, leave us there to enjoy, and bring us back always with an enthralling experience to share.

Not only do they stretch your imagination, but they also impart morals in you. I was introduced to Sudha Murthy through books like Grandma's bag of stories, How I taught my Grandmother to read, Wise and Otherwise, Mahashweta, and many more. From integrity to self-esteem, from treating everyone equally to fighting for your rights, she made me drink the elixir of principles. But classics made me realize the elegance of literature, be it how to kill a mockingbird, which represented serious issues like rape and racism in a very warm manner, or books by Jane Austen, L. M. Alcott, and Bronte sisters, when people had conservative views, they had the audacity to have strong female protagonists, or books like 1984 and Animal Farm, which will compel you to appreciate satire.

Not only fiction, non-fiction has also left a deep imprint on me. It all started when my father got me a book by Dale Carnegie 'How to stop worrying and start living', I don't remember the number of times I have recommended this book to others due to the impact it had on me, his books on public speaking and people skills are still relevant. Then I got deviated to financial books, just the books for beginners like Rich dad Poor dad, Think and grow rich, Richest man in Babylon, and Psychology of money. Money has always been an intriguing concept for me and these books have laid a foundation.

Every book offers a different experience and takes you on a unique journey. Every author has a different perspective and though not all ideas are accepted, they all leave some kind of impression on us. The more we read, the wider our view becomes. There's a long way to go, many books have to be unwrapped and many stories have to be retold. But now as I enjoy this process I often ponder about the way authors and readers meet in books and in the end, both come back with altered lives.