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Books- A
Uniquely Portable Magic!!
By
Vivek
Hande
Books evoke
that lovely feeling – a sentiment that is difficult to describe. When you come
across a new book or rediscover an old one, it arouses a unique set of
feelings. A sense of mystery; an association with a set of thoughts and
memories; a warm embrace ; a gentle caress ; a sense of belonging ; a sense of
loss ; a train of ideas- all this and much more – books have this unique
ability to trigger such myriad emotions.
That is the power of the written word-
it can be evocative; emotive; energizing or it could be calming, comforting and
uplifting! Books and reading could transform you into another person or
transport you to another world- all with the flick of a page..
I couldn’t
agree more with Somerset Maugham when he wrote,”To acquire the habit of reading
is to construct for yourself a refuge, from almost all the miseries of life”. I
am not sure if reading is an acquired habit as most say it is or one is born
with a reading gene which makes you a lifelong addict to the reading habit. Thanks
to a voracious appetite for reading, I have travelled to distant lands and made
my way through forests; climbed daunting peaks; dived miles under the sea and
braved storms and typhoons and gales and survived earthquakes and volcanic
eruptions. I have been an Architect and a Miner; at other times a Rocket Scientist
and a deep sea Diver; a brilliant Detective and a Philosopher seeking the truth
of life. I have voyaged through ancient China and medieval Egypt; lived through
the trials and tribulations of Emperors and Pharaohs; lurked in catacombs and caverns;
soaked up the company in taverns and spent nights in cheap motels. All this and
more sitting in the comfort of my chair with a steaming cup of coffee..the
power of the written word!!
I am a
bit old fashioned when it comes to reading. I have been encouraged to read on a
tablet or an E – Reader. I do have all shapes and sizes of them – dustproof and
waterproof and days and days of battery life. The Kindle and the Kobo Aura One:
Wi-Fi enabled and with cellular connectivity. Adjusted lighting and backlit
display and all of that and more. The convenience of carrying multiple books on
the go and what have you.
But for me – the good old smell of paper; the flick
of the page and the inserted bookmark and the dog-eared, well thumbed tome. That
feels familiar; that feels comfortable and that is home! I also did try, on
much insistence from friends, the Audio Book. Well it has its merits, I daresay.
But let me enjoy my reading the way I enjoy it. I also do enjoy reading multiple books at the same time , preferably of different genres.. well each one to his own!!
What can
be more pleasurable than spending a day in the library; or in a well stocked
bookshop and the best book shops I have enjoyed have been in tucked away
alleyways and by lanes – books spilling from every shelf. It does feel you are with old friends and
companions who have known you a lifetime. Mortimer Adler got it spot on,”
Reading for me is spending time with a friend. Reading is a basic tool in the
living of a good life”. Books are, truly, excellent company, in sad times and
joyous times- for, books, indeed are people, who have survived and thrived by
hiding between the covers of a book..
As somebody
famously remarked, “I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of
library”. A book which has touched you in some way will always remain a part of
you; it will always stay with you. Over the years, one has acquired books and
more books and yet more books. With each move, the cartons get heavier and seem
to multiply in number. But it feels like home and surrounded by friends and
family when the books find their way out of the packing crates and cartons onto
the over laden shelves.
It doesn’t really matter what you read and
when you read and how you enjoy the book- whatever works for you should be
fine. JK Rowling succinctly remarked, “If you don’t like to read, you have
probably not found the right book!” So reach out for whatever creates magic for
you!!
