Falling in love with Reading — and the wishing game.
It’s not in the trends
I have a confession to make — I haven’t read The Harry Potter Series, until now while being surrounded by friends and classmates and the whole of internet saying how awesome these books were. I couldn’t get myself to read these books — The chronicles of Narnia, Divergent, Hunger Games…For some reason, fantasy fiction and popular fiction didn’t appeal to me then, while everyone was on top of their reading list in school, I quit reading — mainly fiction, finding books that interested me was work, so I did read but only little Non-fiction and essays and some poetry. I wanted to be a reader, a booklover, but the books others loved were boring a bit to me( Sorry, Fandoms!)
It took me a long time to restart reading finding books that I liked — I restarted reading on Scribd — and thoroughly enjoyed listening to audiobooks while being insomniac. And so I got a subscription and heard a lot of audiobooks — The body in the library, the Alchemist, Phosphorescence, Blue is like blue — among others and I was hooked to reading and stories.
I removed the cover of my Kindle which make it look heavy and tiring to use for some reason, without the burden I read 5 books in the next few days — How? It was easy because I realised there was no hurry, no race, no perfect reader and read anything I liked, with the weight of trends gone — I enjoyed it, finally. And become confident in picking a book and stopped seeking validation from popular culture. While I deeply respect diverse reading choices, I am not a perfect reader and that is fine.
Reading for myself encouraged my self-expression, individuality, and a healthy approach to reading. It became journey not a competition(as cliché as that sounds).
Right now, and for a long time, I have not been fond of Fantasy-dystopia genre. So I have picked books and gems from all over different genres namely — Magical-realism, Non-fiction, poetry, essay compilations, historical fiction.
I write this post, after completing another one of my favourites now — The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer. It made me laugh, shed tears of joy as I saw Lucy’s happy ending. The sensitivity of the write is visible through the book, no child should be left behind — love, hope for every child, and adults who were once children! I loved the book so much that I wished that Jack Masterson were real and the clock island book series were a real one, turning the pages I looked forward to the book within the book and how much I wish the author writes the clock island series herself — wishfulness, but as Mastermind says — keep wishing ‘cause someone is always listening. So Meg Shaffer — lots of gratitude for making me fall in love with reading and I hope you heard me wishing!
My learning — Reading is a deep odyssey within and don’t let anyone else’s choice sabotage the joy for you.
Special Mention — I really enjoy The Tolstoy therapy Newsletter and it has been introducing me to books that feel like a warm hug. Thanks Lucy Fuggle for suggesting — The Wishing game and Mary Oliver — long life and other essays.
Let me know what has your reading journey been like? Would love some book recommendations as well.
Next up on my reading list — A Wrinkle in time and Ponniyin Selvan Book — 2.
Check out Everand — the subscription for readers! Use my link to sign up and you’ll get 60 days free: https://www.scribd.com/gatx/b1p4rk
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