reading

It was an inky night. I pulled the heavy quilt around me even tighter. I was half-propped on the bed, eyes widening in terror as I wondered what would happen next. I looked at the big clock on the wall. It was 2 am and the end was nowhere near. Cursing myself because I did have to wake up early the next morning I ploughed on. The lure was irresistible. It was as if I was possessed. I remember that I finally fell off to sleep at about 4 in the morning. But it was worth it. I was reading Frederick Forsyth’s The Odessa File that I had picked up from my father’s collection. He had all the Godfather books, Agatha Christie, and so many other titles that I later flicked, read and replaced.

Ah, reading! It is one of the purest joys that  a human being can experience. I have loved reading for as long as I can remember. Books, magazines and comics – I devoured anything that I liked with passion. I have spent many a day and night when I could not wait to get my hands on the book that I wanted to read especially when book reading was interrupted by school days. That moment when I open a book, take a deep whiff of its fresh paper and then dive in has to be among the most cherished moments of my life. Oh yes, I still love paper books. I am just not an e-book reader. I did try but unless I am traveling and have no access to paper books, I never read e-books.

Of late, I feel that in managing a bunch of activities, I am missing out on reading. I have realized that if I don’t write or read for a while then I feel anxious, restless almost as if something big is missing from my life. And when I talk about reading, I don’t mean online articles, blogs etc. Those I read regularly as I work in this domain. But the true pleasure of reading for me is in reading books. Earlier I would read only fiction and magazines. But a couple of good friends introduced me to non-fiction, and I haven’t looked back. 

What would we be if we don’t read? Seriously? I love tales. I love reading about history. I love murder mysteries, thrillers, drama and romantic comedies. Books transport us to another world. Books give us knowledge about things and places we never knew about. Books make us chuckle in delight and make us gulp a lump down the throat. Oh, books are life themselves.

I have seen my elder son pick up my passion of reading. He is also able to polish off the genres like History, Psychology, Nutrition and Self-help that I enjoy which is quite amazing for a 13 year old. The younger son is still not that interested in reading unless you count ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’. But I am hopeful that one day he will discover the books that will make him forget the world around him, as if time had ceased to exist, when nothing can come between that perfect book and you. I will want him to discover that ecstasy.

38 Thoughts on “A heady passion — reading

  1. Lata Sunil on October 12, 2015 at 11:14 am said:

    Isnt getting back to reading the most wonderful thing? Like you, I too had given up on reading due to work and family commitments. But, then I decided to make a conscious effort to get back to reading regularly. Twitter reading clubs like @TSBookClub got me back to reading. As now, I could share the passion with so many like minded people. Wish you the best.

  2. Nothing quite like reading to make my blood rush and give me a high or calm me down when I am in a furious mood 🙂 I get lost in books and they are the one thing that can make me stay up way past my bedtime. Sigh, I cannot read e-books either. They give me a headache. I suppose I need to work my way around to them eventually but I love the feel of my hands rifling through the pages, smelling the musty scent that comes from a much-loved book and losing myself in a bookstore. Gy loves books and I am so very glad that she does 🙂

    • There is a reason why we gel so well. We have so many similar traits. 🙂 The younger son has some catching up to do. But I am cool about it. I know he will pick them up one day.

  3. I used to be a voracious reader, but that declined severely after this blogging obsession took hold. My nightstand is piled high and the kindle choc full. As others have said, ebooks just aren’t the same, but it is nice to be able to increase the font size.

  4. I can understand how you feel because it was the same feeling with me…well, until a few years back! I didn’t like the book to finish so I used to always say ‘the end was not good’…when I thought about it later, I realized that I didn’t like the story to end.

    Our whole family is voracious book readers. Only now, I and my husband have other distractions! Sons used to read ‘books’ like us but have switched to ‘e-books’ now. I read one book, I think, reluctantly, a couple of weeks back. Liked the story but missed holding the book in two hands instead of holding some cold metal in one hand and reading. Can’t turn pages to check something easily or sneak a peak at the climax!

    Enjoyed your post immensely, Rachna!

  5. Right now I’m cuddled up with Amitav Ghosh’s Flood of Fire and I’m a happy woman.

  6. So true Rachna. What would we have done without books!

    It is said that when we read a book, whether it was published recently or long ago, we are connecting with the author somewhere… Wonder how an author feels when someone reads their work and builds a bond…

    I’m not an e-book guy either. The smell of paper and the heaviness of the book that must be felt… the lovely print soothes my eyes after a long day, and I go to sleep feeling satisfied about having learned something new which will change me as a person…

    • Glad to meet so many fellow bookworms and paper book lovers. I think it is immensely satisfying when someone somewhere connects with your written words. We know it in a very teeny-weeny way through our blogs. A book is thousand times bigger and more satisfying. Thanks for dropping by.

  7. I know you have written this about your passion of reading but I feel it was my voice, my thoughts being echoed…Oh and I really want to read Frederick Forsyth because my dad tells me a long journey from Mumbai to Kolkata passed in a jiffy with The Odessa File and The Day of The Jackal in his hands…I’m going to find these books right away 🙂

    • Oh yes, Frederick Forsyth is my favorite. I’ve read all his books — such impressive research and great plots — totally edge-of-seat entertainers. I hope you can get these soon. 🙂

  8. Tell me about it 🙂 Been reading since the age of 8 – and I started off with adult books like Erle Stanley Gardner, Alistair McLean and James Hadley Chase and for the most part of my life have been reading 2-3 books a day.

    • Yes, even I started reading age-inappropriate books not at 8 but in my teens because the school would give some of them as prizes. 🙂 2-3 books a day is very impressive. I have never done that.

  9. Cant imagine life without books. I have one within reach always, near bed, in bag, on table… Busy schedules sometimes keeps me away from books and it makes me so restless. But there are days when I read with vengeance, like a woman possessed. It took a long time to pick up an ebook, but now I simply love them. Though paperbacks will always be my first choice.

    • I just ordered 4 new books. Kept one in my purse for those vela times. Yes, paperbacks will be the first choice but e-books fill in when the need arises.

  10. Rachna, your post totally resonates with me! I love meeting fellow bookworms!
    I love the feeling of being transported to another world. To the point where the ‘real world’ does not seem that real anymore 🙂

    Yes, i totally get the feeling of anxiety and missing out on something in life that you’ve expressed so beautifully.

    Thank you for this wonderful post- I needed to read it.

  11. Though I too love reading. . Of lately my reading has very much subsided.. I wonder why the life has become so much busy…

    Loved the way you started the article with a tinge of suspense…

    Hope my little boy also picks up the joy of reading when he grows up..

  12. Wow! that 13 year old has rich tastes.
    Way to go, S! 🙂
    His proud mama deserves a pat for that. 🙂 I hope you guys are doing well. 🙂

  13. I am discovering that I am not that much of a book-lover. Wait, let me explain. I do do quite a bit of reading. But I don’t enjoy books just for the sake of reading pleasure, or because books transport me to other places or anything like that. Perhaps there was a time in my early years when I read mostly for pleasure, for the passion of reading. And I read many of the so-called classics of English language when I was still in school and college. Was never into children’s books much, for some reason.
    But now for many years I read for very specific purpose(s). I read to know. To learn, know, gain something very concrete. I read to be taken to some level of understanding and awareness higher and deeper than my normal state of being. I have in fact found that I can’t go on reading a book if I feel it is not giving me that uplift, that inspiration, that consciousness-raising that I am seeking. Most of the fiction and contemporary authors I can’t simply read for this very reason. I can’t tell you how many books, including non-fiction, I have left half-read for this very reason.
    But of course, there are so many, so many books that are on my list to be read….and I keep adding a few everyday to that list. At present working on three heavy ones (heavy in the sense of content). Oh well…some day I will finish these. Or maybe I will start on another couple along with these three 🙂

    • When I saw your comment, I somehow knew what you would say, Beloo. I can see how you seek to get a better understanding and awareness. For me, I balance heavy writing with light reading. You are working on 3 books. Wow! Good luck. I am sure they will all be wonderful.

  14. I am not an avid reader like most of you guys, but I love to read. Had a long hiatus from books but happy to be reading again. These days the main vacuum I can feel is when I finish a book and don’t know what to pick up next. Unfortunately, my son didn’t pick up the reading habit 🙁 My daughter is okay…I hope at least she picks it up. However interesting a book is, I put it aside and go to bed on time or else I know I am going to screw up my next day. Getting old yaa. 🙂

    • Yes, routine takes over. That is why I am not able to read much either. Yet, there comes along a book that you must finish no matter how screwed up your next morning is. 🙂

  15. I really wish I could spend more time reading. I’m concentrating on so many activities that I’m finding it difficult to allot even one hour a day for reading. Sigh! But somehow I will find time during the weekends and try coping up with the lost hours 🙂 I could totally relate to you when you said the suspense kept you up till the wee hours of the night. Been there, done that 🙂

  16. I’m sure your younger son will be influenced by you and your older one! I am so grateful that both my boys love books. It’s a wonderful bond we have and I continue to read to them almost every night!

  17. Rickie on October 18, 2015 at 8:55 am said:

    I’m glad your son has picked up reading and is making a habit of it. Otherwise I fear more and more children are keeping away from it. Maybe we need a couple of blockbuster books like Harry Potter every few years to inculcate this habit.

  18. So good to come back and reconnect and what better topic than love for reading! I was raised on the staple diet of books like Godfather, and authors like Leon Uris, Alaistair Maclean, Arthur Hailey et al.All memories whizzed past as I read through this post Rachna!

  19. Your thoughts echo mine.

    Some of the fondest memories of my childhood include reading Harry Potter at 3 am.

    Also, while I have grown to love my Kindle, I don’t think anything can ever replace paperbacks.

  20. For me reading is an addiction – I sink into depression if I more than 2-3 days go by without reading something. Except for those rare phases when I am addicted to some TV series.

  21. This is the tragedy of my life – that the kids aren’t much into reading. My son reads somewhat and I AM counting Captain Underpants (beggars cannot be choosers!) but my daughter not even that. I am hoping at some point they will turn to books. You’re right about nothing comparing with a real proper paper book in your hands, or lying on the bed on your stomach and reading till your elbows hurt from holding you up. Bliss!

  22. Reading really takes you to another world. I remember reading Sydeney Sheldon’s Bloodline right before the exam night in 11th ! I dont get much time to read these days, but I still read couple of pages of books before sleeping everyday. It really is the best gift one can give to a child.Great to know that your child reads so much. My son also is interested in reading thankfully.

Do not leave without commenting. I love a good conversation :).

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