Its very true. I have not touched them for a long time. Never bothered to turn in their direction. There was a time I used to sit with books for hours and hours together. We (school friends) used to compete with each other for finishing the book first. Mostly it would be fictions. Enid Blyton is my (of course for many) all-time favorite. The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, Malory tower, etc. are still afresh in my mind. I still remember how I used to dream of having a gang of my own just like the Five and have all the adventures. One time ill think of becoming Anny and the next time George and the third time I would want a brother like dick and Ju. Such is the effect of her writing and I am sure many would have been just like me. It’s the same with all her other books. You will never able to be put it down and you would want more and more of it. (Yeh Dhil maange More n More). The list of “Oh I just can’t put this book down” is endless.
The best part of reading is reading books (I meant novels and any book other than your syllabus) during exam days. If you put it in local terms, doing so, gives a “KICK”. I used to hide the books inside my school books and read, to avoid getting caught by my mother. :P :P. The era of “Harry Potter” started during my 10th Std. Man how crazy we had become. Almost every single student became a HP maniac. Mom and dad would think twice (no more than that) to buy these books. I had to literally beg them for buying it all. But Alas! Then, our savior came in the school. One of my friends had got it as a gift from his dad (Lucky him. J J) the entire series!! As you guess it, he was the one to be envied and looked upon the most by everyone in my class. We used to take turns in getting books from him. Now, I ROFL when I think of how we fought with each other for getting the book from him, how we cajoled him or buttered him up, so that he lends the book to us. Thus the bond with books continued stronger and stronger.
Then after many many years, my interest switched towards Tamil books. Kalki’s Ponniyin Selvan was my first attempt and I was stunned by his work. No wonder people call it as his masterpiece. This book was introduced to me by my hubby during our courtship period and I have to mention at this juncture, that because of our interest in reading, our interest in each other started blossoming. I had resigned my job just then and I had a hell lot of time. I finished the whole series in 2 weeks’ time. I read the sequels too, Sivagamiyin Sabadham & Parthiban kanavu. Then my interest turned towards Devan. The interest in Tamil books was mainly due to my in-laws. They have a huge collection of books. My Father in law and his mom (my hubbys grandma) both are such intense readers.
As Robert Southney says,
My never failing friends are they,
With whom I converse day by day,
With them I take delight in weal,
And seek relief in woe.
Books have always been a good companion. They are with me in both good and bad phases of my life impartially. Whenever i need them, I go to them. When I don't, I just like that turn myself away and still the next time again when I go to them they are ever warm welcoming. It’s my long time desire to have a huge collection of books for myself. Soon wish to make a mini non-lending (only those whom I trust will be allowed to borrow) library at home. I am very skeptical about lending books to everyone.
Here my friend I come to you and promise I would never leave you alone for such a long time. :) :) Mmmmuuaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh
