I love weekend mornings. I am usually the first one to rise and since my family likes to sleep in, I get to have a glorious hour all to myself. As the water for the tea bubbles merrily on the gas burner, I go around the first floor of my house, opening the blinds and letting the sunlight stream in. Then, once the tea is ready, it’s just me, a hot cuppa with a biscuit or two to dunk in and a book to whisk me away to lands and stories unknown. And then, there is the joy of discovering a new gem, of reading some words that reel you in, compelling you to go over them again and again, simply to marvel at the emotion they manage to convey. As far as I am concerned, reading books is an experience nothing short of magical.
As it happens, however, not everyone shares my view. It’s all too common, unfortunately, to come across folks who barely like to read. While everyone is entitled to their own choices in life, what irks me about such people is the tendency among them to laugh at avid readers, trying to insinuate that the latter are just nerds who are trying to escape their stagnant lives by burying their noses in books. Newsflash, that’s not what it is about but that’s a rant for another time. And then there is the other group. They are erudite, these people who show off their bookshelves with pride. Yet they cannot help curling their lips with the faintest hint of a sardonic smile the moment they hear me say I like to read fiction. For them, serious reading equates non fiction – books that philosophize and educate; fiction, to them, is akin nothing more than entertainment for the masses. It’s something like comparing Oscar winning movies to Salman Khan blockbusters – so great is the divide in their minds.
Here is the thing tough – fiction often gets a bad rep. True, there is plenty of trash littering the landscape but that doesn’t take away the fact that there are also some gems out there. I am not disparaging non-fiction – they are certainly a fount of knowledge. But fiction can present a unique perspective that is not usually possible in non-fiction. An accomplished author can present situations that force readers to think, to walk a while in another’s shoes. They open up lands of fantasy to let our imaginations roam wild. A good work of fiction can expand our minds and make us better human beings. They share the horrors of the past so that we may learn from those mistakes. Even a popular series like Harry Potter touches upon the dangers of a totalitarian government and the importance of standing up for what is right. So, hang on to your non fiction folks, but do not look down upon us who enjoy a good fictional yarn. Instead, ask us for a recommendation because we will not hesitate to ask you for one. Happy reading!
