Lockdown an opportunity to finish all unread books
Lockdown an opportunity to finish all unread books
I have been a lazy reader all along. My parents and other elderly well-wishers always pushed me towards growing a habit of reading. However I always found it boring. By boring I do not mean the stories of the books were not interesting; but the act of reading books was boring. I was sadly always misunderstood. Hence, was rebuked sometimes publicly and sometimes privately; but reproach was on the cards. ‘How can you say that?’, ‘Do you know it is one of the best sellers of our times?’, ‘Do you know how renowned the author is?’ Questions such as these and other similar remarks were hurled at me.
I somehow failed to explain that there was nothing wrong with the story or the author. The problem was my lack of interest in reading books. Yes, it ‘was’ and no longer ‘is’. For now I have magically turned into an avid reader. All the credit goes to the ‘lockdown’. While most people are criticising this method of social distancing ordered by the government, I on the other hand, am very grateful for it. One of the reasons was having ample time to read books. I think I have completed reading almost all the books that had piled up over the years. On most of my birthdays in the last few years, I received many story books from my parents. Since I hardly read them, they kept piling up.
Finally, I have started reading them and have almost become a bookworm. My collection of books includes a large variety. I have books like Hardy Boys, Harry Porter, Ruskin Bond, and books like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Twelfth Night. I also have other stories like The Secret Garden, Robinson Crusoe, Black Beauty, and a Christmas Carol. Surprisingly now I love each one of them. However, the one that I picked up first, completed and enjoyed the most is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
It is a wonderful story of the life of a young country girl, who, despite belonging to a small place was way beyond her age. Set up in the early 19 th century in rural England, the author beautifully portrays a society that dwelled on appearances and shallow practices. In contrast to this was the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet. Her father was a man of few words while her mother did most of the talking in the house. Elizabeth had four other sisters and she was the second eldest of the five siblings. The mother’s preoccupation, however, was to get her girls married off to well established men in the country. Though their financial standing in the society was nothing she could boast about, she always took pride in the good looks and abilities of her daughters.
She did not leave out even one chance to exhibit both the looks and the calibre of these girls to prospective young men. All the sisters except Elizabeth had adhered to this behaviour of their mother. ‘Lizzy’ was her nickname and she thought that women needed to be learned. She did not think it necessary for women to only be possessors of skills in arts like music, sewing, and painting. This was the reason behind her love for reading. Though most of the elite class people of those times disapproved of this self sufficient attitude of the girl; she still stood her ground.
She did not shy away from putting her views and opinions forward, knowing very well of the way people thought about her. In her journey, in the story, in an attempt to make things alright for her elder sister Jane, she happened to meet a man who she thought was extremely proud. But as destiny would have it, they eventually get to know each other and discover that they are meant to be together.
The picture the author painted was so vivid that I used to get lost in it completely. Often, I had to be called several times to carry on with other essential chores of the day. The story was interesting and the characters were so clearly depicted that I could see them tight before my eyes. Every morning I would try to wake up early and finish all my responsibilities. This included cleaning my room, my personal hygiene regime and my studies. As soon as all of this was done, I would be glued to the book. Seeing this sudden change in me, the comments of my parents had now become reversed. Instead of scolding me for not reading books, they now told me to stop reading and do other things as well.
I smile whenever I hear them telling this to me. However, when I go to think of it, possibly it was the character of Elizabeth Bennet that mesmerised me so much that I have started picking up her traits. The habit of reading is what I perhaps had inculcated a little late and suddenly. Once I got the taste of reading I got interested in so many other authors.
I simply enjoy reading nowadays. Thanks to the lockdown!
© Arked
I have been a lazy reader all along. My parents and other elderly well-wishers always pushed me towards growing a habit of reading. However I always found it boring. By boring I do not mean the stories of the books were not interesting; but the act of reading books was boring. I was sadly always misunderstood. Hence, was rebuked sometimes publicly and sometimes privately; but reproach was on the cards. ‘How can you say that?’, ‘Do you know it is one of the best sellers of our times?’, ‘Do you know how renowned the author is?’ Questions such as these and other similar remarks were hurled at me.
I somehow failed to explain that there was nothing wrong with the story or the author. The problem was my lack of interest in reading books. Yes, it ‘was’ and no longer ‘is’. For now I have magically turned into an avid reader. All the credit goes to the ‘lockdown’. While most people are criticising this method of social distancing ordered by the government, I on the other hand, am very grateful for it. One of the reasons was having ample time to read books. I think I have completed reading almost all the books that had piled up over the years. On most of my birthdays in the last few years, I received many story books from my parents. Since I hardly read them, they kept piling up.
Finally, I have started reading them and have almost become a bookworm. My collection of books includes a large variety. I have books like Hardy Boys, Harry Porter, Ruskin Bond, and books like Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Twelfth Night. I also have other stories like The Secret Garden, Robinson Crusoe, Black Beauty, and a Christmas Carol. Surprisingly now I love each one of them. However, the one that I picked up first, completed and enjoyed the most is Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
It is a wonderful story of the life of a young country girl, who, despite belonging to a small place was way beyond her age. Set up in the early 19 th century in rural England, the author beautifully portrays a society that dwelled on appearances and shallow practices. In contrast to this was the protagonist, Elizabeth Bennet. Her father was a man of few words while her mother did most of the talking in the house. Elizabeth had four other sisters and she was the second eldest of the five siblings. The mother’s preoccupation, however, was to get her girls married off to well established men in the country. Though their financial standing in the society was nothing she could boast about, she always took pride in the good looks and abilities of her daughters.
She did not leave out even one chance to exhibit both the looks and the calibre of these girls to prospective young men. All the sisters except Elizabeth had adhered to this behaviour of their mother. ‘Lizzy’ was her nickname and she thought that women needed to be learned. She did not think it necessary for women to only be possessors of skills in arts like music, sewing, and painting. This was the reason behind her love for reading. Though most of the elite class people of those times disapproved of this self sufficient attitude of the girl; she still stood her ground.
She did not shy away from putting her views and opinions forward, knowing very well of the way people thought about her. In her journey, in the story, in an attempt to make things alright for her elder sister Jane, she happened to meet a man who she thought was extremely proud. But as destiny would have it, they eventually get to know each other and discover that they are meant to be together.
The picture the author painted was so vivid that I used to get lost in it completely. Often, I had to be called several times to carry on with other essential chores of the day. The story was interesting and the characters were so clearly depicted that I could see them tight before my eyes. Every morning I would try to wake up early and finish all my responsibilities. This included cleaning my room, my personal hygiene regime and my studies. As soon as all of this was done, I would be glued to the book. Seeing this sudden change in me, the comments of my parents had now become reversed. Instead of scolding me for not reading books, they now told me to stop reading and do other things as well.
I smile whenever I hear them telling this to me. However, when I go to think of it, possibly it was the character of Elizabeth Bennet that mesmerised me so much that I have started picking up her traits. The habit of reading is what I perhaps had inculcated a little late and suddenly. Once I got the taste of reading I got interested in so many other authors.
I simply enjoy reading nowadays. Thanks to the lockdown!
© Arked