Blogger: Nupur Roopa
Nupur Roopa is a storyteller, content writer, blogger and social media strategist. She loves reading, travelling and doodling.
Instagram: @nupurrva
There is something divinely magical about books that a book lover knows. Books can make you smile, cry, laugh, feel angry, frustrated, peaceful, positive, and charmed. Yes, there are other verbs that we may add. The most important factor is that a book lover never reads a book for entertainment. He reads it because words, words and sentences weave stupendous stories of hallowed journeys to the unknown worlds.
I don’t remember when I entered the world of books. But it was surely at a very young age. By the time I was a teenager I had read all the books in our school library by Enid Blyton, Carolyn Keene, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes. Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy all were part of the English (Literature) curriculum.
There is something soulful about starting a new book. The book and you are total strangers and slowly you get acquainted. There are three stories that happen simultaneously. One is the author’s story, the second is the reader’s story of discovering the book and finally, the story is about the reader’s experience.
Every book you read becomes a part of your psyche, mind, and heart. Some books become friends, some take up the role of mentors, others are like siblings, and some may be indifferent. This unfathomable relationship needs to be experienced as a book lover. It is a delicate weave of words that can take you on journeys unrestricted by time and space. Books are wise and they help to connect with the elusive obvious that often vanishes unnoticed.
The way books come into your life is another story. Some are gifts, others simply become visible, a few are recommended. Some books fall into your hands literally, but the best are those which call you. Remember those moments when a book jumped out of a shelf in a library or a bookstore? Yes, those books work with a divine plan.
To just immerse yourself in the world of the words and embark is phenomenal on thrilling journeys of unknown places. You may see the caravans on the Silk Road, or wander in the markets of Arabia, conjure the mighty Saraswati that flowed ages ago, experience the pain of the World Wars, drown yourself in novels of shining human spirit, tenacity, and compassion. Smile laugh and cry with the protagonists and at times learn life lessons to navigate the mazes of life.
My eyes light up in a bookstore, and I want to just splurge. A long ‘to read’ list gets longer and longer. My idea of a happy weekend is a good book, a cup of tea, some solitude, and a comfortable place to read it. There is nothing more delightful than reading a book on a wintry night while sipping hot chocolate. I enjoy the silence with no demands on my time.
Some books you read and forget, some linger in your might but a few stay in your heart. All the dog-eared copies you own narrate a reader’s (your) tale.
