And as my next four books, get ready to be published and appear in stores and bookshops, I wonder what sort of world it would be without books.
Years ago, as a child; evenings at home after sunset were spent in a book. All four of us; dad, mother and my brother sat together in the living room engrossed in our reading.
Right opposite our house lived a family and every once in a while were heard angry words erupting either from the old father, a widower, to his daughters or shouts from the pretty girls to their boyfriends who came to visit regularly.
“Why do they fight so much?” I asked dad one day.
“They don’t spend time in books,” he said philosophically.
I’m not sure that simple rejoinder my father gave, could have stopped all the battles and skirmishes taking place across the street, but I do know there was a sense of peace at home as we buried ourselves in our reading:
Not too pleasant episodes of school and the perils of the next day with my teachers were forgotten as I followed the adventures of my hero or heroine. It was like I entered the pages and got out only when dinner was served, after which I got back again!
What a world is that of books!
Today, I watch children sitting in front of TV sets glued to Tom and Jerry, later to comedies and graduating to thrillers and romantic serials. There’s a look of intense concentration on their faces as they watch very real actors do seemingly very real things.
How would my poor books compete with such?
How could mere words take on pictures so explicit, so real?
The child looks up and asks, “How?”
Ah the magic of words! Where the vast expanse of your mind is the screen the writer uses, where with powerful language that explodes, he ignites your imagination with thoughts, ideas, scenes of adventure or beautiful romance. You don’t need to see a lover cry to feel his pain; you cry as the same pain tears out in you! Each page brings out pictures more alive, vivid and real than any movie screen could ever hope to imitate. The screen imitates life, a book is life itself!
An oft repeated phrase is that pictures speak louder than words. Maybe they do, but I truly believe it is the empty rhetoric of a good orator who possesses excellent tone and voice but lacks content. Ever seen photographs of a wedding? You look and feel joy for the moment, but what lasts are words of happiness!
Words stay as pictures fade!
And if today we have a world which is ever ready to raise fist and brandish arms, maybe like my dad said years ago, ‘they should spend time in books.’
There’s peace in books..!
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Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist and writes a daily column, which has graced the pages of over 60 newspapers and magazines, from a daily column in the Khaleej Times, Dubai, the Morning Star, London, and in nearly every state in India, from The Statesman in Kolkata, to the Kashmir Times in Kashmir to the Trinity Mirror in Chennai.
So true.
However, in a fast-paced, materiastic world, reading books becomes a luxury, an unfulfilled hobby postponed endlessly which sadly results in reaching out to time-saving gadgets like kindle, podcasts and television to replace this vacuum of knowledge.
The ‘worms’ from books now reside and run in computer programs!
Reading books is fast disappearing in today’s world!
We have to get into e-books etc !!
To all book lovers……
Time spent on reading
Enriches vocabulary and views, great learnings.
Fantasies relived across chapters unveiling,
Harry Potter and Alice daydreaming,
Caesar and Othelo reciting, so perfect and appealing,
Freud and Adam Smith on economic dynamics, outstanding
So, let’s spend time reading between ‘Twelfth night’, morning and evening.
A beggar’s book,
out-worths a noble’s blood.” —William Shakespeare
I remember a writer in his speech during the inauguration of a story book saying
” No problem even if you forget to eat, but don’t forget to read a book every ”
Habit of reading given by Bob’s parents is an inspiration for all parents
Above all, books trigger us to THINK just like your daily Banter… !
And -That’s why the pen is mightier than the sword !
So true. Culture of reading books is fast disappearing. We only hear what others say in the media and keep repeating others’ opinions. Creativity and originality is lost.
Someone said, there is no time for reading good books, perhaps only the best.
Absolutely.
True, reading is critical to expand our thinking, sharpen our mind, and grow as persons. However growing in “peace” will depend on what we read, isn’t it?
Reading books that foment anger or revenge or even plain carnal (animal) thinking won’t lead to peace but great disquiet.
Oh the joys of reading the Famous Five or William books (in childhood) or P. G. Woodhouse (dangerous, my siblings and I would guffaw if reminded of something funny) or Edgar Wallace in adolescence and young adulthood.
Reading exercises the brain to construct a scenario, bring it to life, exercising our vocabulary and developing our mind. After all, the brain is a muscle to be used.
Watching videos and films is quite passive by comparison. Would be interested in research findings that compare the impact on the brain of reading books vs viewing films.
Reading is indeed a good habit for the mind… it increases our wisdom nd keeps us away from unwanted thoughts nd ideas…
I used to read lots of books before I started using smart phone. Its so absorbing that I hardly feel like reading any other books. I used to attend lots of religious gathering. Now I find every religious rituals and stories in smartphone. Many of young relatives are using smartphone most of the time. If they are stopped,they get annoyed.
A Book-shelf in the house gives more Respect to the family …
🙏