Month: August 2019

Joy of Reading

In case you can’t tell by now, I love to read and write. Yes. I am being facetious. In light of my interests (and maybe yours!), today’s blog post speaks to the joy of reading. 

For me there is nothing quite like curling up with a good book and traveling to another place from the comfort of my living room couch while wearing PJs. I mean, if I can go to Italy five minutes after putting my kids to bed, why not right? Jokes aside (because I want to go to Europe and not just read about it in books), I love feeling connected to the characters, excited by the action, and caring about what happens to the protagonist. And my favorite part of every book is the carefully woven in messages—the ones that teach you a lesson about life. 

The hardest part of any good book for me, is when it ends. Paul Sweeney expressed that feeling perfectly when he said, “You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” Yep, that sums up how I feel.

In literary works, I live for reading novels that use language to paint a picture. My favorite novels master that quality effortlessly, though I am sure the authors’ efforts are carefully crafted. While looking at black and white words on a piece of paper (or screen), these works create a vision of a young woman weaving through the busy streets of India, or a couple enjoying dinner in a bustling restaurant. Does anyone feel me on that? No? Jeez, you are a tough bunch.

I still remember the book that turned me into a reader. I was in seventh grade and I walked into my middle school library and scooped up a book called The Power Kid. Since then, I have lost count of my reads. Was there a certain book that turned you into a lifelong reader?

Recently, I read an interesting article in The New Yorker which asks the question: Can Reading Make You Happier? The article discussed the science of bibliotherapy—the practice of encouraging reading for therapeutic effect. Yes, studies have confirmed that reading can make you happier, and reading is being ‘prescribed’. This article cited the therapeutic effects of fiction books (not self-help, surprise!) because they offer a transformational experience. The studies conducted found that when people read about an experience, they exhibited stimulation within the same neurological regions as if they went through that experience themselves. Most readers know that the themes, messages, and feelings of reading a good book provide enhanced relationships and empathy, but now there is science to prove it! So, keep reading folks, you are growing from it.

How does reading bring you joy? What other activities or hobbies bring you joy? Any good fiction books you recommend so I can add them to my list? Do tell, I would love to know.

Thanks for stopping by my blogspot. See you soon friends, same time, same place, new “bookish” topic. Have a wonderful weekend!

Book Review: The Far Field

Hello friends. I have another book review for you, so I hope you are ready! The book review is about a novel entitled The Far Field, written by first-time author Madhuri Vijay. The novel was published in 2019. I stumbled onto it in the new releases section of my local library, and scooped it up. Isn’t the cover beautiful? You can buy the book here: The Far Field 

The South Asian adult fiction novel centers around the main character Shalini, a well-off young woman from Bangalore adrift after the death of her mother. Coupling elegant literary prose with a socio-political scope through the eyes of native Himalayan Kashmiris, the novel follows a complicated view of the Indian subcontinent as Shalini heals from her grief, and rangles with her uncertain present. Shalini travels to Kashmir to find Bashir Ahmed, an old friend of her mother’s. She feels certain that Bashir Ahmed’s disappearance from her mother’s life was somehow connected to her death. The cause of her mother’s death is not revealed until the end, creating an element of surprise. The rest I will leave for you to read and find out. 

The novel was a slower read for me, and I almost lost interest in the beginning, but I am glad I didn’t stop reading, because eventually I was drawn in and hooked to Shalini’s fate. I took each step with her. I also think the The Far Field was constructed with the intention of it being savored. The visual imagery and slow moving plot allowed me to put the book down and pick it up over a couple of weeks, versus devouring its contents in a few days. And while there is excitement in books with a hot moving plot that rope you in, there is a silky-smooth charm in slower, literary novels like The Far Field.

The main character loved to teach. She taught students with cerebral palsy in Bangalore, and then taught a bright young girl in Kashmir. This said, it would have been nice to have an ending where maybe Shalini began teaching again, or even assisting. The ending left me somewhat dissatisfied because it wasn’t exactly a happy one, but it made me realize my own tendency to expect happy endings in books. If stories imitate life, then I think as readers we need to shift our expectations in a more realistic direction. Would you agree?

Goodreads gave The Far Field 3.84 stars out of five, but I give it a solid 4 stars, especially because it was Madhuri Vijay’s first book. If you are looking for an enjoyable read on your nightstand, or while taking a trip, give this one a go. It will not disappoint.

What did you think of this book review of The Far Field? Have you read The Far Field, and if so what did you think of it? Have you read any other good books lately? Do tell, I would love to know.

Thanks for stopping by my blogspot. Come visit anytime, its always here! See you next time.