“People say that life is the thing, but I prefer reading” — Logan Pearsall Smith.
Ahhh, for the love of books. The smell of crispy leaves of a new book just off the shelf of Borders, Kinokuniya or Magrudy’s, or the mouldy smell of some old gem (one or two silverfish thrown in between) picked off from a bunch at some seedy shop in the bylanes of the crowded city. Probably better than any designer perfume.
Are dogs a man’s (or woman’s, should be politically correct) best friend? Leave it to me, I would say no, books are a person’s best friend. Once you have one, it won’t go away for life. It may crack up, will require careful handling (like any human being!) as it yellows with age, but will stay true to you, unless you throw it away! It will pass through generations, in whom you would have imbibed the same culture (On a personal note, the most priceless item I inherited from my late father was my grandfather’s collection of English literature classics, published in 1896!).
Books can lift your mood in almost any circumstances. Feeling down? Pick up a P. G. Wodehouse (read this and try not to laugh: It was a fine cow, as cows go, but like most cows, it lacked sustained dramatic interest.).
Romance? Well, take anything from the times of the Bronte sisters right down to the latest M&B. Whodunits? Pick up the first mystery novel ever written (William Wilkey Collins’ The Moonstone). Light reading? Try Agatha Christie, or even Tintin and Asterix comics (Obelix & Co. is probably one of the finest examples of economic satire ever written. Try this — a character explains the strategy to market a menhir. “People will buy a) something of value, b) something which is useful and c) something others will envy. We will go for C.” Now replace the menhir with an iPhone.).
It is said that reading is a great help before going to sleep. As you tuck into your pillow after a gruelling day, don’t check Facebook, Twitter or Whatsapp or the news sites. Don’t even turn on your Kindle or iPad. Just pick up the bound pieces of paper and read yourself to the land of dreams, and feel the difference in the morning!
