The logic of picking a book

There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who wants a book to read. ~G.K. Chesterton

A few years back, I heard a kind of strange one-liner joke. At that time, the lack of humor in the joke did amuse me a lot, but today while writing this piece, the logic in the same joke proved to be the spine. The jokes went something like this:

Question: What is that you shouldn’t have for dinner?
Pat comes the reply: Breakfast

Well, obviously, there has to be a system in life, some rules, imagine having cornflakes for dinner, or may be a full English breakfast. Let alone the actual eating part, just the thought makes me go nerves.
But see the other side and relate it to books, with each kind of book and the subject it deals with there has to be time and ambience associated with. If you may be able to make the connection, even the raga in classical music have a similar time and mood based genre; or like in School they taught you subjects with more logic and reasoning during first few opening periods, while language and theory later.

Now let’s get into more precise demarcation and segregation of reading title and the appropriate time to pick them up.

• While You’re Travelling: Books we take with us while travelling should be light reading, preferably fiction and even more suggestively collection of short stories is the best pick. They are easy to read, easy to finish, and light on heart.



• Bedtime Reading: People, who read at bedtime, should opt for long running novels, as they allow you to read through longer duration. Though I would definitely not suggest murder mysteries or courtroom dramas; ‘coz most of the time, they are hard to put down. In a subtle way I would suggest to hand pick an autobiography.



• Leisure Reading: Well you see, the idea, or should I say the strategy behind this pick is read and implement hands-on. For example: For housewives, the best pick would be an assortment of cookbooks, home improvement stuff and some really catchy romantic novels.



• Short-span reading: Now this is a bit difficult part, ‘coz here most of the time, the reader doesn’t have a bandwidth to read continuously. If I had to lay my hands on I would prefer some magazine, may be a reader’s digest, a copy of the TIME, and yes I won’t mind it being a legacy edition.



• Planned Reading: They say, “Read the book before you see the movie”, though it might not be so fruitful in it’s on way, but try reading the Harry Potter series. Trust me folks, the description of dementors in the 3rd book is more scary that what that scrappy thing looks on screen. Reading and imagining something is more fun that seeing an animated version of it.



• Business & Professional reading: Such reader are the most conscious ones, the always have specific preferences and they read with a goal / objective. They choose the titles very meticulously. Although the classification of subjects under this genre of scanner might be endless, but yeah a plainly we know for sure one thing, the reader is very serious. A good suggestion here would be to keep a mini notepad and a pen/pencil handy.



• Finally there is a goose types, we call them “I am just a reader” types. Mostly they are not sure what to read. They read to kill time; most often scroll though the best seller section and end-up picking titles that adhere their personal whims. No offenses meant, much like being on road, if you are not sure where you are headed, ask for directions. Probably ask the shop guy, or a fellow buyer to suggest you titles. Sometimes chasing an author you have read before can minimize surprises or bail you out of embarrassment of having to read out of your taste.

Nurturing Book-reading habits in your kids

Imagine having the following conversation between you and your kid, on a lazy evening…
“Mom…can I go out and play…”…
“No…it’s too hot outside, play on the porch”
“It’s too small to play, and I am bored, there is no electricity to watch cartoon also”

Yea, we understand, such conversations might leave you speechless and perplexed, and you finally give into the situation allowing your kid to venture out to play.
Well no doubt about it, playing and a good level of physical activity is needed for your kid, but what about the brainy activity. These are the times, when you really wish you had nurtured the basic habit of reading in your kid.

Like the saying goes, “it is never too late for a fresh beginning”.

Although I don’t have a 5-year master plan for you, but have some basic and socially tried and tested formulas, which when put into place, block-by-block, at the right age, can transform your book finicky kid, into a self-driven bookworm.

So, are ready for the transforming journey?

To begin with, lest we say, start early, and start with basics, like read out a picture story book to them at bedtime.

When they are capable enough to read words and sentences, gradually replace the picture story book, which your kid can read, probably as a practice, and as per your ease, you can read it along with them at bedtime.

Later, in the next level make them go through the usual stuff Hardy boys, famous five, Enyd Blyton. Don’t stick them to rules like boys should read hardy boys and girls shouldn’t.

Once they get a hang of reading books, and reading becomes a part of their daily activity, let them choose what they want to read.

In a nutshell, tell them book reading is not just academic, and neither it is about story reading, infact tell them, book reading is about understanding ideas and viewpoint of someone they haven’t met, and it is about making a journey of thousand miles or several years without moving an inch.

It is also about helping them cultivate the habit of being able to differentiate between reading moods, a bed time story book may not be suitable for travel reading; obviously if you yourself are an avid book-reader you know the level of writing variation between airport thrash and good non-fiction।

And the last thought, don't keep the fire burning, pass on the flame; in more simpler terms share your bookshelf, and ask for a share from others.

Happy Reading ....

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