is wise enough to read, understand, speak and write for the good of self and society.Books are like ladders that help us grow as we fumble to get through life. When I talk of books, I do not limit my perspective to a specific kind of book. In fact, I am talking collectively about academic books, fiction, non-fiction, informative manuscripts and even comic books. Books are like a friend who helps you imagine and think beyond the boundaries of the real world. They let you live a life that you might never really have for yourself, and they help you grow into a person who
When a person reads, he starts for the sake of entertainment or to fulfil a purpose but eventually if it is a good read, the person finds that they may be becoming attached to that book, or the characters within. That’s how a book not only transfers vocabulary, knowledge and imagery into your mind but also evokes emotion and sensations that you might not feel elsewhere.
Can you recall a book that you have read multiple times already, and would still be your go-to if you were planning to read? You have read this book twice, thrice and maybe even ten times, yet it lights up that little candle in your heart whenever you read it. Why is that so? Is it the surprise of what may happen in the ending? No. You already know every part of the story, all the twists and turns and ups and downs. Then what is it?
It is the experience, the connection and the sense of attachment with the story that the author is offering to you through the book in question. A good read evokes emotions and sensations in the reader, and this is what a well written book is all about!
“What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.” ― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
A book can let you experience the feelings and emotions of those within it, and can help you get a clear sense of what going through certain situations may have felt like. Remember the time when you were reading a love story and you fell in love with one of the characters? You felt your heart skip a beat when the two lovers in the story kissed, you cried when they were breaking the tie and you were genuinely irritated at the character from the story who tried to mess up the relationship being formed. You were also caught off guard smirking while reading a sweet conversation between the two protagonists. What was it that you felt? It was your emotion and the sensation created through that emotion. It was the emotional, behavioral and psychological reaction that was evoked in response to that piece of art.
Emotional competence has a very significant impact on a person’s preferences and personality. If you recall the times when we used to read primary level books in school, how many books can you say you still remember very well? Were these very good stories or was the content something exceptional?
Neither of the two! What you are more likely to recall is the books that you could relate to and those that could evoke emotional responses within. This is exactly the impact that a good read creates.
If you feel that the story is highly engaging and you are restless to go further in the story, or if you feel a sense of relatability with the events described in the story, you are surely on the right track. Reading is not only the responsibility of the reader. A writer needs to ensure that the content he or she is producing is engaging enough as well.
It is true that no meal is a free meal, but this doesn’t apply when you’re talking about books. Books give you an experience, a feeling and a lot more, yet they don’t ask for anything in return. You won’t get such a deal elsewhere. Books can touch your heart and make you feel happy, sad, overwhelmed, angry, fearful and even loved. This is the beauty of a good read.
A well written piece of literature would have all the ingredients that build a connection between the story and the reader. Such a book talks to you and communicates through emotion and feelings. It moves you beyond the boundaries that had only been blurred lines to you before. You start associating yourself with the story you are reading, and often start living the events in your mind. You feel all the emotions, the sensations and ups and downs as the story proceeds. You might even identify yourself as a character of the story or may deeply resonate with the emotions that this character is experiencing. There is something that separates baseline writing from truly good literature. Only the best pieces of literature have the ability to truly evoke feeling within while keeping you engaged and engrossed.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart” ― Helen Keller