One can come across numerous arguments in favor of reading books over being hooked on to an idiot box or a gaming console as a leisure activity (Of course an outdoor activity to flex your body will be a better alternative). If you try to gather some statistics on what people do in their homes while they have jiffies to spare and how the trends have changed over the last fifty years nothing conclusive can be inferred. A few surveys claim that percentage of Americans reading books (paper or digital version) for fun, has been dwindling each year, the other surveys claim the exact opposite in their market research (And yes, they have pretty graphs to claim that). My problem was not about deciding who is winning in the war of books against television rather was trivial yet frustrating.
LIGHTNINIG STRIKES MY HEAD
I was on a sabbatical as far the reading goes and one auspicious evening I decided to end this and join the reading bandwagon once again.So here I was all pumped up and excited to read a good book which can illuminate and wake up my dozing horses of imagination; with a slight obstacle that I have no unread book and therefore need to find a new one to chew upon.
WHAT WILL I DO
To satiate my inner cravings for reading a good book I have to answer a stockpile of questions being raised in my head. From where should I begin looking up for a good book? Do I have to stick to my usual genre this time as well or it's high time to move on to a new territory of books this time? My inquisitive mind had some relevant concerns on picking up this new book and what I could offer it was a notion, I just need to read a book.
FAILED ATTEMPT NUMBER ONE
The immediate thought which came to my head was to pick another book of my favorite author and so I open a new tab in Firefox and start reading summary and reviews about all the new and old releases of this author and after few hours realize that this whole effort was futile.
I KNEW IT WILL FAIL
The next logical step in this expedition was to talk and so then I am there talking to dozens of people for suggestions. While talking to them I maintain my usual politeness, appeasing them by reading the recommended books, but inside I would spare not more than thirty nanoseconds to blatantly reject those books as they weren't agreeing to my taste and that reading material is a matter of perception.
THE MISERY PERSISTS
Two days pass by in this book recruitment drive and we had no hires as yet. With my fading enthusiasm, I head back to an opened tab of Firefox and start browsing through Good-reads and New York bestsellers from all possible decades (I even read about books written when unicorns were our pets) and all I could manage was to get further confused as I was a few days ago.
LIGHT AT THE END OF A TUNNEL
With no intention of visiting a public library, there was one last arrow in the quiver. I finally head to the biggest bookshop in our county with an uplifted spirit. Various sections and aisles in the store appeared welcoming and tiny fairy whispered in my ear, much like a prophecy, that my quest ends here.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Rejuvenated, I skimmed through books of all color, size and categories, imbibing upon summaries inscribed at their back cover. To much excitement of my inner audience, eventually I could zero on a beautiful book which had all the ingredients, just in right proportions, suiting impeccably to my mind taste buds. With a sense of accomplishment and excitement to begin venturing into the pages of my new book, I pay at the counter and head back to home.
