Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~Author Unknown


Reading between lines and frames :)

I’m very famously infamous among my friends for the speed in which I read any of my books. I always knew that it is because I cherish each word in the story I read before moving to the next. But somehow, when I read academic books back in school & college or even now when I read some techie stuff to keep myself updated, I can literally see the pages fly off very soon. Am really not sure if I did read anything on this techie pages, let alone actually learn from that intellectual stuff.

I got to see this beautiful movie ‘The bridges of Madison County’ last year. Cherished every single frame of the movie. It is about a true love story that went unnoticed while the couple lived and made history after their death. No… am not going to write a review on that.
Last month, I got lucky to find that book (original print) in an Old Book Stall in Coimbatore. When I read the book, I felt the characters come alive and felt the movie repeat telecast to me. I was able to visualize every move of the people in the book. This, I thought was because I had already seen the movie.

“Not so fast”, said my heart, “this is what you do with all the books you read. That is the reason you take forever to finish a book”. I realize its the truth. May be everyone read by imagining the characters do the opera for them when they read any book. But to me, my heart and mind waits until even the back drop and the music match to the text that dances in front of my eyes. May be that’s the reason I take so long to read.

The same happened with me when I read ‘Love in the Time of Cholera’ (Waiting for a chance to see this movie as well, to see if the visuals are as good as my imagination). The story was set in a time period similar to ‘Gone with the Wind’. Trust me… it took me nearly 2.5 weeks to complete the book with all this imaginations draining my energy :) This is what I would call ‘Reading between lines and frames’. I wanted the whole frame to be ready before I could let the characters do anything next. But it is really fun to read it this way. By the way, did I tell you, my great buddy Jesh introduced me to the classics like Gone with the Wind & Bridges. I wish more such recommendations come from him.

If one has the patience and love for imagination, I think everyone should try this. Only advice is, if you had borrowed the book from a friend, foe or a lending library… try to increase the pace of the creative thinking, finish the book without damaging it and PLEASE return it.

To me Books are my Best Friends.