I was with one of my oldest school friend Anand yesterday and we were discussing how a book is a reflection of an authors experiences and desires, both met and unmet. The discussion somehow came around to Fountainhead and then Ayan Rand. I started narrating the story of We the Living to him. After listening to me patiently for a while he asked what was it about the book that made me like it so much. At that point I told him I really liked the character of Kira Argunova, one of the strongest female characters I have ever encountered.
This question persisted with me on my way to Bangalore. On some contemplation I reached the following conclusion. As we live our lives we undergo several experiences, some pleasant some not so. Each of them make our lives richer if we are willing to understand and assimilate them. I think its the same thing when we read a book, a book transports us to a place set in the writers imagination. Personally I get so engrossed in a book that I feel a part of the scene that the author describes. Watching sunsets with the lovers holding hands or fighting the battle with the wounded soldier, breathing in the same air that they exhale. For me the experience of reading a book is as real as experiencing it in real life, images flashing by in quick succession. I mostly see a book than read it.
Coming back to the question poised by Anand, I liked the book because I loved the fact that I knew someone like Kira, so passionate, so full of life and love. Someone who fought to rebuild the future and did not give up hope till the very end. I loved the fact that I existend in the same space with her. Even though it was fictional and transient. But isn't everything around us? Mere spacedust ?
This question persisted with me on my way to Bangalore. On some contemplation I reached the following conclusion. As we live our lives we undergo several experiences, some pleasant some not so. Each of them make our lives richer if we are willing to understand and assimilate them. I think its the same thing when we read a book, a book transports us to a place set in the writers imagination. Personally I get so engrossed in a book that I feel a part of the scene that the author describes. Watching sunsets with the lovers holding hands or fighting the battle with the wounded soldier, breathing in the same air that they exhale. For me the experience of reading a book is as real as experiencing it in real life, images flashing by in quick succession. I mostly see a book than read it.
Coming back to the question poised by Anand, I liked the book because I loved the fact that I knew someone like Kira, so passionate, so full of life and love. Someone who fought to rebuild the future and did not give up hope till the very end. I loved the fact that I existend in the same space with her. Even though it was fictional and transient. But isn't everything around us? Mere spacedust ?
7 comments:
True Vibhanshu. I feel that way about books too. When I am disturbed, no amount of talking or sharing helps me... It is only by immersing myself in a book that I rise again to life. And you know out of all the books that I have read, there is this character called Jane Eyre, the protagonist of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre that I identify most with. The character that is closest to me. It is no masterpiece... but for some strange reason, the book is very close to me. Another character that comes any closer is the protagonist of Daphne Du Maurier's book Rebecca.
I have a really close friend who too identifies with Jane Eyre, though I see no reason why she should... Do you mean you like the character, like empathise with her or she potrays you in some way. Just inquisitive :)
There are some character that I really identify wid is the kid in the incident of the dog... But you know its all so strange, I think of the numerous books I have read (more than a thousand I guess) at this moment I cant really think of any that stand out. Its like my mind's been wiped clean... Its good in a way I guess, lot more space for new things.
Another thing that I have noticed is I tend to forget the details until I am focusing on something like work/research. For most of the things I just learn my lesson and hardly even remeber what was said/done. Then u have gained experience but not memories :)
I dont know exactly why the character appeals to me so much... What I admire about her is the balance of vulnerability and strength in her character. The equation between love and morality that she upholds... the kind of tempestuous passion in her and yet she posesses the power to self-restraint, self-command... the confused and paranoid thoughts and yet the most accurate actions... Thats what I love about her. well I donot posess all her qualitites, but somewhere I think like her... share her beliefs, her ideals... maybe thats where the connect comes :-)
Its certainly good to have a blank mind... people work so hard to achieve it through meditation and what not. And I sincerely wish I could achieve that.
For me remembering details is tough unless something touches me... But yeah I do remember plots and characters from the books I read...
and maybe, just a thought... no character out of the thousands of books you have read, has ever touched you deep enough to be remembered distinctly? Maybe you are yet to come across that one character that would leave a mark on you. :-)
"What I admire about her is the balance of vulnerability and strength in her character...." You know thats what most guys look for when they go looking for a girl. I have a friend who keeps listing these attributes she wants in a girl and I am like, "man u want a girl or a figment of your imagination ???" :D
There have been characters that have really touched me, like Anne of the Diary, Ursula of Hundred Years of Solitude, the girl in the Bluest Eye... But gradually I have moved from being a romantic/dreamer to someone who is rooted firmly in reality. And the change has been almost stealthily, without me being aware of it :) Now they are just characters from a plot without any emotional attachment to them...
hahahaha... yeah I know... we want everything in life.
But you know what, everyone of us dream of that perfect person. And when you fall in love, the romance of love evens up every imperfection in your partner. And by the time that romance actually dimnishes, and the real imperfection is seen, you are so much in love with that person, that the imperfection doesn't matter any longer. Thats how marriages work I guess ;-)
I read Anne Franc's Diary almost to the end, but did not finish it... it was too depressing for me and I couldn't connect. Hundred Years of solitude I havent read... but the name strikes a cord. Ursula I think was also the name of a character in DH Lawrence' Women in Love. That character is simply adorable.
hmmm being rooted to reality is good. Its practical. But should the romantic in us really die? people say it is part of "the growing-up" But I somehow tend to cling on to that romantic in me. So I am still the passionate, emotional, immature girl somewhere. :-)
nally someone answered why we read buks and In identidy with ur answer...i love ayn rand..my fav is atlas shrugged..
Meenakshi: "Thats how marriages work I guess ;-)" OMG ;) So we have another marriage counsellor on the block :p But I agree with you, I believe by the time the romance fizzles out, you are so accustomed to the company of THAT someone that you cannot think of a life without her. Well as before, I dont talk from experience, I just hypothise that this happens ;)
Anne is a lovely story :) I remeber being really touched when I read it. I havent been able to watch Shool everytime I end up getting up somewhere in the middle, mostly around when the girl gets killed :(
Its not that I am not passionate etc :p but such emotions are allowed to surface only when I am doing some fixed things like writing, photography or @ work :)
Tanvi: Looks like "f" isnt working on your keyboard :p I liked AS but I thought the plot was too complicated. This I thought after I read her other works...
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