A FEELING FOR BOOKS

Updated on: Monday, January 25, 2010

Contrary to the common perception that children are not reading enough, Booker-prize winning Irish author Anne Enright feels that children today are reading more as they are exposed to a diverse selection of reading material. “Digital proliferation has expanded access in terms of reading books,” says Enright.

"However, there is a perceptible difference in terms of the reading habits of children of today with children of yesterday. Today, with the sophistication and all pervading influence of mass media and digital technology children are exposed to a multitude of experiences from a very early age. Consequently, they are far more mature and discerning as readers. At one level they seek storybooks that can supplement their real-life observations and experiences. Hence, there is a visible preference for realistic themes over plain fantasy,” she observes.

Enright says that there is an innate curiosity in every child and it is a natural tendency in children to explore this curiosity through books. “Since children today mature earlier they end up seeking and reading books that have been traditionally deemed inappropriate for their age. However, this is no reason for parents to be worried, in fact, they should understand that reading preferences cannot be censored. It is enough for parents and teachers to be aware of the specific reading preferences of children. Every book can impact a child’s intellectual and emotional growth either positively or negatively. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to facilitate positive development and, hence, they should be approachable and encourage children to share their perceptions and observations in relation to books,” explains Enright. Irrespective of what they read, it is important for children to read. Taking cognisance of this fact the British School in Delhi organised a series of workshops for its students with seven literary giants, who were on their way to the Jaipur Literary Festival. The authors included Wole Soyinka, Alexander McCall-Smith, Roddy Doyle, Ali Sethi, among others. The authors conducted workshops on various aspects of writing, and also on how reading in itself can be made more enjoyable.

"A hallmark of a well written story is one that strikes a chord in the heart and constantly sparks the imagination. All words and sentences have to simultaneously trigger pictures to make the reading experience enjoyable and complete. For this to happen it is advisable to constrict the use of adjectives and choose words that are strong and effective,” shares Doyle. According to him, there is no straitjacketed formula in terms of finding inspirations that often translate to characterisations. “But every book at one level resonates something about the author. People who have an innate ability to sense something extraordinary in ordinary situations can become authors,” adds Doyle.

The initiative by the British School provided an opportunity to bring students directly in contact with world-renowned authors. Students participating in the workshops had a range of queries and observations. “I want to become a writer and always wanted to know about the process involved in getting a book published,” says Angad Bagai, a Year 12 student. “I understand now that networking and participation in writer forums and literary workshops (to garner visibility) is one way forward,” he says. “During the course of the workshop, among other things, I learnt that writing a novel or book could never actually be a long planned conscious decision. It is a manifestation of the author’s experiences and beliefs and can happen at any stage of life,” shares Lyala Khan, a Year 7 student.

Times of india

A FEELING FOR BOOKS

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