I was a pre-teen when I picked up Puffin Book of World Myths and Legends by Anita Nair from my father’s bookshelf. It introduced me to the many, many characters and stories that encouraged me to make a habit of picking up random books and reading them during our library hours at school. Reading the social science books, especially history, started to feel just like reading stories when I reached high school. I was the book nerd, and I had my circle of book nerds. We read about everything, borrowing books from each other, discussing them on our way to and from school, extra classes, sometimes on the back bench in the classes too. As I moved to University, there was no doubt that I wanted to continue my passion for reading, no matter how much I score on papers assessing my reading material. I no longer care if I received 68% in my graduation because, I am here, talking to you about my love, excitement, and adoration for Reading, while I work at the world’s largest publisher of stories.
As someone who has often wondered and been frustrated by how few hours there are in a day to make time for reading for leisure, I implore on you, dear fellow reader, to not be hard on yourself. The joy of consuming stories has many avenues now. It can come from shorter pieces on some topic, from turning back to books you have already read (Rick Riordan is a returning favourite of mine), from reading a recommended chapter in a Classic. Reading for me has often become more about spending time with a few chapters, absorbing the words, reflecting on the sentiments, and finding inspiration, than about finishing the damn book. So, when I am recommended a Sally Rooney, I read a few chapters and put the book down, notice when I wonder about what happened next in the story and then I know, I know I like the writing.
As working in publishing gets me all the access I may need to an unending pile of unread books, I am often torn between new author, old stories, beautifully produced, gold-foiled, heat-stamped leatherbacks, and quick reads which I can finish on my way to a holiday. So, I browse catalogues, I pay keen attention whenever new projects are discussed and for the next few months, I have my eyes open for the following few books,
1) The Light of Stars by Leslie W coming out this November. It is the second book in The Night of Legends Trilogy.
2) The First Decade by Vivy Yusof coming out this December!
3) No Wonder, Women by Carissa Foo is an ode to women—to hearts that love fiercely and feel deeply. A glimpse into the lives of women who are trying to love without unloving themselves. Releasing in early 2023.
4) Sweet braised Duck by Chew Ngee Tan is about a young man paying homage to his hometown cuisine, Teochew lor ark png (braised duck rice) to change the life of his family. The story will provide insights in the hawker culture in Singapore, and I am intrigued! Releasing in early 2023.
5) Mami Suzuki: Pearl City Private Eye by Simon Rowe is the adventure of a quick-witted, intuitive, and follows her ‘gut instinct’ private investigator. Releasing in early 2023.
I have learnt that our reading habits change as we navigate through life. We can reminisce of days when finishing seven hundred pages in one night was normal, but I have stopped regretting having shorter attention spans for the words on a page. Bookstagram and Booktok can create a lot of FOMO and we may feel there is not enough that one is reading from a favourite author or about an important, trending topic, or expanding our boundaries by trying new genres. My learning has been to read at the pace which inspires you than what can become a demanding chore. It is ok if you read one book a year. It is ok if you read ten. It is ok if you prefer the OTT adaptation of a book you have been meaning to read. The ideal purpose of stories is to inspire, so align your expectations and actions with that.
Happy Reading!
– By Ishani Bhattacharya, Senior Publishing Executive, Penguin Random House SEA
