I had never been the quiet kid around. I went out, played, and got into fights and a lot of trouble. In short, I had a great childhood – maybe even a memorable one. I watched a lot of TV. The absurd soaps and movies I watched meant that I always craved for drama in my Read more…

The first story I ever read was when I was in tenth grade. We had been asked to read Gulliver’s Travels and pen down our views about its characters, among other things. Until then, I had never read a book – other than my textbooks, I mean. My parents or teachers had never actually encouraged Read more…

I am an out-and-out bibliophile; I even love the smell of books. I started reading at a very young age. Maybe it was something I learned from my father. Looking back, I still remember the times when I and my brother went out to buy vada or some other snack from the street vendors or Read more…

Books play a major role in our lives. Some people realize this at an early age, whereas others – like me – do it later. I feel that books can be a great source of both joy and motivation. They sharpen the brain, bring down stress levels, and even alleviate depression or negativity. As a Read more…

There’s always room for a story that can transport people to another place. Joanne Kathleen Rowling, aka J. K. Rowling, the household name among fantasy writers, has exemplified her dictum by constantly transporting the readers to a realm of illusion, imagination, fancy and fiction. Growing up, I too have heard umpteen stories that fashioned the Read more…

“Mom, come on! We’re getting late, let’s go!” screamed a seven-year-old me at the top of her lungs, eager to get to her painting class. My younger brother stood beside me, surprisingly patient. Both of us were waiting for our mother to come downstairs. “I’m coming guys, hold on a minute. You know it’s not Read more…

My love affair with books started at a very young age. Even when the other kids went out to play, I would find myself completely engrossed in one book or the other. I still remember my grandparents telling me a fable every afternoon to put me to sleep. At night, my mother would gleefully read Read more…

It was the month of July. I was travelling from Jaipur, Rajasthan to Chennai for an international cultural integration camp by train. The train journey usually took three days and four nights. As most Indians would agree, spending three days in a sleeper coach of Indian Railways is no mean feat. To add to your Read more…

I always had a thing for academic books. Over time, I also began reading romance novels, making fiction a part of my reading routine. This was a paradigm shift in my viewpoint, for I used to believe that only theoretical books had the potential to shape our thoughts and personality. Reading romantic and inspirational books, Read more…

I still remember the day as if it were yesterday. I was in grade two, trying to convince my mother to let me watch Aladdin before completing my homework. And as any 90’s kid would tell you, missing an episode of Aladdin was a big deal back then! Unless I managed to complete my homework Read more…