Some people get the best in life...
I would call myself lucky, most definitely, why not...I grew up in a house where I
could read any book that I wanted... thanks to the extensive library of my uncle
and aunts... but there was a downside.
With all these grown ups stacking books and classics cramming the shelves it is
very obvious that I didn’t get much of literature for children before I went into
the school library(...and they allowed only standards 4 and above to enter.
Alas!!!)
So you my diligent reader can understand, my childhood was mostly spent reading
the lesser works of masters or easier poem collections of tagore, nazrul, sukumar
roy, etc. that is why today I shall speak about my five favourite book that I
would have loved to read as a child and not my favourite books of childhood!
**1. HARRY POTTER SERIES **by j. k. rowling:
Now does that need any explaination? I wish I was born in a time when as a child
of ten I could eagerly devour the magic, mystery and yet the mature handling of
the myriad adventures that harry goes through. I do the same now... but that
element of belief in possibilities of magic is lacking, I have grown cynical...how
I wish I could be up on a firebolt (its a broomstick, for the clueless!) and chase
snitch in a quidditch match or take potions classes... I find professor Snape and
his classes so fascinating.
I was very scared while I was reading the second volume ’’the chamber of secrets’’.
its my favourite. This parseltongue business was so spooky. Although the fifth
installment is not that great I would still love to follow the adventures of harry
through the two assured volumes that are supposed to come and can only hope that like conan doyle bringing back sherlock holmes, we the fan of harry potter can
bring back harry even if rowling does not want to continue writing about him.
**2. ABOL TABOL **by sukumar ray
Every Bengali reads this book and never forgets it for the rest of his life. The
reason is simple... the book is a treasure house of non-sensical verse. Believe me
when I say this lewis carol or edward lear do not hold a candle’s worth to the
awesome imagination of this guy...from curious creatures like ’’timingil’’(an animal
capable of swallowing a whale) and hashjharu (a cross between a duck and a
porcupine) to characters like khuro, the inventor....it is just the thing that
people need... a break from reality, mundane-ness and the boring nitty gritties of
life...even when you raed it after years you do not forget the basic essence of
fun and laughter that first filled you when you read this book as a youngster.
**3. BLACK BEAUTY** by anna sewell
Till class 6 this was my all-time favourite book...then I underwent massive changes
in perception and the kind of literature I was reading. One of the reasons I like
this book is because it is one of the first book of its kind to completely devote
itself to an animal protagonist without a lead human. The way animal treatment,
especially the treatment of horses at that age is brought out is truly
remarkable. It was an age of glitz and decor, where the high reigning of a horse
signified fashion no matter how cruel it was to the beast. It was also an age of
people loving their animals so much that they can recognize them even when they
are almost on the verge of becoming carcasses. It goes without saying that the
language of the book is ideal for children. Its simple, lucid and has enough
important wrods to make it a delightful inclusion to any vocabulary building
class.this is a book for people who love animals, a book for children who have not
lost their human touch.
**4. HEIDI **by johanna spyri
Heidi...now that is one book that reminds me of everything that is supposedly the
essence of European beauty and charm... the rolling highlands, blue skies, goat
milk and fresh cheese...and just there now and now gone away effortlessly making
her way to her friend peter’s house the delightful little girl heidi. Heidi comes
to live with her grandfather in the hills and in no time befriends the animal and
the people...she has way of making everyone like her no matter how hard it may
seem in the beginning. she does the same when thrown into the hustle-bustle of the
city...heidi is the story of a little who can do it all no matter how crazy her
ways might seem at first. It is a lovely book and I loved reading because it agve
the descriptions of those picturesque landscapes in words and in a way that a young
child might understand and appreciate. Its a brilliant work of fiction and a must
read for every child.
**5. LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY **by j r r tolkein
A renowned critic once said that ’’the world is divided into two groups....one that
has read tolkein’s lord of the rings and the other that is going to read them.’’ Truly
speaking as a child I was not very enthusiastic about reading lord of the
rings...it was only when I was 12 years old did I dare begin those fat books and I
remember it took me a hell of a lot of time to finish reading all three... the
reason very simple...
I was trying to decipher the meaning of every song written in
elven tongue from the glossary at the end of the book! Today with the peter
jackson movies bringing a visually captivating experience right to the audience in
a matter of around 9 hours I wonder how many children would actually want to go
through this trilogy given the fact that the language and style of presentation
though highly imaginative and engrossing it certainly tedious and sometimes
outright boring. But if someone actually patiently reads this let me assure you he
would discover a lot more magic, wonder, fear and horror than what he would get
from the movies... after all each person should have his own the lord of the rings
unfolding in his head. If we cannot even foster imagination in our children and
within us is the purpose of having a brain at all!
Well, those were the books I would ideally have loved reading as a child... with
all their magic, grandeur, simplicity and emotions... for all those who have read
them I am sure you treasure the experience of having read them and for those who
haven’t... well you are never too old to read , you know!!!