Readership

 Dear Reader, 

Indeed we all are readers--newspapers, magazines-economics, social, psychological, film, women's magazines, literature etc. Even from this brief reading list, we notice that our reading is guided by two instincts-first, our need for factual information of different kinds (which is also pleasurable) and our desire for entertainment--be it films, fiction or literary non-fiction. 

    Modern technology provides us with entertainment from across the globe. A few years ago, 'anime' was not such a popular genre of film: today, 'Suzume' is breaking box-office records in India; OTT has made the series popular once again; crime fiction, thrillers, and action/adventure have once again gained popularity. With personal narratives, Podcasts have made orality popular once again. And what is really heartening is that stories and personal histories inspire people. Instagram provides that crucial spot for creativity. Twitteratti and netizens rule the roost!!

  If all is so beautiful, is there a hole in this new galaxy? Unfortunately, yes. Fake news and paid reviews that praise a work of literature galore. Today's media-unlike yesteryear' which used the news as a facade- is using 'news' to manipulate, create opinions and create 'false' truths! In this scenario, it is imperative that readers, as contemporary people, be aware of the possible twists and turns of reviews and shows of democracy.  

   So, how do we, as independent and good readers, distinguish between hollow and opinionated literature against a genuine work of art? This is an important question because of the politics involved; comprehending if a literary representation is dependable and whether the time one has spent on it is 'worth my time' can never be doubted. There is no easy way of ascertaining this about a work of literature. A precious metal or a gem could be examined and found genuine by reviewing it with a touchstone or putting it under a lens; but, with literature, there is no single method of finding out if the representation in literature--be it of people and/or place, set in its socio-political and cultural context--is genuine or not. 

     Dear reader, as you might have experienced, some books have a strong plot structure that makes you read only to leave you frustrated that you have spent so much time on it🙅 So, should we stop reading such books halfway? Undoubtedly! I am not talking of books that we, as good readers, find impossible to continue to read. However, some works of literature leave you with a hallucinated vision, making it difficult or sometimes impossible, for us to recognise reality. 

     In such a situation, there are two questions: i. if one should continue to read or leave it aside and ii. If the book is engaging enough to groom your reading--'upskilling'.

1. Good readers have many methods of identifying a good book viz. spending some time to understand the title of the book, reading the content list in the book, reading the review by the publication house or reading the blurb

2. If you buy a book at a bookstore, read a few pages before deciding. If you are buying online, some of the platforms provide a preview. Do take time to flip through it.     

3. whenever we choose a new author or a book, we usually go by reviews or popularity. If you want to purchase a book based on good online/publication house reviews, read multiple reviews on different platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads. Though this pointer is not 'upskilling', this is the first step that will take you towards becoming a good reader.  

5. While reading, take a minute to reflect on what is happening in the story! In other words, focused reading is of utmost importance. Do you see that a character grows in a possible/plausible direction; does the action in the plot (within the narrative structure) seem probable; does the author's intention override the creative actuality? And, if you think it does, it is a red flag that the good reader should pay attention to. 

6. Literature especially has multiple meanings. So, slow reading is the key to enjoying a work of literature. In fact, literature is not a speed reading competition!! Like Francis Bacon said five centuries ago, 'some essays are to be chewed and digested'.

7. Last but most important, as a good reader, share your review that arises from your understanding of the work and is not based on your opinions or prejudices. This is a gentle reminder of what a lack of conscientious review makes--wasting your valuable money and time. And this is at the heart of this blog post!!  

Dear Reader, please share👇your thoughts and opinions on this topic. If you are happy to read this blog, hit the follow button 👉 And, if you would like to, please share this blog with your friends and like-minded readers!! 

You could share your comments directly with me to rekhadatta02@gmail.com or message me @rekhadatta1 on Instagram. I shall send the links to you personally. Thanks for your patience.