How the pandemic made me a reader

Books are meant to be read whether you buy them or borrow them

Last updated:
3 MIN READ
Reading prevents cognitive decline as you age and fights depression in addition to regulating your blood pressure and heart rate
Reading prevents cognitive decline as you age and fights depression in addition to regulating your blood pressure and heart rate
Isham Fernandez

One of the beauties of the English language is its ability to assimilate words and phrases from different languages and their variants across the world and make them its own. And this has been going on for centuries. Adopting words from other languages, though, isn’t unique to English.

Urdu, for example, is a Turkish word meaning army. Over the centuries, many languages and cultures came together to create Urdu in the Subcontinent.

However, the all-encompassing manner in which English does it is unmatched. The list of anglicised words from Latin, French, Greek and many other languages across the continents is endless.

There is a certain exoticity about these non-English words. When I came across zeitgeist — the defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time — I was instantly mesmerised and made sure I added it to my vocabulary.

I had the same feeling when, for the first time, I bounced into piece de resistance: most remarkable feature (especially with reference to creative work). Or ménage à trois — an arrangement in which three people share a romantic or amorous relationship.

English and its loan words

Then there are words and phrases that are used more frequently in English than their original languages. For instance, status quo and persona non grata are an integral part of diplomatic and political jargon in English. We wish people bon appétit when they’re about to go for a meal.

Not only have these words beefed up our vocabulary but, in certain cases, an anglicised word gives a deeper and clearer meaning of an experience or a situation.

Tsundoku, for example. This Japanese word refers to a practice of acquiring books — or any other reading material — and piling them up instead of reading them. Such a book pile is also alluded to as tsundoku.

Contrary to what many of my friends believe, I’m not a voracious reader, and that’s not something to be proud of. But, yes, I do buy books — lots of them. I’ve a pretty sizeable library at home. On a number of occasions, I’ve bought books — costly ones — when I was really hard pressed for money or almost broke.

I’d cut down on other, more important, expenses to be able to buy books that appealed me. This goes back to my school days. I was a regular subscriber to Urdu and English magazines. Though, while I left most of the books to gather the dust, I would invariably finish a magazine cover to cover in one go.

A compulsive book buyer that I am, I genuinely believe I have to read it when I buy a book. But, most of these books meet their tsundoku fate.

A solemn resolve

But that has started changing now. Courtesy: COVID-19 lockdown. Having already amassed a sizeable collection of books, I continue to buy a book that I chance upon and that interests me online.

I am already in the middle of reading a couple of them and none of them is going to be left unread to gather the dust. That’s a solemn resolve.

Books are meant to be read whether you buy them or borrow them, more so if you fancy yourself as a writer.

Writing is an art. You can’t be a writer just because you want to be one. You’ve to a have a certain flair for it. But if you read extensively, it hones your writing skills besides enriching your vocabulary.

Not just that, it widens your worldview. Even if you are not into writing, reading quality books and authors is always going to benefit you as a person.

Reading is extremely useful for physical and mental health. Research suggests that regular reading improves your brain connectivity and comprehension. It reduces stress and aids sleep readiness.

It prevents cognitive decline as you age and fights depression in addition to regulating your blood pressure and heart rate. Now, that’s a host of blessings that regular reading brings home with it. Bye-bye, tsundoku!

Shabir Hussain is a senior journalist based in India

Sign up for the Daily Briefing

Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox

Up Next