Falling in love with books - Lubna Sultan

When I was young like maybe 12 or 13, I was fascinated by books. People don’t fall in love with books easily. It is a process. Something will click in your brain when you pick a book that may change your way of thinking or expand your imagination. I honestly really admired the people who read and say fascinating stories to me, especially my sister. She loved reading forever and that made me want to start reading too.

I never really read for pleasure when I was 12 or 13. I just wanted to know what the fuss was all about. I first started reading as a way of improving my grammar skills and having a really good vocabulary, I mean it still is. But now, I think I really have fallen in love with books. I promise you I don’t use the word “LOVE” that easily. When I mean I have fallen in love, I mean deeply and truly. When I see books or just have them in my hands I feel fascinated and excited to read. The admiration that I have for books is just unimaginable. I like to read almost any genre of book. But if I have to pick, I would say fantasy, romance, thriller, dark humor, crime, etc. I don’t really read sappy love-type books but if the story is good, I will give it a go.

This can be your guide to start giving an interest in books and see what you like. When I first started reading, I mostly read comics, and humorous novels at first. My first novel was “ Dairy of the Wimpy kid” by Jeff Kenny. I was immediately hooked and finished the series up to date. I think progressively my friends recommended me ENID BLYTON books. I loved the famous five books, even my sister was a crazy fan of those. But the books my friends told me to read, I wasn’t as interested in them and I just wanted to read them to satisfy them. I read many of those but wasn’t my thing to read. Over the years my friends started to read mature novels like fault in our stars, some more novels inclined towards sappy love stories. It was technically very famous at the moment. Everyone used to talk about it. I read it, and the story was good, but I don’t think I liked the whole ending part very much. It kind of pissed me off.

When I was 15 I came across Wattpad. Again We all think Wattpad is all about smut. But not exactly! It has really good romance novels, fantasy, humor, and of course thirsty novels as well. The people who have no idea what Wattpad is, it is an app where you can read stories and novels created by people who are not technically published authors and you also can write as well. It all depends upon whether the audience like it or not. If it takes off, it can officially be published. What I loved the most was when I read those books I think genuinely became an addict. I used to spend hours and hours just reading. I used to finish 3 or 4 books daily. I think this is when I truly fell in love with reading. I realized even though I used to read before it weirdly felt like I did a chore after I was done with it. But after I started reading books I found them on my own and with my interest. I became obsessed.

So, believe me, don’t only read books that people recommend to you. Read books you are drawn to. If you are a beginner I believe you need to first know people’s opinions and read the books that they tell you. Once you figure out what you like, you will know what YOU want and what helps you. Recently I and my friend are obsessed with Sarah J's mass books.

Technically she did recommend me those books but I think we are equally crazy about it. She and I have quite a similar taste in books. Ilona Andrews, Colleen hover, Veronica Roth, Suzanne Collins, James Dashner, Rob Their (Wattpad writer) Neileni Alejandrino (Wattpad writer), etc wrote amazing books that made me want to write as well. The fact that they can come up with those crazy, admirable, and beautifully sorted-out stories still amazes me to this day. I also may write something someday. I don’t know what it would be, but I want to try. Maybe create my world with characters that people get excited about.

Tips and tricks to make reading a habit :

· Start small. If you want to make reading your habit you need to first test the waters. Comics, small romance novels, something that looks fun to you. Honestly, if you just want to read for upgrading your vocabulary, you can read fun articles, blogs, or even news. Depend upon what grabs your interest.

· It is all about making time. Set aside an hour or two just for reading. Because if you start something big like a novel series and after you finish, you feel accomplished or really love it. There is the possibility that you might not continue consistently down the road.

· Have a list of books that you want to read. This helps you to not waste your time looking or just forget the fact that you have to keep reading. “Reality doesn’t always give us the life that we desire, but we can always find what we desire between the pages of books.” ―Adelise M. Cullens.

· Dive into different genres and see what you like. I read a comic first, then a romance novel, then a fantasy-based novel, and went to crime and thriller. I honestly love all of them. It is all about experiencing it all.

Essentially books become a part of your life. Being a book lover also involves certain advantages, obviously knowledge, a wide range of vocabulary, increased curiosity, and gravitating patience. When you read a book, you need the patience to sit through the first few pages or even 100 pages to get you hooked. Then you realize you read it and what more to discover.

Also, the least of the advantages…well, it makes you look cool, that you have depth. Again that is secondarily based on the advantages of loving books.

Recently I am tapping into crime novels. I think the series “you” inspired me to read more crime books. not that I am going to bury a body.. well just in case. That honestly fascinates me, how their brain works.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ―Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!