Have you ever felt that your relationship with reading has been deteriorated over the years? Have you ever found yourself taking months to complete a book which you would have easily finished reading in a day or two during your prime? Have you ever felt that you are just not able to establish a flow while reading? You are having to force yourself to pick up that book again and just soldier through one more chapter to meet your reading quota for the day. If you have felt any of these emotions and are able to relate to what I am talking about, then I must tell you that you are not alone.
I love books. I can't even imagine what my school life would have looked like if it didn't have reading in it. If I look back at my school life and think about the free periods, sports periods and lunch breaks which in no way are tarnished with a 'not so fun' memory or are linked to a moment where I felt extremely awkward or out of place, then they would have to be the times I spent sitting alone on my more or less fixed seat at the end of the row, with my head down on my desk and a book on my lap. Books have allowed me to live a life of a wizard, feel the thrill of being a demigod, see the life of a First Lady through her very own eyes and live multiple lives in just one life. Books have allowed me to look at things from other people's perspectives. They have helped me become a kinder and more compassionate version of myself. Books have been a friend to me when it felt like nobody around me was one to me. Books have allowed me to feel seen when I felt invisible. Books have allowed me to find a common thread to connect with people and feel connected to them on a deeper level.
I am a sucker for Romance. I can eat romantic stuff up for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. My favorite film is "Vivah" which is an extremely dramatic, emotional and awesome Bollywood Film from the 2000's. My Me Day entails me cleaning up my room, ordering yummy food in and watching Kuch Rang Pyar Ke Aise Bhi (an even more dramatic and romance filled Hindi Soap Opera). If I were the old me then I wouldn't have been announcing these sacred things to me on my blog, but I have changed since. Changed how?! I have fully embraced my love for romance and have established it as a interest I am proud of and not a guilty pleasure I stutter speaking of in a gathering. But what triggered this sudden embracement of something I have been for years?
"Set on You" by Amy Lea is a romance-filled quick and easy read, which has helped me fix my relationship with romance once and for all. I am a college student and for the past few years I have been trying to make smart decisions. Anything that didn't directly contribute towards the betterment of my resume was automaically deemed like a waste of time. I was trying to imitate people around me and listening to all these speakers on the Internet recommending nothing but Self-Help books did not help. I couldn't stop giggling and smiling for the entire duration of me reading this book. I had to physically restrain myself from picking up this book and continuing onto the next chapter because I had so much Homework to (It honestly did no good because I did end up picking it up ayways, but atleast I tried :) ). The male protagonist of this book- Scott was such a green flag. He said the cheesiest things in the most romantic way possible. His character was the embodiment of a modern world ideal boyfriend/husband. He took care of his good natured and kind girlfriend- Crystal. He handled all her mood swings, crises and breakdowns while maintaining his calm. He reassured her of his liking towards her every now and then and did not shy away from telling her in every moment he could grab to tell Crystal - how awesome he found her.
Reading this book has been one hell of a journey and it has taught me that I need to stick to the genre I actually like and not try to fit in by being something that I easily can be but don't want to be. I am grateful to 