It is World Book Day on April 23. So we took a moment to ask people about books they love and why.
Urishna Shakya
'The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens' by Sean Covey remains a favorite to this day. And it's because it helped me during the times when I felt extremely confused and frustrated about little things in life. So I would also recommend self help books to every teenager. 'The Diary of a Young Girl' by Anne Frank is also a must read.
Although I love reading, I don't read every day—it can go from not reading at all to three hours of reading. That's why I only read about three books in a year. As long as the place is quiet, I can read anywhere because it's the words that engulf my mind. My ideal place to read would be in nature surrounded by trees and fresh air. Reading is important because it provokes our thought process, and makes us understand the power of words.
Ken Subedi
I started reading with the books by Osho, but my favorite book so far is ‘Animal Farm’ by George Orwell. Reading has become an integral part of my life. It helps to develop imagination and discover new things. I attempt to read at least two hours a day, and I finish reading about three dozen books every year. For those who want to build a reading habit, I’d suggest them to start by writing diaries. Reading op-ed columns in newspapers, and stories of writers like Anton Chekhov and Ben Okri help, too.
Prajesh SJB Rana
Haruki Murakami’s ‘Norwegian Wood’ is my favorite book. I’m usually busy at work and when I get home, I just want to laze about. So, much of my reading takes place during my commute to and from work.
Hamro Kitab: For the book-loving society
Books like ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, ‘Norwegian Wood’, ‘The Stranger’, ‘Never Let Me Go’, ‘Slaughterhouse Five’, etc should be read by everyone. I think reading is important because it helps us understand the world in a different context. We think more, we question more and we criticize more. Reading not only builds up your language skills but also molds the way you think so that you develop critical thinking.
Sulav Dahal
Khaled Hosseini's 'The Kite Runner' is my favorite book. I consider reading important because it has helped me widen my horizon. I can wander places I never have been through the writer's description. I make an attempt to read one to two hours per day and end up finishing around 15 books in a year. I normally prefer reading in my couch or my bed where it's comfortable and easy to concentrate. For the new readers, I'd suggest to start with simple and easy books. Books by Indian writer Chetan Bhagat are easy to comprehend and can be a good starting point.
Labisha Uprety
Though people often assume that the Harry Potter series is a children's book, it still is one of my favorites. They are books I can keep going back to when I get too tired of the real world. One of my favorite parts from the series is when in the last book we understand how good and bad are relative concepts to time. Dumbledore was once a power hungry orphan and Snape turns out to be the hero in the end. I usually like having a book to read when I'm waiting for someone. So reading is not restricted to time or place. Also, thank god for eBooks!
Shristi Maharjan
I don't remember which the first book I read is, but it could be 'Alice in Wonderland'. My favorite, though, is 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green. I love it when he says, "And this infinity is bigger than other infinity." The writer picked the right words and used them to make a perfect sentence. I think he beautifully created the world for those who know they'll die soon. Even though the characters are ill, their enthusiasm to experience new things in life truly inspired me.
I developed a reading habit as my father used to read different books to me when I was young, and I absolutely love reading. It helps me forget sorrows. It takes me far from this chaotic place where I have the liberty to live the life I want.
Tek Narsingh Malla
While my love affair with books started with Grimm's Fairy Tales, my favorite book is 'Inferno' by Dan Brown. I especially like the part when the antagonist Bertrand Zobrist creates a vector virus that randomly activates to employ DNA modification and cause sterility in 1/3 humans of the world in order to control overpopulation. It shows how obsession, be it for a noble cause, can make a person do things that aren't justifiable.
I normally read for about an hour and half every day and end up finishing about 20 books every year. I believe reading is the means to hone our creativity. By reading from different authors, there's a potpourri of their creative ideas in our mind which when combined gives rise to a whole new level of intellect.
Anna
I started reading with 'The Berenstain Bears' and then I couldn't stop. My current favorite is 'Stardust' by Neil Gaiman which I recently finished reading. I liked everything about it—especially the beginning which makes way for a wonderful tale ahead. Due to a busy schedule, I barely get to read 30 minutes a day, but I make sure I read while commuting. Thankfully I don't need the silence to enjoy reading. As a matter of fact, silent environment distracts me; I prefer the noisy environment as long as the second person doesn't disturb me.
I think reading is important because books tell you things that people don't dare say and care about. To an early reader who's trying to build a reading habit, I'd suggest to start with smaller books, or the size that suits you. Don't succumb to peer pressure and read bulky books.
Usha Pokharel
Written in 1974 by two journalists—Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward—'All the President's Men' is about the first Watergate break-in and the resulting scandal for The Washington Post. This is my favorite book. I like to enjoy my book to the maximum, so I want to be somewhere comfortable in my house when I start reading. We all know reading helps in our writing and gives us knowledge, but other benefits are improved focus and concentration, good memory and strong analytical skills. For those who would like to develop the reading habit, I suggest starting with simple books. Even if it's children's books or romance novels, it doesn't matter as long as you read. Don't try to understand each word you're reading. Try to understand the overall message of the passage. Oh, and start by reading each day even if it's just for a few minutes.
Anjila Takhachhen
When Tara, the child widow in ‘Seto Dharti’ by Amar Neupane, tries to breastfeed her crying brother, remembering how her mother would have handled the situation of she were alive, it really touched me. This is what I love the most about the book. It teaches us that the best thing to do in any situation is the right thing, the second best thing is to do the wrong thing and the worst thing to do is nothing.
I read for about four hours a day and I would never stop reading if I didn’t have something important to do. My bed is the place I prefer to be in when reading because whatever the book has in store for me, my pillow and blanket are the perfect support system. I imagine my pillow is a shoulder to cry on while the blanket is an individual I can hug. They’ve listened to my laughter and seen my sorrows. Books are a medium to be friends with people of all ages and different backgrounds. We learn to understand ourselves and the world.
