It’s December already! The month that marks the end of another year. It is also the month that offers us a chance to reflect on our losses and gains; What worked for us and what did not; It’s a month that allows us the opportunity to sit back and think about what we did well and we could have done better!
As I sit down to assess my P & L statement for this year, I realize there were plenty of losses, some not quantifiable. I realize I made quite a few mistakes as well. But the one thing I got right this year was a simple no-frills Book Reading Challenge that I took up alongside my eight-year-old at the start of this year.
When we decided to take up this challenge we had agreed upon an achievable number of books for both of us.
S had committed to reading 2 books every month which meant her total at the year’s end should be 24 books in 2023.
V (that’s me), had accepted 3 books every month which meant my total at the year’s end should be 36 books in 2023.
We also mutually agreed a +1 to that number in case we achieved our respective numbers.
It is Mid- December and S has finished reading 22 books already and is currently halfway through her 23rd book. The way I see it she will hit 24 by 31st December, 2023. I am confident.
As for me, I am sitting on the number 31. I am confident of a 33.
If we compare, S has won the challenge. And I am not even complaining.
Here is a list of books that S & I read together this year. I have been updating our monthly reads on the Gram. Just thought of collating it and putting it all together for you.
| NO.
(V) |
BOOK NAME |
AUTHOR/ PUBLISHER |
| 1. | I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS | Maya Angelo |
| 2. | LADY YOU’RE NOT A MAN | Apurva Purohit |
| 3. | THE NAANI DIARIES | Riva Razdan |
| 4. | FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN | Ruskin Bond |
| 5. | A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN | Virginia Wolf |
| 6. | MEN WITHOUT WOMEN | Murakami |
| 7. | WELCOME HOME | Najwa Zebian |
| 8. | THE NECTAR OF PAIN | Najwa Zebian |
| 9. | THE MASTERY MANUAL | Robin Sharma |
| 10. | THE 5 AM CLUB | Robin Sharma |
| 11. | WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU DIE? | Robin Sharma |
| 12. | A SPOONFUL OF CURDS | Bharati Jagannathan |
| 13. | THE SPACE BETWEEN US | Zoya Parizad |
| 14. | I MAYBE WRONG | Bjorn Natthiko Lindeblad |
| 15. | DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK | Joseph Nguyen |
| 16. | LOST EDGES | Shalini Vineeth |
| 17. | THE LIBERATION OF SITA | Volga |
| 18. | FLOWERS ON THE PATH | Sadhguru |
| 19. | BEYOND ORDER | Jordan B Peterson |
| 20. | HONOUR | Elif Shafak |
| 21. | GANBATTE | Albert Liberman |
| 22. | ALL MEN ARE WORSHIPPERS | Dinesh Prasad |
| 23. | THE WISDOM OF MORRIE | Morrie Schwartz |
| 24. | THE BLUE WOMEN | Anukriti Upadhyay |
| 25. | PRATIGYA (HINDI) | Premchand |
| 26. | BLIND WILLOW, SLEEPING WOMAN | Murakami |
| 27. | THE SEAT OF THE SOUL | Gary Zukav |
| 28. | INDEPENDENCE | Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni |
| 29. | THE MANY THAT I AM – Writings from Nagaland | ZUBAAN PUBLICATIONS |
| 30. | DISCIPLINE IS DESTINY | Ryan Holiday |
| 31. | STILLNESS IS KEY | Ryan Holiday |
| 32. | ON BALANCE | Leila Seth |
| 33. | THE YELLOW UMBRELLA | Ruskin Bond |
| ( S ) | ||
| 1. | THE GOPI DIARIES | Sudha Murthy |
| 2. | THE MAGIC OF THE LOST TEMPLE | Sudha Murthy |
| 3. | THE MAGIC OF THE LOST STORY | Sudha Murthy |
| 4. | MATILDA | Roald Dahl |
| 5. | ALICE IN WONDERLAND | Lewis Carol |
| 6. | THE BOY, THE MOLE, THE FOX AND THE HORSE | Charlie Mackesy |
| 7. | KNOWING TO BE GRATEFUL | QIAYI (INDIA) |
| 8. | A MASTER OF SELF CONTROL | QIAYI (INDIA) |
| 9. | DIARY OF A WIMPY KID – DOG DAYS | Jeff Kinney |
| 10. | DIARY OF A WIMPY KID- A NOVEL IN CARTOONS | Jeff Kinney |
| 11. | OWL DIARIES | Rebecca Elliot |
| 12. | EVA & THE NEW OWL | Rebecca Elliot |
| 13. | THE LITTLE PRINCE | Antoine De Saint |
| 14. | MURPHY HELPS OUT | Susan Hughes |
| 15. | DIARY OF A PUG | Kyla May 16 |
| 6. | MONSTER MAUD- SCHOOL SCARE | A. Saddlewick |
| 17. | MONSTER MAUD – BIG FRIGHT | A. Saddlewick |
| 18. | STRANGE STORIES FROM HISTORY | Scholastic |
| 19. | GREAT STORIES FOR CHILDREN | Ruskin Bond |
| 20. | THE BLUE UMBRELLA | Ruskin Bond |
| 21. | FANTASTIC BEASTS | J.K.Rowling |
| 22. | HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS | J.k. Rowling |
| 23. | HARRY POTTER & THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN | J.K.Rowling |
| 24. | ANIMAL STORIES | Compiled by Terry O Brian |
Why am I sharing this list with you? Why am I writing this blog?
For precisely three reasons.
- During the harsh winters of Nainital my parents would drop me off at my grandparent’s place, in Almora, for about 2 months. I now consider myself fortunate that I got to spend a considerable chunk of my childhood with them. My Grandfather had a deep connection with Books. On warm sunny days, he would sit and read in the Verandah. On icy cold days, he would snuggle in his quilt and read in bed. He carried a Reader’s Digest even to the washroom. This part of my childhood is etched forever in my memory.
Emilie Buchwald once stated ‘CHILDREN ARE MADE READERS IN THE LAP OF THEIR PARENTS.’ And it is really that simple. Until last year, I was reading to my children mostly before their bedtime. This year we have transitioned to sitting and reading next to each other. Sometimes S reads a fable to T before bedtime despite them being arch enemies during the daytime. I just watch and smile from a distance, remembering those cold months of December and January from my childhood when my grandfather would read till he fell asleep.
Dear parents, it is your job to ensure your children are introduced to books and reading.
- SHARED SENSE OF DISCIPLINE is necessary during your child’s growing up years. And it is an essential component of mindful parenting. You must be willing to give up maybe an hour every day to inculcate the habit of reading in children. During my last air travel, I overheard a parent telling his son see how she is reading so quietly! When will you read? pointing at my elder daughter. I don’t think he noticed that I was reading too. Sometimes I hear parents whining about the fact that their children are not interested in reading. Have you considered sitting with your children and giving it a few months before arriving at such a conclusion? If you have filled your weekends with watching Netflix or partying only, how do you expect them to explore the world of books alone? Because really, there is a whole magical yet confusing world out there.
Dear parents, it is your job to walk this path with them. Not leading. Just walking by their side.
- Finally, the most important reason why I regularly advocate the need for reading on social media is this – In a world where an alarming number of parents are trying to create Superstar Kids on social media with reels, a few readers are needed as well.
This world functions on balance and it truly needs more readers. Feel free to join.
P.S. – S has read close to 100 books this year. Maybe more. I haven’t included the ones that arrive every week from school or the school reading app as part of the curriculum. These 24 are extra. They are special because they were read out of free will.
I have lost the challenge. But did I really lose?
I feel it’s Christmas already!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
PICTURE CREDITS – PEXELS / COTTONBRO STUDIO