Okay, so. I’ve been doing quite a bit of
reading lately, partly for class and partly for fun, so I guess this is me
rambling about stuffs. (For someone who reads a lot, I sure am not eloquent.)
Honestly, I started reading English novels for
the aesthetic of being that nerdy kid. Probably got into poetry for that same
reason. Stupid, I know, but at least I’m committed to it. For me, the most fun
thing about reading is how much I can engross myself in the story, befriend the
characters and sort of join them in their adventures. It’s an escape to another
world.
An interesting thing I’ve learned about in
class is milieu, or the social environment. It consists of two things; the
historical setting and the geographical setting which dictates the social,
political, economical and cultural context of the story. Malaysia in 2019 is
different from Malaysia in 1950, the same way Malaysia in 2019 is different
from the United States in 2019. These settings are vital to carry a narrative specific
to its milieu, so that the issues being depicted in the story will have a greater
impact because they simply make sense. And a good writer will be able to do
justice to the milieu.
My point is reading books allows me to
travel through time and space. Yes, it’s a cliché but it isn't any less than true. I
didn’t really read stories from other milieu that is not in the 21st
century, set in UK or US until recent years. Ignorant, I know. I think
the first one that I read that was a bit different was Born A Crime by
Trevor Noah. It’s one of my favourite books until today.
Born A Crime is a memoir written by Trevor, recalling the stories of him growing
up as a mixed child in South Africa during the apartheid. Apartheid was only a
word I learned in History, but reading his story taught me the severity of
segregation and discrimination. It really shines a light for me as someone who
was not aware of the deeply rooted history of racism and how it works, the different
tribes in South Africa and their culture and society. The most heart-felt thing
about his stories is the love he has for his mother and how it pours out
through every single page of the book. They’re the ultimate duo. At the same
time, the book is packed with humour. I couldn’t help but laugh and cry reading it. I think Trevor, staying true to his comedic self, conveys the story
in a very light-hearted manner and I don’t know if anyone else would agree but
it made the stories felt more ‘human’ and raw and it really pulls at your
heart-strings.
The last two books that I read were The
Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck and Empress Orchid by Anchee Min. Both stories
are set in China late 19th and early 20th centuries (honestly,
I could be wrong. I don’t remember the years well). Although, each carries a
very different narrative as one story focuses on a poor farmer who builds his wealth
through his land and how his attitude changes as he becomes wealthy, and the
other story focuses on a woman who finds herself married to the Emperor and the
conflicts that come with the marriage including court issues. Honestly, the
most interesting thing I took from both books is how vastly different the
cultures are. But they are also presented through the characters and the plot
so they all make sense.
Okay, hear me out.
If I saw something like an Instagram video of
a different culture or custom, that I have not been pre-exposed to, being
practised somewhere, I would feel weirded out. I would go “Huh, that is weird.”
And that is because the shock-value is high as it is ‘detached’ from its source.
I don’t see the piece fitting in this puzzle of the very limited knowledge that
I have, so it doesn’t make sense to me.
But, if I read a story, the characters
bring the culture and custom to life and they serve the plot well, then they
all make sense to me. I understand the characters, I understand the story and
then I understand the culture.
Another thing that I love about reading is
the time it takes to finish a book. Basically the longer I take to finish, the
longer I engulf myself in it and all of those shifts and turns of emotions are
all connected. It allows me to focus on one thing only and explore all of its
dimensions, something that social media don’t offer.
Look, I’m not here to shit on social media,
I use them a lot myself but I see how different I react to things on Instagram
than I do when I read a book or watch movies and TV series.
- On Instagram, I hop from one content to
another in matter of seconds and my emotions often shift in matter of seconds
too. For example, I could be watching a video reporting the ChristChurch shooting
and I would sympathize over the victims, and then I move on to the next content.
I see a meme, I laugh, and then I move on. It sometimes feels like I am unable
to completely fathom an emotion and I get so desensitized of the news because
of how fast I am able to move on from that.
But when I spend more time on something,
reading, watching a movie, binge-watching TV series, I would feel more
connected to the characters and stories and I can actually feel what I
am supposed to feel and I am not forced to move on from that emotion because of
how the story flows. It humanizes me, in a way.
Oh, here are some honourable mentions. One
Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern, this book speaks of how everyone has a
story worth-telling, no matter how insignificant they may be to the public eye.
Any books from Mitch Albom, honestly. His books romanticize life in the way
that it should be and they make me fall in love with life and being alive and
we all need that from time to time.
Anyways, I’ve rambled on for far too long. Quote
of the day: Read a book!
-Nik.
Nik Fateen. An introvert trying to find home in a foreign space.