When There Was Time for Novels

Chennai: Geoffrey Archer’s death this week triggered a rush of thoughts in this columnist, who had enjoyed reading his novels, including Kane and Abel, The Prodigal Daughter and Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, several decades ago. She not only read but also analysed novels written by renowned British, American and Indian authors during her undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Both during her college days and her brief teaching career in schools and colleges, this columnist looked forward to every Saturday afternoon, when she could lie on her bed and read novels borrowed from the library. She always preferred fiction and drama to poetry and prose.

Fiction is a vital form of storytelling that uses imaginary characters, settings and plots to not only reflect human experiences and teach lessons but also explore complex social truths. Living through a character’s choices, heartbreaks and moral dilemmas in the novel helps readers to build better social skills and emotional insight. Reading novels also helps one understand other people’s feelings, motives and perspectives, besides developing critical thinking. This columnist felt novels helped her step away from daily stress and enter a different world, time period or reality. They left a lasting impression on her.

Romance, mystery, science fiction, fantasy and thriller are among the various kinds of fiction that deal with friendship, love, courage, survival and belonging. Having enjoyed reading umpteen novels in both English and Tamil, this columnist, who finds little time for novels now, yearns for those good old days, knowing that they can never be relived. Today, she finds time only to glance at her bookshelf, where all her favourite novels seem to smile back at her.