Joad - Where it all started - Part 1

The power of words has always astonished me.

The first book length reading I did, a small novella, filled me with dread. It was a school assignment in my 7th grade English class. This happened to be an international school in South Africa, where my father was posted for a government deputation. Coming from a typical Indian school, where English stories barely reached beyond a few pages, this was a daunting challenge. I picked it up reluctantly and never finished it. I remember my father helping me with the assignment questions since I had no clue what the story was.

My first true epic read

Just two years later, in the same school, we were assigned "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexander Dumas. This classic, as many know, is rather large and was altogether much more complex than the tiny novella I had to read earlier and whose name escapes me now. However, by this time, I was completely taken by the written word and the explosions of imagination it ignited. I loved every word and finished the book well before the deadline set by the teacher.

While the tiny novella and "The Count of Monte Cristo" bookended a small phase of my reading journey, it ,nevertheless, was perhaps the most critical. It showed me that even the most reluctant of students can learn to first not fear reading, then appreciate it and often, grow to love it.

Another important aspect of this phase was the introduction of various literary genres by the teachers to the students. While it seemed forced then, this push given to students allowed us to experience different types, styles, and contexts of stories. It told us that reading something new can only add to the joys of reading.

Many years later after school, now that I am a father, I was introduced to a new genre. This was the illustrated children's book. While it can be often passed off as trivial to the casual observer, it holds a careful structure underneath the burst of colors and shapes and alphabets. I found engaging stories, fantastical illustrations and morals being transmitted to children as if by magic just through these books.

With my inspiration

As bedtime reading became a ritual with my daughter, so did it become a habit for me to look for tiny details. An emphasis on a word here, a cameo of a character from another book over there. These books were full of surprises. The biggest surprise was how well they held my daughter's attention.

So it was that as I saw my daughter growing up, I thought about what could be the best way to preserve the memory of this wonderful time together. After all, she is not going to remain a 5 year old forever.

When the thought finally occurred to me, it felt just perfect. Becoming an author was a long cherished dream and if it could be done while bottling this amazing time with my daughter as well, it was a grand omen indeed.

Now it was time to think of the story.

...But that is for the next time.