Soon as my eyes caught this title in the bookshop; yes I immediately stopped and took this book from the bookshelves. I stopped as I thought there must be a reason why this book has been named like this and started going over the pages. And I was right in stopping simply to read the sentence in the book, “There is no substitute for reading”.
That’s right there isn’t any substitute for reading as Jeannette Winterson explains in her essay in the book, ”How can a book get me home? It reminds me where home is – by which I mean I am remapped by the book. My internal geography shifts, my values shift. I remember myself, my world, my body, who I am.”
Jeannette Winterson is one of the finest authors in this book along with Carmen Callil, Nicholas Carr, Tim Parks, Michael Rosen, Zadie Smith, Jane Davis, Dr. Maryanne Wolf & Dr. Mirit Barzillai, Mark Haddon and Blake Morrison. Each of them contributed to this book with their finest essays on the meaning of the book and their passion for book and all the authors are from many diverse and varied disciplines.
It is wonderful to go through the writings of each of these authors and their experience in reading. It is joyful and a pleasure to read how literature can save lives and adds more meaning to it.
It is not necessary for one to be from a family of bookworms as soon the reader has this book in his/her hand the pleasure of reading will cocoon them in warmth. With the power of reading the reader can explore the inner path of his/her own ‘home’ and create their own experience which can inspire and encourage them to look at the world in a unique way.
Right now, ‘Stop What You’re Doing And Read This’ book edited by Frances Macmillan and you will see as Dr. Maryanne Wolf & Dr. Mirit Barzillai stated in their essay, “ Reading transform the human brain, which transforms the mind which transforms the life of every reader.”
Copyright Semra Eren Nijhar – All rights reserved
Semra Eren-Nijhar 
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