How did you first come to love books?

People say that one should never judge a book by its cover, but in my case, I came to love books through the cover of one. I was eight when I bought my first book. I had no idea what the books was about, but its jacket was very colourful and attractive. Fortunately, the book turned out to be very interesting and I’ve been reading ever since.

What was the last book you read and how did you like it?

The last book that I read was “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy. Honestly speaking, I am weak-kneed with admiration for this book.

What are you reading right now and how is it going?

Currently, I am reading “Sputnik Sweetheart” by Haruki Murakami, who is one of my favorite writers. While I haven’t completed the book yet, it has already made me love the writer even more.

What is your favourite genre and why?

My favourite genre is fantasy, purely because it’s an escape from reality. I prefer ones in which the characters are normal like us, but go on to face situations that are very different and other-worldly. I can connect to them, but at the same time the story is an escape from the boring details of reality.

How do you select books to read?

It’s usually the title and the cover that attracts me to a book. Then it’s about reading the blurb and then a few paragraphs from the beginning of the book. I flip through the pages to see what strikes my fancy.

Name a book that you would recommend and why?

“A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini is superbly written, has a page-turning story, and will help you learn more about Afghanistan.  The writer has created a heartbreaking masterpiece that connects readers with life in Afghanistan over the past several decades, and highlights the common hopes, dreams and struggles that make us human.

What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?

In my opinion, good writing is supposed to make you relate to what the characters are going through in the book.  And a good writer is someone who can describe the rain in a way that the reader can actually feel like she or he is being drenched.

How has reading affected your life?

Reading has helped me through every crisis in my life because there is no better way of getting out of this world than through the pages of a good book. And I don’t think I would have become the person I am today without the books that I’ve read.

What are your favorite reading hours?

I read books whenever I can, but my favorite hours would have to be at night. I am an insomniac, so reading books at night suits me best.

One book that inspired you a lot and why?

“To kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. When I read this book, I was a reader looking for an escape, but what I found was much more. I found reality: right and wrong, justice and injustice, courage and cowardice. I laughed, I cried and I fell in love. It certainly changed my outlook on life, and I was inspired.