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Reading is understanding how to live
Born in Tansen, Rajesh Hamal, an actor by profession, is not unheard of in the country.How did you first come to love books?
I started falling into love with the art of reading since I started attending primary school. I give a lot of credit to my father for this; he always insisted that I read
something or the other every day. I was also very fortunate because my school had a vast resource of books, so I could read these books for hours on end every day, an activity I soon came to love.
What was the last book you read and how did you like it?
I just finished reading a book called Dear Life, a short story anthology, by Alice Munro. It showed me how life can be unpredictable and strange but looking at it from a different point of view often helps. When you do so, everything that is complicated in the world can suddenly become extraordinarily simple. It helped me understand that you can live your life in many different ways.
Which book do you want to read next and why?
I have always admired and noted the work and teachings of the late APJ Abdul Kalam. Following his demise recently, I would like to read Target 3 Billion, a work of his that discusses prevalent social issues of rural India, as an homage.
What is your favourite genre and why?
Biographies. I love reading biographies because I enjoy delving into the life of another person and learning about them. Life is too short to face all the things in the world. Be it of a person well known or not, biographies teach us important life lessons through the difficult experiences of other people. They tell me how much people persevere for triumph—and triumph comes in many forms. Biographies have always encouraged and motivated me.
How do you select books to read?
I don’t really have a mechanism in place for selecting books. Usually, I select them by word of mouth or a quick read through blurbs on their back covers. However, there are times I buy books that have received critical acclaim.
Name a book that you would or would not recommend, and why?
Hmm, let’s see. There’s a book I once read called If Life is a Game, These are the Rules by Dr Chérie Carter-Scott. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn about life. Carter-Scott is an excellent author and, in this book, she presents a list of ten rules for being a human. This book has given be much insight into living.
Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? Why?
I prefer non-fiction to fiction, mostly because you can relate non-fiction directly to life.
What is good writing for you? What would you say makes a good writer?
Good writing for me is when an author presents thoughts clearly in his or her own distinct style.
One book that inspired you a lot and why?
It’s hard to name one specific book that has inspired me, although, I have reread Carter-Scott’s If Life is a Game, These are the Rules several times because I feel it reflects on the fundamental principles of living.
Your advice for general readers?
For those who love reading as much as I do, never give up this habit. Keep reading and I’m sure you will never grow tired of it. And if you don’t read too much, it’s never too late to start.
Have you contemplated writing yourself?
At the moment, I haven’t given much thought to it, but maybe I will write an autobiography someday.