Diving Into the World of Fiction
As a child, I loved reading just a bit too much. Every Sunday, I’d lug home stacks of fiction novels after my weekly visit to the library (books that were recommended for kids several years above my current age at the time, if I might snarkily add). After that, I’d spent countless hours isolated in my room, binge-reading fiction novels in less-than-stellar postures and lighting that definitely had an adverse impact on both my spine and my eyesight. I wasn’t a ‘nerd’ by any means, nor was I reluctant to explore other hobbies; it was just that flipping pages and getting lost in magical worlds was just too enticing of an opportunity to pass up. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but it was fascinating how sheets of paper bound together by strings could be so alluring and addictive. Even though books come in similar shapes and sizes, there is just so much to explore in the sense that fiction holds such a vast diversity in its different genres.
A personal favorite genre of mine was fantasy, as its unpredictable nature meant that each cover held a different adventure behind it, and the library soon turned into a place that held tiny little portals into different dimensions. Something key to fantasy novels was their ability to get the reader to self-insert and immerse themselves in the world that the author had crafted. Brandon Sanderson’s The Rithmatist—a book about students that used chalk to summon mystical creatures—left me dreaming about engaging in my own chalk battles, while The Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley was a masterpiece that took a spin on fairy tale icons such as Goldilocks and Snow White and combined it with an all-star fantasy character lineup, accompanied by elements of mystery and action that made the story gripping and exciting.
Branching off of the fantasy genre, Science Fiction found its way into my heart via pop culture icons such as The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games, by James Dashner and Suzanne Collins respectively, which all had their own renditions of what the future may look like. Dystopian works seemed daunting to me at first, but the themes of rebellion, oppression, and classism that were often prevalent soon became apparent to me as I aged and matured. Perhaps this was the reason why books belonging to this genre were highly popularized, as they served as a way for authors to discuss societal issues with young adults, all while honing their creative craft.
An unforgettable piece of the fiction puzzle was horror; books like Stephen King’s It were gripping and chilled me to the core, and may have also instilled the uncanny sense of dread that I feel whenever I’m alone in the dark. Singaporean horror classics such as the Mr. Midnight series by Jim Aitchison were my guilty pleasure because although the stories were somewhat cringeworthy in hindsight, eleven-year-old me was scared to death by the ghosts and monsters described. It didn’t help that the stories (albeit) fictional were targeted to be relatable to preteens.
On the whole, reading constituted a key element of my childhood, and I’ve no doubt that its absence would have changed the person I’ve become today. If you’re someone who doesn’t have a knack for reading, I’d advise you to peer into the rabbit hole and give it a shot. Who knows? Maybe once you find a piece that resonates with you, and you’ll never get out.
