The Books I Carry Within Me: Timeless Reads, Lasting Lessons

Certain books become turning points in the journey of our lives as they shape a reader's world. Some books and characters mirror our lives, our beliefs, and philosophies, while others make us question everything we stand for. There are stories that leave an indelible mark on our lives for their intensity; many reflect on our messy realities, and some others shape our perspectives. Whatever the reason, one is not able to get over them, as they leave an emotional imprint and shift a view point or simply raise questions that keep gnawing at our souls or provoke an inner dialogue or reflection.

While the treasure of books is unlimited—an endless fountain—three books that I carry within me are Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Mill on The Floss by George Eliot, and 1984 by George Orwell.

Amazingly none of these is a recent read, these are stories that I read decades ago and have noticed the themes/ideas being actualised in lived experiences around me over the years.

Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies annihilated my long-held belief that a young life is the farthest from savagery, cruelty, and anarchy. The children in the novel could be representatives of pure and uncorrupted souls. In fact they can be a symbol of the potential goodness of humanity. Written in 1953, the characters and themes of this paradigm shifting masterpiece can be so relatable in modern times.

Every time I encounter the loudest and most aggressive voices in family groups, and the quiet ones who want to escape toxicity or do so out of FOMO, I am reminded of the group dynamics displayed by the young characters in this novel. Today’s ruthless online anonymity was, so long ago, brought out by William Golding in the painted faces of boys that acted as a façade for their brutality. This book drives home the point that there is no age for falling prey to anarchy and chaos, and discipline and rules are therefore the cornerstone for a value-based socialization.

1984

One of the most prophetic stories ever written, 1984 by George Orwell, penned in 1949, captured the future perfectly. Totalitarianism that was feared in the times of Hitler and Stalin has become a norm in present political conduct though in a subtle form. Technology in modern times is the ‘Big Brother’ of 1984. The omnipresent and all-seeing ‘Big Brother’ has been replaced by modern surveillance tools used extensively by governments all over the world.

The chilling impact of dystopian control and propaganda makes one question power, manipulation, and freedom in society. The naive citizens can never gauge the reach of these astonishing technologies. Governments can monitor anyone’s calls, use voice recognition to scan mobile networks, read emails and text messages, censor web pages, control social media, track any citizen’s movements using GPS, and listen in on even encrypted platforms.

When one sees a chilling cautionary tale told decades ago become a reality, one cannot help but wonder at the haunting imagination, political insight, and articulation of the author.

The Mill on the Floss

The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot published first in 1860 presents a social critique of those times. One would think that the issues highlighted in the story would have been resolved as the society has evolved over more than a century but they continue to plague us even today.

Be it the narrow mindedness of society, the harsh judgmental mindset towards women, the constant battles between self and society, the pressure of societal expectations, the rejection of rebelliousness, sibling rivalry, the list of these archetypal issues is endless.

Maggie and Tom are not confined to the pages of this masterpiece, they are lurking in every girl and boy, shaping their beliefs, aspirations and choices even today. The timeless classic relationship displayed in the novel highlights enduring truths about complicated sibling ties and their craving for recognition in family and unity in times of crisis.

Conclusion

These three stories carry eternal truths about our social, cultural and political spheres and equip readers to face those realities, decades after they were written. So, the anchoring and refinement required for harmony in life is brought about by good reading experiences. These all-time classics guide us through changing times and remind us that our joys, losses, conflicts and struggles are all a part of a longer, shared human journey.