Agal’s Parallel Universe Called Books

I am a firm believer that I can create the life I want—one filled with happiness, peace, abundance, opportunities, growth and gratitude. However, I also added something even more special to my life in a very young age: books. Books play a major role in my life ever since I was a child. I still vividly remember the day my father gifted me a beautiful set of princess books when I was five. The image of the long pink box, containing four enchanting stories —”Cinderella”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Snow white” And the “Little Mermaid”—remains fresh in my memory. The curiosity and excitement I got back then, still return every time I smell the scent of new books. I was drawn not only by the bright colours and beautiful illustrations, but also to the characters, the stories, and the creative fantasy. It felt like discovering a whole different world.

Later, when I was in third grade, I remember getting my hands on Harry Potter books. The story about a young lad being mistreated by his aunt and her family only to discover that he is a wizard with great magical powers—and then being welcomed into whole new world of sorcerers and secrets? I mean, who wouldn’t love that? In fact, I was secretly waiting for an owl to show up at my window with a letter from Hogwarts. That magical feeling slowly started to fade once school began drowning me in assignments. However, I still read short stories whenever I had time. English quickly became my favourite subject in school, as it introduced me to more stories and literature. Stories like “The Last Leaf” made me understand the power of will, and beauty of art, whereas, classics like, Julius Caesar revealed the complexities of human nature. I remember being fascinated by Mark Antony’s speech after Julius Caesar’s death—how he skillfully spun the narrative and turned the crowd against Brutus. The world of books was always welcoming towards me. 

And of course, like many, I did not read much in college. But after 2020, I found my way back to books. But this time I found myself drawn to gripping fiction which kept me at the edge of my seat. Into The Water by Paula Hawkins, was my first time to being introduced to complex, flawed yet beautifully written characters—and I totally loved it. I still remember how hard it was to put the book down; I read it until 3 a.m. This book sparked my interests in thrillers leading me to explore more titles like, The Girl on the train, and Slow Burning Fire and many others. I was especially captivated by stories with strong female protagonists and tightly woven plots. Even though I was deeply into chilling stories, I also fancied the charm of witty, romantic classics like Pride and Prejudice and the introspective depth of philosophical books like The Alchemist. So, it’s safe to say my love for books had reignited. 

Lately, I find myself leaning more toward self-help books. Titles like, The power of your subconscious mind and Atomic Habits have been incredibly impactful. They’ve sharpened my perception, helped me challenge outdated beliefs, and guided me toward a mindset of growth and abundance. Even though my day often begins with reading the contributions of Carl Rogers and Alfred Adler in the field of Psychology, I still make time for critical thinking and science. It feeds my both my creativity and curiosity—and there’s nothing more satisfying than getting the answers right. 

Sometimes, books are a wave of fascination; sometimes they’re an escape from reality. At times they’re the reason for my noise-cancelling chuckles and other times they’re the source of my rich, evolving mindset. Books have meant so much to me in so many ways. And all I want to say is this:  if you make a little space in your life for books, you might never regret it. I’ve been transported to different eras, made friends with unforgettable characters, let my imagination wander freely, and often found rest in comforting shade of brilliant storytelling. You can experience it too—if you’re willing to give books a chance.