I'm not really a reader but I like reading...depends on the topic. Way back in college, I found resilience in reading novels apart from the usual Nursing and Medical books that I really need to read. I have read numerous books from different authors and on different sizes. But the best book I consider is the thinnest book I read - The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery.
Some people think that The Little Prince is children's book because of its physical appearance but if you read it, it is actually a book for adults. The little prince is a think book and it has different colors and cute drawings. The drawing is based from the story, which superficially is a fiction - stars, universe, planets, clouds, etc.
The good thing about this book is that it is subject to different interpretations. When a child reads it, he will be entertained as his the books will fly him to many places and will tickle his imagination. If a shallow-minded adult will read it, he will easily understand the superficial story. I tried reading it in a shallow-minded way but I thought it's a non-sense story, so I read it again and used a deep-minded way of reading. For those serious readers, The Little Prince is not about the little prince and the people he met, but the society and the people governing the society. It is about how small people encounter "big" people (like those who are seated on government positions) and experience different treatment from them.
The book is a hyperbolic reflection of the unfair world we live, a reflection of the kind of people we live with, and the struggle our society experiences. It can also be related to our personal journey, the people we meet and about getting the the place where we aim to be.
Of course the little prince died in the end (not really, but something like that..LOL), and I cried while reading the book. Truly, the story, either superficially or deeply, touched me.
The author is such a genius for making the story so short, so comprehensive, entertaining (with our imagination), yet contains very heavy issues, and having people easily relate to it. He made the book The Little Prince a book for all ages and for all minds.
Here are some of my favorite The Little Prince quotes:
"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them"
“I know a planet where there is a certain red-faced gentleman. He had never smelled a flower. He has never looked at a star. He has never loved any one. He has never done anything in his life but add up figures.”
“Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies. It seems that they are very beautiful.”
“To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world…”
“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…”
So, what do you think is the best book you read? Feel free to express your ideas...
Some people think that The Little Prince is children's book because of its physical appearance but if you read it, it is actually a book for adults. The little prince is a think book and it has different colors and cute drawings. The drawing is based from the story, which superficially is a fiction - stars, universe, planets, clouds, etc.The good thing about this book is that it is subject to different interpretations. When a child reads it, he will be entertained as his the books will fly him to many places and will tickle his imagination. If a shallow-minded adult will read it, he will easily understand the superficial story. I tried reading it in a shallow-minded way but I thought it's a non-sense story, so I read it again and used a deep-minded way of reading. For those serious readers, The Little Prince is not about the little prince and the people he met, but the society and the people governing the society. It is about how small people encounter "big" people (like those who are seated on government positions) and experience different treatment from them.
The author is such a genius for making the story so short, so comprehensive, entertaining (with our imagination), yet contains very heavy issues, and having people easily relate to it. He made the book The Little Prince a book for all ages and for all minds.
Here are some of my favorite The Little Prince quotes:"Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them"
“I know a planet where there is a certain red-faced gentleman. He had never smelled a flower. He has never looked at a star. He has never loved any one. He has never done anything in his life but add up figures.”
“Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies. It seems that they are very beautiful.”
“What makes the desert beautiful,” said the little prince, “is that somewhere it hides a well…”
So, what do you think is the best book you read? Feel free to express your ideas...
Completely agree with you, I've read this book in different moments of my life and I always see something different about it, something more deep.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote is this: '"I am looking for friends. What does that mean--'tame'?"
"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. It means to establish ties."
"'To establish ties'?"
"Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred
thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I
am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need
each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world . . ."