Title: Listen to your Heart (The London Adventure)
Author: Ruskin Bond
Publisher: Puffin
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 78
Age: 9-12 years
I was sent home from school as I was feeling a bit under the weather. I crashed and slept for five hours straight. I woke up to find a parcel on my side table. It was a book – “Listen to your heart” by Ruskin Bond. This book arrived at the right time. I was glad to have some distraction and, I cozily settled to read this book. Not only was the writing style exquisite, but it was written by my favorite author, Ruskin Bond. The illustration done by Mihir Joglekar. The cover was attractive and elegant. I simply loved the cool shades of watercolor that made me feel relaxed and want to get indulged.
This book is like a journal of Mr. Bond, and the events that led to his most famous and award winning book, ‘The room on the Roof.’ This book is about how many hardships Mr. Bond had to go through in his life in order to become an author. How one thing led to another, and how he became the most celebrated author of all times. Ruskin Bond’s writing style has always fascinated me. It is extremely neat yet heavy, detailed yet simple. It speaks to you and transports you to a different realm.
When he was almost 17 years, Ruskin Bond embarked on a literary journey and arrived in Jersey to stay with his Aunt. Greeted by the uncertainties of a new city, he goes through loneliness, switches jobs, gets kicked out, befriends the ocean, and relentlessly chases his dream to become an author.
I am an aspiring writer, hoping to be published one day. I was able to relate to the memoirs at great length. On a personal level, this is truly inspiring. I cannot believe RUSKIN BOND’s work got rejected back then. But he kept trying with a positive attitude, taking in constructive feedback until he achieved what he aspired for.
I was glad to know that he emulated writers from Dickens to Conan Doyle, just like aspiring writers who emulate Ruskin Bond. Towards the end, I wondered why he even came back to India. Maybe if he had stayed there, he would have been much more famous. But this last paragraph puts a full stop to all unwarranted speculations. I was even ashamed to have thought that way.
I quote:
“I did the right thing! I followed my heart instead of my head. It is something I have done all my life. It may not have made for wealth. But it has certainly made for happiness.”
That is one life lesson.
This is a beautiful tale that will help you get a sneak peek into the mind of a renowned writer and keep you engaged just like any other book of his.
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