A book in your hand...

The days are rushing towards the New Year, yet it seems a long way as we continue to look for answers to problems around the world.

While the big picture is the world, at the micro level is our mind and our thoughts. We might be far away from the location but every video or an image from the conflict zone stirs emotions and a friend while showing a video of two children being pulled through the rubble, sighed and said, “I don’t think I can handle this anymore.”

Would we see a conclusion to this before we open a new chapter with the new year?

A percentage of world population is also getting ready to send out season’s greetings and that is when a friend send this wonderful note.

Anne Bouji has always been in the world of books and it was the most appropriate message she had sent, “In Iceland, books are exchanged as Christmas eve presents, then you spend rest of the evening reading the book and eating chocolates. The tradition is part of the season called Jolabokaflod, or ‘The Christmas Book Flood’ because Iceland is the nation that publishes more books per capita than any other country, sells most of its books between September and November due to people preparing for the holiday.”

Intriguing culture don’t you think so?

Wanted to know more and went on to search for information and so it happens that it is actually a war that brought about this tradition.

According to jolabokaflod.org, the tradition began during World War II as during this period ration was ongoing and paper was one of the commodities that was not rationed in Iceland. Books made perfect gift in comparison to other commodities that were in short supply.

A necessity can become a habit and soon a custom and then a tradition. And now Iceland is a nation that celebrates with books. And so now everyone must be looking for the right book gift. The interesting facts about Icelanders and books are many as the Guinness World Records note that the island nation has a population of just a little over 300,000 but the country has more writers per head of population than any other country. The Guinness World Records stated that in their life time one in 10 Icelanders will publish a book. They go on to explain that Iceland’s ancient tradition of sagas and tall tales might have a thing or two to do with the special interest in writing that went along with the long winter nights. Apparently the sagas were written down from 13th Century onwards.

Another fascinating development is the involvement of technology in this tradition because it has been observed that the public benches of Iceland have barcodes so one can scan it and listen to it on one’s smart phone. Now you know which place could be the biggest market for books - the land were story telling is still enjoyed.

But what about children and adults in other parts of the world who are in refugee camps?

Would they find comfort in books? Can books reach them? And would you write a book?

When in pain, one of the best ways to remain calm is get distracted. And writing and reading could be perfect means to attain that. A book can be a best friend. When people are left bewildered with the happening around the world which are not desirable, we can think of solutions. Would a starving child likes to study? Would an insecure child trusts anything or has a mind to read?

When they see people around them bleeding would they ever have the capacity even to read a line?

But we can hope for better days, and with time the words can heal them.

But what about the writers who have been caught in the conflict zones of the world. Their narratives are important. Their days, their thoughts, expressions are all crucial for continuity for the children who would look for an anchor. Would these writers ever find publishers?

For now, there in Iceland, they say gift a book you cherish and hope you receive the book you desire. And on December 24 everyone would have a book to read.