Dear Reader in General and Story Lover in Particular.
I’ve often wondered about my love for reading and great stories. Ever since I was a child and first picked up a book. I was captivated by the story on the page and fascinated by the drawings that brought them to life. The first book I remember reading as a child was Bimbo and Topsy by Enid Blyton. I probably read it a thousand times and never got bored. Even as I rediscover the magic of her stories with my girls, I’m delighted by and reminded of her ability to pull them into the story, just like I was when what now seems like a thousand years ago. I realize that part of this is nostalgia, but this isn’t about just Blyton and her stories. It’s about any author’s ability to pull you into the narrative and make you feel like you’re part of the adventure.
Now it’s a fact of life that some of us aren’t built for adventure, drama, or anything else we might be uncomfortable with, but having read great books that had one or all of these elements certainly helped me gain perspective.
As we identify with some characters and are unable to relate to others, we usually come to an understanding of our deeper nature and where we presently stand in the scheme of things.
For example, we’ve all experienced a little drama, excitement, joy, sorrow, romance, and fear in our lives, but few have probably experienced the kind of adventure you find in a good book or watch in a movie. I’m certainly not the adventurous type for sure but I certainly get a good kick out of an adventure story. I don’t imagine I’d be the hero in a real adventure if I got into one, but I certainly can identify with their challenges.
But what is it about the characters that we really identify with? It’s their very human nature. Love or hate, courage or fear, joy and sorrow, challenges and difficulties, and triumphs and defeats. Triumphs whether little or great inspire our hearts and give us new hope. Defeats drag us down. The little ones drag us down low and the fatal ones sometimes crush our hearts.
But that’s exactly why I think most of us love a good story. Their purpose is to warn us, that sure, there is danger, but they also remind us there is romance and mystery in life, and also heroes who have overcome, and so they inspire.
And this is what inspires me. To share great stories that we can resonate with, as well as some we can aspire to. The classics certainly inspire. Engaging, well-written, and fun, and set mostly in a time before ours, they help us see the experiences of those who have gone before us and make clear the timeless theme of universal human values and the human heart. A heart that is full of pain and suffering but also love, hope, and a thirst for adventure.
Come share in this timeless passion and adventure of the human heart. I invite you to download a Pereira Classic and Subscribe to our Newsletter to continue taking part in the fun, drama, romance, adventure, and excitement. There’s always more to discover.
Tyrone Pereira
Pereira Classics