As the sun sizzles and we stay indoors for much of the day, enjoying a much deserved break from school and college, the novelty of this may soon wear off.
The common refrain of boredom sets in by the middle of the summer holidays and parents are often looking for ways to entertain their children, without it costing an arm and a leg.
This is even more true for young adults who have already gone through the phase of playing with friends and exhausted board games, if children are doing any of this anymore. More likely, they are in front of their screens most of the time.
This is where books come in. Research suggests that reading, not only increases one’s knowledge, but also improves concentration and focus, enlarges vocabulary, increases motivation and reduces stress.
There is no doubt that reading has nothing but benefits, yet the most common complaint is that reading as a hobby has reduced, particularly among young adults. Of course, we do know why. There are too many distractions in the form of online friends, digital games and bite sized entertainment through TikTok, Instagram and Facebook reels.
How can we make young adults spend a bit more time actually reading an extended text, something that is more than a tweet? How can we convince a generation that most often feels it doesn’t have time to read because it is too busy?
For a start, let’s stop blaming them.
Maybe they are not the problem. Maybe reading has not been perceived as being cool, trendy or fashionable. It’s not what friends are doing, so how would it look if one admitted actually reading a book?
But there is no better time than the summer holidays, with no distractions or excuses to introduce or encourage the reading habit and even make it cool.
Start with graphic novels. An upcoming new genre, graphic novels bridge the gap between word and picture, introducing a plot via visuals that young adults are accustomed to. There is a wide range to choose from — most of the classics have been adapted into graphic form and there is nothing like big pictures to make one enter the magical world of Jane Austen, Guy de Maupassant or Dostoevsky. If all that sounds too serious, try modern classics like ‘Animal Farm’, ‘1984’ or ‘The Secret Garden’.
Graphic novels have really come of age in the Middle East as well.
From ‘West Bank Stories’, ‘Footnotes in Gaza’ and ‘Baddawi’, authors have grappled the many faces of the Middle East with courage and humour. Culturally close to home, their stories resonate among the Arab readers looking for superheroes beyond those of the pop culture in western media.
Graphic novels hit that sweet spot between reading and seeing. They are the perfect strategy to gently introduce a young adult into the world of fiction. Most conveniently, graphic novels are often freely available online and many hours can be spent in the company of great literary friends.
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