Soaring high

by RISHI AMATYA

FROM ISSUE # 129 (September 2006) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Achievers are different. They risk everything to chase their dreams. With their strong will and perseverance, they attain their goals despite hardships. Jonathan, the protagonist of our WAVE Book Club selection, is all this and more.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the story of an extraordinary seagull. He's adventureous and wants to conquer the skies, flying in a way that no seagull has flown before. Gulls don't normally do fancy manoeuvres, high-speed swoops or dives, but Jonathan strives to test his limits.  

So, as other gulls fly in everyday ways for everyday reasons, Jonathan focuses on honing his flying skills and perfecting next-to-impossible acrobatic moves. Soon enough, he is an outcaste among his own kind—his flying is against gull custom, but he cannot give it up. Undeterred, Jonathan embraces his destiny.

The book follows Jonathan's journey from an outcaste to an achiever, and then a mentor to other birds that share his passion as he reclaims his life and purpose against all odds.      

Richard Bach's simple prose is captivating and readers find themselves rooting for Jonathan. Though the book is about achievement, it takes a level-headed approach. Success does come, but not on easily. This realistic assessment of what it takes to achieve—and what you sometimes sacrifice—is the book's best feature. Though often shelved with pointless self-help books, this is so much more.

If you're interested in following your dreams and making your own rules, grab this book. It's been an inspiration for decades. In these difficult times, we all need to make the most of our lives, even if our aims sometimes run contrary to the norms of our flock, tribe, or neighbourhood. Through Jonathan's story Richard Bach shows us that, in following our dreams, we too can soar.

What WAVE Book Club members had to say
 
Aditi Adhikari: Jonathan Livingston Seagull is hard to grasp in the beginning. But later into the book, you can easily relate to Jonathan. If the book has a major drawback, it is the use of flat characters.

Saloni Sethia: This is a simple book with a simple story. The language used is also straightforward and captivating. It encourages us to never lose hope in the face of the adversity.

Samrachana Adhikari: This is one book that implants in us the desire and courage to venture beyond the rules and limits set by society, to be free and go higher where others fear to go. It's about dreams, aspirations and the commitment to follow them through. This slim book carries a lot of substance , and the lucid narration and easy language make it more interesting.

Notice
The next WAVE Book Club meeting will take place on 16 September, 2PM at the British Council to discuss Boy 2 Girl by Terence Blacker.