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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Yousra Samir Imran.

Good morning.

One of the reasons I so badly wanted to become an author, was because of the power of the novel, to provide me with solace and respite. I wanted to be able to give that back to other readers. In a world which often feels like it’s on fire, the novel has the remarkable ability to create escape routes into imaginary worlds, and provide relief from the worries of everyday life and world events.

Now, more than ever, do I believe that the novel has a vital place in our world – and we can never have enough of them.

Whether I am jumping into Tolkien’s world of hobbits, wizards and elves, or taking a trip down memory lane with a Zadie Smith novel, set-in North-West London, reading a novel, whether fantasy or based on reality, allows me to switch off from my anxieties, and instead engage with other cultures, worlds and made-up characters. I am privy to other people’s conversations and dilemmas, without it adding to my own real-world stress load.

I often come away from finishing an excellent novel, having discovered something entirely new about myself, other humans or the world, without the existential crisis that follows real-life crises.

I would go as far as to argue that reading fiction is as good as meditating.

I hope many more people discover the great mental health benefits that there are, with reading novels. And in a world where there are so many brilliant writers struggling to get published, I pray God paves the path to success for them.

Ameen.

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