Books mean different things to different people. For some students, books are a source of knowledge and imagination, while for others, they are only enjoyable under certain conditions. Through a series of interviews, students shared their honest opinions about books, their interests, favorite genres, and the stories that have stayed with them the most. Today I asked different people the same questions on which they gave their honest opinions. The questions asked were:
- What do you think about books?
- Do you find interest in books?
- What is your favorite book genre?
- What is your favorite book and why?
Most students agree that books can be used for a variety of purposes especially for finding information.
“Books have a variety of purposes and upon the basis of that, we can determine what we do with them. They are a source of everlasting information because once written, they’re almost like set in stone. They are also a source of expression which makes them interesting,” Fateha Masroor said.
Kashvi Shukla wrote her opinion.
“I think that books are great. They provide a lot of information and they are also fun to read,” Shukla said.
Some, though, were not so optimistic. Estela Balliu replied as well.
“I think that books are not what I like and think that they are very boring,” Balliu said.
The second question was the same with many replying yes while some saying no. Anum Khan said she liked them because “they are amazing and entertaining” while others thought differently. Emily Chesseri told her opinion.
“Not really, I really don’t like reading overall,” Chesseri said.
When students were asked about their favorite book genres, a wide range of answers showed how personal reading preferences can be. Mystery and fiction were among the most popular choices, with Harshitha Masimuthu saying she liked mystery books and Upneet Cherra explaining how she liked fiction because “It is interesting to read.”
Romance was also a common genre, especially among students who enjoy emotional connections in stories. Estela Balliu shared her opinion.
“My favorite genre is romance because I don’t have romance in my life and it makes me feel like I’m a part of the book,” Balliu said.
Similarly, Aleeza Khan mentioned her interest in realistic fiction because it allows her to think about real-life situations through stories. Other genres such as horror, adventure, drama, and thrillers were also mentioned, showing that students are drawn to books that match their personalities and interests.
The final question asked students about their favorite book and why it stood out to them. Some students named The Outsiders as their favorite, including Haala and Fateha Masroor, who both appreciated its writing style and the way it portrayed relationships and society.
“By far, my favorite book is still The Outsiders; it was just a fantastic writing of society’s influence with a mix of human nature. It also faced realities of the time while also revealing a worldly truth that you only understand when you read it. The plot was amazing and the writing too. Unmatched book. 5 out of 5,” Fateha Masroor said.
Haala answered accordingly.
“The Outsiders was my favorite book, because of the way it was written, as well as the relationships between the characters. I think that the portrayal of the strong relationships was really important, which made it my favorite book,” Haala Masroor replied.
Other students shared favorites that inspired or entertained them. Harshitha chose The Running Dream because it was “very inspirational,” while Gurseerat Kaur selected Guts because it was funny and held many memories. Kashvi chose Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for its creativity and unique plot because it is very “creative” and “well thought out.” Some students preferred books with strong visuals or adventure, such as Emily, who liked James and the Giant Peach because it was “very adventurous and the illustrations are good.”
Overall, the interviews show that students feel very differently about books. Some students really enjoy reading and love getting lost in stories, while others only like books if they are interesting to them. Everyone has different favorite genres and books, which shows that there is a book out there for everyone. These answers prove that books can mean different things to different people, and that reading can be fun when you find the right book.
