Not a Masterpiece, Still Meaningful
Written by:[Mishthi, Journalism 3rd year]
“Not every book needs to be a masterpiece to leave a masterpiece of a memory.”
A book can be badly written and still change your life, and I don't think we talk about that enough.
We've become so obsessed with literary merit, perfect prose, and whether a book deserves its popularity that we've forgotten what reading can mean to someone on a personal level.
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover have both faced criticism, yet countless readers have found comfort, understanding, and pieces of themselves within their pages. And honestly, why should that matter any less just because the writing isn't everyone's cup of tea?
A book doesn't have to be critically acclaimed to leave a lasting impression. Sometimes, a character gives you the words for a feeling you've never been able to explain. Sometimes, a story finds you at your lowest and makes the world feel a little less lonely. You might outgrow it, cringe at its flaws years later, or realise it wasn't as brilliantly written as you once believed, but that doesn't erase what it meant to you then.
We need to stop confusing literary excellence with emotional impact. They're not the same thing, and one doesn't invalidate the other. You can acknowledge a book's flaws without dismissing the people it has touched. This applies to every book, regardless of its reputation.
Because, at the end of the day, a book's worth cannot always be measured by its prose, its ratings, or a critic's opinion. Sometimes, its greatest achievement is what it leaves behind in a reader.
Not every book that changes your life is a masterpiece. Sometimes, it's simply a story that found you when you needed it most, and I think that's worth something, too.
“Perhaps a book's greatest achievement isn't being remembered as brilliant, but being remembered as the book that helped you feel understood.”
Edited by:[Akshita, English honours 1st year]
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