Author Purva Grover doesn’t believe in reading for numbers—but in reading for meaning.
In 2025, she read 52 books, not as a challenge, but as a natural extension of a life shaped by words, curiosity, and quiet reflection. In this EXCLUSIVE conversation, Purva speaks candidly about “book forgetfulness,” the invisible pressures of modern life, and why there is no universal formula for handling stress, success, or self-growth—especially in the age of constant social media noise.
She reflects on how reading has helped her stay calm, focused, and creatively alive; why lists, trends, and bestseller charts shouldn’t dictate our reading lives; and how stories—whether on paper, audio, or screen—continue to shape how we think and feel. From the fading habit of storytelling in homes to the impact of short-form content on attention spans, Purva offers thoughtful perspectives on balance, depth, and intentional living.
A seasoned writer and reader, she also shares how books influence her craft, her travels, and her emotional world—while offering a glimpse into what’s next: her first novel, expected in 2026. Thoughtful, honest, and deeply human, this interview is a reminder that reading, much like life, is most powerful when done on one’s own terms.
Emirates Reporter Presents an Exclusive Interview with Purva Grover.
E.R- You’ve read 52 books in a year and talk about “book forgetfulness.” Please discuss the pressures people feel in life and how to handle them effectively.
PURVA- We all experience pressure differently—just as we respond to pain, love, success, and disappointment in our own ways. There is no single correct answer to handling pressure well. In the age of social media, especially in 2026, we are surrounded by constant, overlapping pressures. Some can motivate us; others can weigh us down. We feel the need to look a certain way, follow specific habits, eat the “right” foods, grow up too fast, slow down intentionally, achieve more, rest more—the list never ends.
The only real solution is to handle pressure in your way. The same applies to reading. Don’t fall into the trap of lists like “100 books to read before you die” or feel obliged to chase bestseller charts. Read what you enjoy. Read what you understand. Read what speaks to you. And simply enjoy being with words—whether that’s through a physical book, an audiobook, or an e-book.
My “book forgetfulness” is really about losing track of when I read something, much like we forget when we watched a particular series on an OTT platform. Consume books in a way that works for you. Your reading life doesn’t have to match anyone else’s!
E.R- How has reading helped you stay calm, focused, and creative in your own life?
PURVA- For me, reading is both a school and a source of inspiration. It helps me write better and, in many ways, reminds me to be a better person—not just by expanding my horizons, but by shaping how I think and feel.
A book doesn’t offer instant calm. You have to learn to be patient with your overactive mind to stay focused while reading. In that sense, it’s very much like meditation. But once you’re truly immersed in a good book, hours disappear without you noticing.
Reading has taught me how to be comfortable in my own company—how to travel the world, explore unimaginable places and ideas, all while staying in one spot. It has helped me manage anxiety, sit with moments of being alone, and, I hope, slowly improve my focus in these hyperactive times we live in.
E.R- Your reading list is really very diverse. How do you choose your books? Any particular book you picked up during your travels that you can recommend?
PURVA- Books choose me. I’m easily drawn in by the sight and feel of a hardback, and by a cover that speaks to me—sometimes not a “pretty” one, but a plain or even plaid cover that quietly pulls you in. I also rely a lot on my book club members for recommendations; they help me stay curious and loosely in touch with what the world is reading.
I almost always pick up books while travelling, especially those written by authors from the country I’m visiting. There’s something special about reading a place through the voice of someone who belongs to it.
One book I still remember picking up years ago, on my way to Bhutan, is A Field Guide to Happiness: What I Learned in Bhutan about Living, Loving, and Waking Up by Linda Leaming. It stayed with me—not just as a travel read, but as a quiet reminder of how perspective can shape the way we live.
E.R- From our grandmothers’ days, storytelling was a NORM or a HABIT in every household. It was an easy way to destress the children, relieve their restlessness after outdoor play/activity, and help them fall asleep quickly. Why do you think storytelling faded to a large extent, and how can families and communities bring it back? Adding Further, will the new generation (4+ years) accept it and replace it with mobile phones, as given to them by their parents for entertainment?
PURVA- The answer is simple: children imitate what they see.
If they grow up seeing adults with books in their hands, they learn that reading matters. If they see constant doom-scrolling and television as default habits, they assume that’s what they need too. Behaviour is learned long before it is explained.
Storytelling hasn’t disappeared—it has evolved. Today, stories live not only in books, but also in audio formats, podcasts, films, and videos. The issue isn’t the medium; it’s the absence of balance. Nothing in excess is healthy, especially when it comes to entertainment.
Families can bring storytelling back by making it visible and shared. Read stories to children and with them. Create a small reading corner at home. Turn stories into a daily ritual rather than a forced activity.
And yes, the new generation will accept it—if we make space for it. Children don’t reject stories; they follow convenience. When mobile phones become the easiest form of entertainment, they take over. When stories are made accessible, engaging, and part of everyday life, they stay.
The goal isn’t to replace screens entirely, but to balance what entertains, educates, and enlightens—both children and adults.
E.R- We are living in a world full of SHORT-FORMAT CONTENT. Do You think re-engineering is required on LONG FORMAT BOOKS for an easy acceptability by ‘New Gen’?
PURVA- Why only the new generation? This applies to all of us. What we really need today is more vertical reading and absorption of content, not just horizontal, surface-level scrolling—whether the content is short or long. If we want to stay mentally alert by any standard, we need to return to slower reading and deeper engagement.
Scrolling through 45 headlines in a minute, or starting the day flooded with 40 reels of what everyone ate for breakfast, isn’t healthy for any generation. It trains the mind to skim, react, and move on, without absorbing.
Long-format don’t need to be re-engineered as much as they need to be reclaimed. What we need is the patience to sit with ideas, follow a thought to its end, and allow words to do their work slowly. Depth, not speed, is what sustains curiosity, creativity, and mental clarity—at any age.
E.R- How has your journey as a reader helped you as a writer, and what can readers expect next from you?
PURVA- If you don’t read, you can’t write. Reading has shaped my voice, sharpened my instincts, and constantly pushed me to think more deeply about language, people, and emotions. Every book I read teaches me something—about craft, about pacing, about empathy—and all of that inevitably finds its way into my writing. I’ve just finished writing my fifth book, which will also be my first novel. All going well, it should be out in 2026.
In the meantime, readers can find me exploring emotions, food, and stories on my latest platform, Once Upon A Table, where narratives unfold around meals and memories.
https://onceuponatableindubai.substack.com/
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