Books Bought (Or borrowed) Books Read
1. Idle Thoughts of an idle Fellow 1. Idle Thoughts of an idle Fellow
- Jerome K Jerome
2. The Pollysyllabic Spree - 2. The Pollysyllabic Spree
- Nick Hornby
3. On Liberty
4. Never Let Me Go- Kazuo Ishiguro
5. Confession of a Murderer- 4. Crime and Punishment (half)
- Joseph Roth
6. Mafia Princess- Anotnie Gianciana &
Thomas Reener
7. From Plassey to Partition
- Sekhar Bandhopadhyay
8. Creating Histories- Windy Signer
9. Gods On Earth - Peter Van Der Veer
I must confess one thing-- The idea of this post is not "original". I was reading 'The Pollysyllabic Spree' by Nick Hornby and then I thought why not start a series of posts on "stuff I’ve been reading" (that book is precisely about that). So here it is. These posts wont be any book reviews but it will be kind of experience maintained by a ‘impatient yet hopeful and enthusiastic reader’.
When it comes to books, I cant say, if I have any fixed choice. Most of the time, they are suggested by friends and if not friends, then backcovers. As one must have guessed by seeing the list of the books I bought, its easy to conclude they are mostly based on random and whimsical mood swings.
For past two month I 'planned' to read lot of books but as it turned out, apart from books I read everything. Well, I think, reading is a very domestic activity and therefore susceptible to change if domestic conditions change. For me, I need a proper environment to read...whether fiction or non fiction. I mean, who would want to read if you are back to your home city after almost a year and there are friends, parents, siblings etc, around, giving you full attention. But as I said, reading is susceptible to change in domestic environment. Well yes, after fifteen days, all attention was gone and I realized that I have been living like a vegetable ignored in a refrigerator. Soon after the realization, I made an urgent trip to a bookstore. I thought I would pick Hard Times by Charles Dickens. The reason was- I was in mood to read something heavy. But then fate has something else to offer and I accidently stumbled upon "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow" by Jerome K Jerome... the title of the book appealed so much that, I thought --this book is written for me... at least considering my status then, it was apt. So yeah, Hard Times was dropped and I got "Idle thoughts..." To be honest, I think this book is for men in general. I dont know if any woman can ever relate to this book. The reason being that author wrote his personal thoughts and some of them are actually thoughts we MEN think. Topic ranges from idleness to love to vanity to memories. Except for the last chapter 'On memories' I dont think any woman can relate to it. But nonetheless its fun to read and fun is not sexist.
I remember, one day I was sitting alone in a coffee shop and was in a very bad mood. The only thing I wanted to do was to shout, "fuck you" loudly. err... I mean I was not angry on anyone but in general irritated and crowd around me was adding to the cause. I started reading random chapter from this book. And Man! this book became like a stranger you meet in journeys who makes whole journey comfortable or like a friend who comes with a surprise gift on your birthday or like a hot girl asking your phone number in a pub. I went "Geeeee" after reading it. This may sound as if I am saying too much. But the truth is that within 10 minutes of reading, my mood changed completely. I was giggling and laughing, that too sitting alone. People in coffee shop were giving strange stares but then who cares.
I remember, one day I was sitting alone in a coffee shop and was in a very bad mood. The only thing I wanted to do was to shout, "fuck you" loudly. err... I mean I was not angry on anyone but in general irritated and crowd around me was adding to the cause. I started reading random chapter from this book. And Man! this book became like a stranger you meet in journeys who makes whole journey comfortable or like a friend who comes with a surprise gift on your birthday or like a hot girl asking your phone number in a pub. I went "Geeeee" after reading it. This may sound as if I am saying too much. But the truth is that within 10 minutes of reading, my mood changed completely. I was giggling and laughing, that too sitting alone. People in coffee shop were giving strange stares but then who cares.
After a short while, I also started, Crime and Punishment. A masterpiece but you don’t want to read such stuff when you are in vacation. I did because I bought this book almost a year back and ignored it completely, like many other books which I bought and ignored. I felt compelled to do some justice with this one. Every alternate day I use to read Crime and Punishment and in between I use to read Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. Whereas the later got over, former continues its “torture”. And its been 4 days that I have not touched Crime and Punishment. But nevamind, I shall finish that too.
Another random book was Polysyllabic Spree, sometimes boring, sometimes funny… nothing special with which you can stick too though. And so is this post and the likes of it coming in future. I don’t know if Nick Hornby is actually a funny guy in real life like he shows in his book. His other novels are quite famous ones, few of them are movies now. But really, after reading this book, I doubt if I want to see those movies or read his books. But I am such a pathetic new age 'cut-copy-paste-er' that I still take his idea and decorate this blog with a new post. Perhaps, it has something to do with my dream to become a famous columnist sometime in future. (yes! One can laugh here). So yeah… Nick Hornby writes for Believer Magazine. And right now, what best I can do is to write in my blog. All said and done, if for nothing, then I will somehow read books for this blog’s sake.
Coming back to my reading spree-- After sometime, domestic conditions changed again, and this time I changed my city. As usual, lot of planning went to drains, I continue to be a Happy Vegetable. Though I am trying to read a lot. Recently, downloaded a graphic novel- Blankets. Well 'downloaded' because it was a friend’s choice and book was too expensive to buy. Finished it almost in 3 to 4 hours. I needed a break from so called “heavy” stuff… I wanted something light and Blankets happened at right time. The reason why I don’t want to continue with Crime and Punishment, atleast for a while, is simply because I need a break. My laptop is full of war movies and concept albums. Everytime, I want to see something light or listen to not so-serious music, my laptop proves to be a failure. The problem is that-- all movies and music are so rare I cannot delete them and because of which no space is left. But nonetheless, I borrowed some new books from a friend and enjoying it. Right now, I want some crime stuff or some hijacking or some comedy.
Confession two: I am just bored of classics now. I am so bored of non-fiction (atleast what I have) its not even funny. Right now, I want some bullets, some adventure, some fast drama, a superhero.
So for sometime, I want to relax with a book and bowl of popcorns beside me. Lets see what happens next month… as of now I “plan” (yes! I am smiling when I say that) to work with my blood, sweat, tear, and some ass. I hope I find some time to read. (I am still laughing on my audacity to say- “if I find time”)
Long Live Potato!
Long Live Potato!
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