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READING PROGRESS 2016
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Reading and Reminescing. Reading Log of Syl and her Alteregos AND her Offspring
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Srividya
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Aug 01, 2016 03:36AM
Am an extrovert! Most definitely. Love chatting away and can make even the most silent of you do that. However, with age I think I have mellowed down a lot. So these days chatting has become pretty much reserved to those I feel a connection with. Nevertheless, when I am put in a social circle, my voice will be heard loud and clear! LOL!
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Mod
I'l probably throw in a couple of innane remarks here n there...
Nah! It will mean that I will get all of you chatting away, forgetting that you are/were introverts! :POf course, to get you chatting, I would have to be loud, clear and definitely enthusiastic! :P
Mod
Hahaha, I think you will need all the luck, if you should ever have the dubious honour of meeting me in real life! :P
Coffee Bean wrote: "Have decided to organize and compartmentalize my life as I feel that I am losing my sanity to the world of books. (not a bad thing really, but then a no-no thing if you have a family to look after ..."Good luck. Let us know if you manage to do all these things. Keep us updated (though you want to spend less time on GR :D).
Mod
And I have a tiny doubt that you are teasing me saying that its not possible for me to do so :-P :-P
I am also quite an introvert. But in a group of people I know and comfortable, I think I will chatter fairly well. Also if we all meet like Sri mentions, I think all of us will talk much. We know each other fairly well now.
Mod
:D
I feel extroverts and books don't blend well. As always Sri is an exceptional case :P
Saying this since I have been considered an extrovert all my life. Until past 2-3 years. And that's the time I started reading more.
Changed workplace last year, and in this new office have hardly made 2-3 friends over an year. Instead of socialising over tea/coffee breaks, I prefer to have those breaks with Kindle. And am happy being an introvert now :)
The very few book lovers I know personally are also all introverts.
Coffee Bean wrote: "For sure, dely. :-PAnd I have a tiny doubt that you are teasing me saying that its not possible for me to do so :-P :-P"
It doesn't matter if you succeed or not, at least you try and this is the important thing :D
Mod
My son got acquainted with Potter when he was 8. It started as a bed time read for him as I was fed up reading Amar Chitra Kathas again and again to put him to sleep. At that age, he wanted me to read him to sleep, though he used to read by himself at other times.
I started Harry Potter, with a decent progress of 10 pages a day, which later progressed to 'till my voice became hoarse' - that too didnot satisfy my by-now-enamored son, and one day, he snatched the book from my hands and started reading by himself. He finished the whole series in a week's time. (He is a fast reader, faster than me)
Then there was a phase of re reading and discussing. I was forced to read the books to discuss with him. But I could not persevere after 3 books as other reads vied for my attention.
By now Gautham had become a reasonable authority on HP.
So when he came to know of the CUrsed child, he pestered me to pre-order. Finally when the price seemed right (508 - to me, it is still on the higher range) I succcumbed.
The day of release came. Son was impatient for his copy. Thankfully it arrived yesterday. IN spite of having to study for class tests (what they called as FA or formative assessment/ SA or summative assessment) he started on the book.
and...
finished it in 3 hours or so.
I wanted to interrupt him and remind him that he has to prepare for the next day's exam. But then, I remembered my childhood. And I knew that even if I take away the book from him, I wont be able to do anything about his mind, which would definitely wander to the Potterworld.
I left him to it.
He finished Potter, eagerly gave away all the spoilers to me.
And then read for his exam - solid 4 hours.
But when he went to bed yesterday, it was with a smile on his face... he was satisfied with his day.
Mod
Today one of my biblio friends asked about old books/second hand books. That made me go down memory lane.
My first encounter of second hand books was from the local library in Calicut. A small private library called Balans. Tiny room filled floor to ceiling with books, and then piles of books heaped on teh floor, on the desk, and whereever possible. I couldnt go in and search as there was no floor space. The old librarian would bring out bundles.
I read most of my Agatha Christies from there.
I also got acquainted to the Exorcist, Dracula, some shady romances during a phase in my early teens which taught me about birds and bees, lots of adventure books, mystery books.
I have bullied the poor librarian into selling me books
Thus I acquired
Come Tell me How you live
How to be a detective
How to be a spy
All at market value, as he told he is not going to reduce even a rupee despite the books being in miserable conditions. I persisted and got them for the cover price, as I felt I had to have the books at whatever cost.
This was when I was 11 or 12. Hence books no. 2 and 3
Then another library sprung up - Eloor Library. WHich was 20 times bigger than Balans, and well stocked , well catalogued. It was a pleasure to browse those.
I used to visit both the libraries on Sundays and borrow half a dozen books each.
Eloor library needed no extortation, they used to keep old books for sale in a corner on 2 or 3 largish tables. And my routine was first to walk around the whole library (like taking rounds in a temple around the God's idol) and then go to books which I thought I would like, and finally go to the second hand table with great anticipation.
I acquired a few malayalam books that way. All are in my paternal home now.
Unfortunately both these libraries have shut down . Balan's due to the death of the owner, and Eloor, citing loss.
My brother jokes saying, once I got married and moved away, they suffered great loss.
Eloor, while shutting down had send me a few letters saying that old valued customers are being given the first digs on sales of all books at 25%.
Unfortunately I was out of India and could not make avail of that opportunity and regret it till date.
Then there were a row of small shops in a street, where they sold American Library outcasts.
Aathira Books was my favourite. THey had a huge collection in a big warehouse, and they used to allow me to go to the warehouse and browse. I was entrusted with the key to the warehouse lock. Initially I used to be frightened as I would be alone in a huge dingy dark room, which would be heated up like an oven due to the overhead asbestos sheets. All the books would be in cardboard boxes kept higgeldy piggeldy. I would have to upend one box , search through and then replace the books. By the time 5 or 6 boxes got over, it would be a solid 2 hours, and if I stayed more than 3 or 4 hours, my mother would panic and raise hell.
They sold paperbacks at 10 rupees and hardcovers at 20 rs. each. I used to buy atleast 800-1000 worth books, which amounted to 80-100, which my father would later parcel to my current place of residence. THis I could do only when I visited my parental home, which would be twice a year.
Recently, I came to know that they have increased the price of their books. But I feel, still it would be a bargain.
I havent been there for the past 3 years or so, as I have never got an opportunity to visit my parents for more than 2 days at a time, and often at my brother's place rather than the place where I grew up in.
Next time I go home I will revisit Athira. Hope they remember me, and give me the run of their warehouse.
After all this reminiscences, I feel a deep pang, a gnawing sensation in my heart thinking about the futility of our lives, for after all when we leave this earthly abode, we cant take even a single thing which we lovingly strived for.
Mod
Mod
Mod
I know, I know.. but then think in the other way..
You dont long for what you havent experienced.
Hence I am the craver, with rare opportunities to visit it again.
And yes, Gautham is a rock star, (but only when he has the mind to perform :P)
Coffee Bean wrote: "MY SON AND THE CURSED CHILDMy son got acquainted with Potter when he was 8. It started as a bed time read for him as I was fed up reading Amar Chitra Kathas again and again to put him to sleep. A..."
So happy to read this. A hug for Gautham. There is nothing like the wonderful way one can enjoy things when one is young. I am impressed with his reading speed and more so that he had energy to study so much after that. A bright child indeed.
Coffee Bean wrote: "MY REMINISCENCE ABOUT OLD BOOKSToday one of my biblio friends asked about old books/second hand books. That made me go down memory lane.
My first encounter of second hand books was from the local..."
You write so well. You did have some wonderful experiences. High five on Eloor. Thanks again for sharing your life with us.
Mod
While writing that I could almost smell the banana chips in hot oil smell ( Nap and was next to a banana chips shop) nd the peculiar bookish smell of Eloor.
Mod
Coffee Bean wrote: "Thanks, Indrani. I too benefit a lot - feel as if I am getting a second chance to experience all this. :-)While writing that I could almost smell the banana chips in hot oil smell ( Nap and was ne..."
I know. It sounds utterly silly but the name Eloor itself makes my heart skip a beat. I liked every grumpy person working there. In love with the place, the plastic covered rows and rows of books, the aisles, not-one-book-out-of-place-arrangements. I hope the guy/s behind Eloor got heaps of good karma to give so much happiness to so many people.
Mod
While writing that I could almost smell the banana chips in hot oil sm..."
Hope they did.
Did they close down entirely? Or is it just in Calicut they sustained loss?
Coffee Bean wrote: "Indrani wrote: "Coffee Bean wrote: "Thanks, Indrani. I too benefit a lot - feel as if I am getting a second chance to experience all this. :-)While writing that I could almost smell the banana chi..."
No idea. I was in Bangalore a few months back. Like an idiot, I forgot to check Eloor out. I hope they haven't closed anywhere else.
Awww Smitha that was some reminiscences about those libraries and book stores. Lived through them through your words Awaiting more such.... I love reading stuff about other peoples books and reading as much as reading itself.
Mod
Coffee Bean wrote: "Me too, Rebecca. So sprout forth your memories. :P"Will do one day when I have collected my memories together.
Mod
I was feeling out of sorts yesterday; not that I didnot have anything to read. Contrary, I had too many Book pies (half eaten) on my Kindle Plate. And I had lost taste for all.
I started upon a recommendation by a friend, and was totally drawn in. It seemed the very book that would have been an inseparable friend in my childhood. Even as a jaded adult, I was drawn into the lonely frontier world of Laura Ingalls.
Yes, the book that mesmerized me is Little House in the Big Woods
It has everything that one wants
Family, Loyalty, Innocent pleasures, Adventure, Do it yourself projects, Food (loads and loads of food) and beautiful descriptions of a wild place which one will never ever visit in one's life time.
Laura Ingalls says that the adventure occurs 60 years prior, and I am yet to see when she wrote the book.
The great American west is described in all its glory - the solitude, the challenges, the flora, the fauna, how one has to start from the scratch - be it cooking, building house or pens, making weapons, you name it, they do it on their own.
With Ingalls and family, I learnt lots and lots of things, which I may never even put to use in this modern world, but the knowledge was a secret pleasure deep within me.
And this book also made me delve into my relatively gadgetless childhood - a childhood spent dreaming, observing, reading, painting, drawing. A childhood without cable TV or the internet, or mobile phone or video games.
A childhood spent occasionally playing with other children, but mostly watching adults work and just lying down or sitting and dreaming.
My parents were always busy at work, and my brother was always studying or reading. And having only one more girl in the neighboring house, around my age, but we had a love-hate relationship. (I was quite the monster as a child) I lacked company of my age or kind.
My childhood despite (or because of) lack of varied means of entertainment was an enriched one. I was happy. I was content. I used to go to the attic through a small dark staircase and imagine that I was discovering secret paths and hidey holes, a la Enid Blyton. I used to climb pear trees and a flowering tree and pretend I was sailing a ship and was on the mast. I used to go to the terrace of my house, lie down on the bare floor in the twilight and imagine that I was in a rocket going to space. I used to stare at clouds imagining shapes and castles - and always wondering how Jack climbed the bean stalk and reached the giant's palace. I remember trying to stare into the cloud hoping that I will see a castle or a world beyond. I always used to wonder where the sky ended, and why I cannot touch the moon. I have shone the brightest torch light available to me, at the cloud and moons, trying to look for shadows. I have tried to configure the constellations (and never did). I had this habit of peeking into my neighbour's houses (from my upstairs window) and watching them go about their chores - washing utensils, clothes, watering plants, drawing water from well. I also have peered deep into the well, and tried to find out whether I can reach the netherworld via the well in our huge compound.
Sometimes I used to dig in the backyard, very sure of finding treasure. On reading about how paints were made, I tried my own hand at paint and artwork by crushing various leaves and barks, I sure made a mess, but no heavenly pigment emerged.
I used to collect worms in a basket (black and yellow kind) and watch them interact with each other - mostly wriggle around. I used to make paper boats, catch hold of unwary ants and make them sail against their wish in a tub of water. I surely did rescue them when the boat toppled. I also used to keep sugar cubes on the floor and watch when and how ants find out . Someone once told me that ants secrete a chemical when they move and by the smell of this other ants follow it. So I used to rub away at the floor once the ant crossed a particular point, and watch whether other ants move in the same way.
I was very fond of watching lizards eat cockroaches and flies, though I would feel yucky within.
There are many many such things that I did as a child. But these are the ones I remember.
Compared to my childhood, I can say my son directly entered late teens from infancy. And I sort of pity him his lost childhood.
Mod
Today, I crave for yet another chance to live a rustic childhood! Silver lining being the slight hopes to enjoy it passively as my daughter grows.
And as always, thanks for sharing this brilliant brilliant write-up :)
Mod
But your darling angel may have a gadget infested childhood, unless you take special cares, which is almost impossible in this age and time. :-(
My son is a total gadget freak,
Mod
But whatever childhood today's kids have, I'm sure they'll also relish it the same way as we do.... "In our times we only had very simple earthly gadgets... and now!!!" ;)
Mod
But whatever childhood to..."
he he he....I so want to see Gautham deal with his kid(s), but he says he wont marry.
Mod
Mod
Coffee Bean wrote: "MY SON AND THE CURSED CHILDMy son got acquainted with Potter when he was 8. It started as a bed time read for him as I was fed up reading Amar Chitra Kathas again and again to put him to sleep. A..."
You are a super mother!
I just arrived yesterday from my vacation so I have to check all the new messages on GR and it won't be very fast!
Mod
Dark Matter - a brilliant idea executed stupidly - but made me think of the other possible mes... I spent days thinking what if I were this or that... and it was a bit eerie and scary.
And to think of the various permutation combinations that could have happened in our lives is really really awesome.
My current reading list (of course, I always diverge..)
Possession - with Girish et al
The Queen of Bedlam - with Manju
War and Peace - perhaps a life time project
Azincourt - upcoming - Anirudh, Karolina, Sree, Manju et al
Night Circus - Manju and Anirudh
Good earth - Gorab et al
ALso bought a few books second hand. Guess, my book buying is not under as strict control as I imagined it to be, but I am improving.
Mod
But I think Anirudh said that you too are reading Azincourt o.O
Mod
I first saw the inside of a library perhaps at the age of 4 or 5. My father one afternoon, told me to get ready and that he will take me to a lovely place. I was excited, and got ready soon - those days getting ready was just slipping on a pair of chappals. (that much I remember clearly)
He took me walking to the next street and up a rickety pair of stairs, and then we entered a small room. And I was mesmerized at the books on display on shelves. It was run by a middle aged man, who took us to a small inside room which contained younger children's books. My father chose 3 books for me. I dont know why I wasnt involved in the choosing - perhaps I was too small , or too wonderstruck or too inhibited. We came home and I started on the books. I read those three atleast a couple of times each day, for one whole week, and was almost in tears when I came to know those have to be returned. I was under the impression that father had bought those for me. And there was another reason. I had scribbled and painted upon most pages. I had filled in figurines and things which I thought would make the pictues complete, and more in line with the story. I was too scared to let father know.
As soon as we returned the book, the man saw what I did and started scolding - I dont remember whom he scolded, father or me. But my father was very cool. I think he must have apologized and paid for the damaged books. But I dont remember whether we took it back, or only whether fine was paid, and I dont remember whether we borrowed more books from there. I just remember this incident.
Next library I joined was Balan's library, a little more further off my home (15 minutes walk through busy roads), another small dingy room where books were stacked from floor to ceiling. There I didnt have the pleasure of wandering around and choosing - there was no place. The old man would bring stacks of books which he thought I would like to read, and I would choose from those. So my choosing was limited to what he suggested. But I was exposed to many great authors. Though my father first introduced Christie, Wodehouse, Lawrence and the like to me, it was Balan's library that enabled me to read more from the authors. I would be a weekly visitor there, and I must have spent a fortune there, sometimes forcibly buying books which thought I cannot part with, even when the librarian sold them for the MRP without even reducing a rupee despite the book being thoroughly handled by many.
My third (and last significant) library was Eloor - the best kept among the above, where I could wander and indulge in my book sniffing, caressing and reading the blurbs for hours together ( a little exaggeration, never over an hour, as father would be patiently waiting for me - as despite my grown up stature, my father used to drive me to all places - and now I understand how much I had been indulged by my parents). There I explored more authors, and read more of malayalam books.
I didnot forget Balan but my routine became first Balan, then Eloor - at a time I would have a stack of 8-14 depending upon my study schedule. My parents never said "no" to reading, though my mother is of the opinion my eyesight is affected owing to my reading.
I had to give up on my libraries after I joined work and shifted to my current place , though a proclaimed university town, seems to be lacking in Libraries, and even good browsable bookstores.
I have many individual memories regarding libraries and bookstores, but if I start penning them down, I could easily cover a longish book.
Mod
Night Circus, did you say??? Who is reading and when????
Mod
Em wrote: "Night Circus has - me, Manju and Anirudh were sort of talking about it. Nothing finalized. But I would like to read it some day."Ohh its on my current reading list. Am yet to read past the first page...
And this was supposed to be my August pick it for me, pick...
Do let me know as and when you read it...
Em wrote: "LIBRARY AND MEI first saw the inside of a library perhaps at the age of 4 or 5. My father one afternoon, told me to get ready and that he will take me to a lovely place. I was excited, and got re..."
Lovely writing Syl.. start a blog na?
Mod
And I can see a 1000 G.Es on reread (Grammatical errors)
Mod
Trying to reorganize my life with more of productivity, and it is difficult
My ongoing reads are (there are about 12, but these 3 definitely going to finish.
Possession
Medusa
The Queen of Bedlam
COMING UP NEXT
The Legends of Khasak
Fingersmith
Azincourt
Hope to eke out enough time to read.
Finally I had some time to catch up with your memories! It must be beautiful to have such memories of libraries and childhood. Sadly I don't remember a lot about my childhood but it's not a huge problem, the few things I remember are already enough and not very pleasant so, all in all, I'm glad I don't remember more about it.
Mod
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