Reading and Reminescing. Reading Log of Syl and her Alteregos AND her Offspring

[Jarvis]

Will start today :D

[Ahtims]

Today I spent more time in going through my Kindle books, trying to categorize them, and in going through blurbs of various books in Goodreads, than in actual reading.
Planning to finish "The Opportunist" as well as "Henrietta Who?".
Then on to Cloud Atlas.
Then perhaps The Kitchen House from first March.

[Janhavi]

Syl ʃʃ^.^ʃʃ wrote: "Today I spent more time in going through my Kindle books, trying to categorize them, and in going through blurbs of various books in Goodreads, than in actual reading.
Planning to finish "The Oppor..."

I did the same thing yesterday. Organised my book shelf, and also checked my Kindle library.
I found so many unread books that if I don't buy a single book or even borrow from the library, I still have plenty of books to last this entire year. i.e. If I go by my usual pace of 2 books per month. So much backlog. Gosh! I'm a hoarder.

[Ahtims]

All readers are hoarders, there's no other way. I have nearly 200 unread physical books.

[Rebecca]

And I am feeling guilty about my five!

[Srividya]

Sigh! You people feel guilty about unread books! :O :O I don't feel guilty at all. I simply keep buying and admiring them on my shelves and getting to them as and when I can. I had promised not to buy anything this month but I have bought quite a few! Just can't stop hoarding! :P

[Ahtims]

Yayy... who said I am guilty :-P

[Ahtims]

Slowly and steadily progressing with my reading.
Have got the massive shelves added on to the open attic area in my bedroom. So the next couple of days will be spent shifting excess books to those shelves.
Meanwhile, plodding on with Cloud Atlas
I wonder how my venerable friends finished it at practically a couple of sittings and gave it 5 stars. Am too exasperated with it, and am planning to give only 3 or 4. Am boldly proclaiming this at 75%, let us see if the remaining quarter changes my star rating for the better or the worse. I find it a bit pretensive and indigestible.
The language/slang is oh.. sooo... confusing.

Kitchen house is an easy read. At 20%

Mistborn - not finding the mood for indulging in fantasy. My current mindset is suited for dark books.

[Srividya]

You, m'lady, have taken it upon yourself to hate every book that I love and love every book that I hate! :P :P

On a serious note, I didn't think that you would like Cloud Atlas much. However, it is an experience that you should have even if you don't like it, simply because its different in style. :)

[Ahtims]

At least, Sri, I love your favorites initially - e.g., 1984, cloud atlas, Great Sophy... its the latter half that bores/ disappoints me.

[Srividya]

Lol! True that! :D

[Ahtims]

Update - fell asleep reading Cloud Atlas. Had a nice 30 min nap.

[Ahtims]

After almost a month, a free Sunday (touch wood, not tempting fate)
But have been lazing around since 8 am -
My current reads are
A Slipping-Down Life - very weird, but in a good sort of way. The way I like. Story of a fat 17 year old girl who does something outrageous to attract the rocker she is obsessed with.
But it is not a love story. THese two people are almost antagonistic towards each other. The rocker boy is so weird as to I think why she is interested in him. And I am keenly pursuing the pages to find out how it ends.
Still no progress beyond 18% with The Kitchen House. Dont feel like reading about misery and death.

[Srividya]

I agree with you on The Kitchen House. I just can't get myself to read it. Am thinking of abandoning it at present and getting to it later....

[Ahtims]

trying to live down a huge embarassement
My colleague got a new Kindle Paperwhite. I eagerly promised to show him the ropes. I took myKindle and started showing the various functions. I tried explaining Search function and my search history showed up - to my consternation!
Both of us were embarrassed and tongue tied as the words that showed up were
****
*****
******

was searching the author Heather Cocks and had put in the search as her surname sans the last s as I was not sure of thename of the book I wanted (Royal We)
The previous search was For A Dirty Job and unfortunately by the time I typed in the first word (sans A)book showed up

Next search was for Misery- though not a bad word on its own, combined with the other two, gives some BDSM tones to my preferences

I died a small death of shame yesterday. And have not revived yet. Tomorrow I have to face him again. Tried to explain later via email. But how much I will be believed is the question.

Initially even I was stumped at the words showing up. I suspected my poor 13 year old son, but then Kindle is always with me.

So friends who are reading it, and who have Kindle and other electroncis, be sure to clear your searches, even though these are innocent ones, because you dont know when the mischievous Lady Fate will try to kick you in the back.

Sometimes innocent things appear so dark and A graded!

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

ROFL!:D:D

First your phone and now your Kindle, are you sure these two are not playing with you?:P

[Ahtims]

Don;t know Manju. I Dont mind my autocorrects ( I actually secretly enjoy the humor induced thereby)
But this was the worst embarassement of my life. And I dont want anything else to bring this one to the second place.

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Finished Kitchen House last night, left me confused and unsatisfied. High hopes shattered.:/

So if you two don't read it, I won't judge.:)

[Ahtims]

At 18% I am liking it. But after (view spoiler)[ the little girl's death, and blame almost falling on Ben - have reached that part- am sort of scared to proceed further, as I hate books with depressing events, unless they are coated in humor or told matter of factly. (hide spoiler)]

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Syl: It don't get better. Whenever I thought things would change but things would turn even darker and gloomy.

[Ahtims]

:/ shall resume it if I feel like punishing myself

[dely]

Syl ʃʃ^.^ʃʃ wrote: "trying to live down a huge embarassement
My colleague got a new Kindle Paperwhite. I eagerly promised to show him the ropes. I took myKindle and started showing the various functions. I tried expla..."

Lol

He could think you have a split personality :D I think he knows you don't read such books and perhaps he found it also pretty funny.

[Hajarath Prasad]

Mr. Ganesh, you're overdoing your job, to put it mildly. Seriously, 3 posts in a single group? Even in personal threads? Please delete your posts and put up a single thread in Promotions folder.

[Ahtims]

Ganesh, do as Hajrath Prasad says. One more spam, and you are debarred from the group.
I am extra angry as you have spammed my esteemed thread. :-P

[Ahtims]

Completed my 30th book.
The Weight of Blood- fast paced, interesting, creepy, and the chapters alternate between past (20 years ago) and present.
A satisfactory psycho thriller.
Next few weeks I am going to be very busy at work, so feeling a bit apprehensive about not getting enough time to read.
For me reading is more needed than a habit forming drug. If I dont read, I am grumpy and short tempered. So feeling sorry in advance for the two men at home. :P

[Ahtims]

Not getting enough time to read nowadays, hence reading only what I like.
Am precipitous in giving up books that don't appeal.
Have resumed The Year of the Runaways, and its slow to moderate pace is soothing and suiting my mood well.
Started The Warden by Trollope, but at this juncture I am unable to concentrate upon the doings of a placid priest in a sleepy town.

[Ahtims]

My challenges are lying around, and quite a few days since I updated those. Will get to it in April, when I may be relatively free. (work will be there, no holidays. But all the impending conferences and guest lectures would end by then, atleast the current set).

[Ahtims]

March has been a dismal month for reading. And I dont see any relief till the end.
nevertheless managed to finish relatively thin books, mostly belonging to the mystery/thriller genus

Currently on
The Son - an action packed thriller set in the background of Norwegian Prisons and Drug racket. Never thought I would enjoy it , being the type I usually avoid, but then the pace is good, and I am egged on to know what happens next
The Year of the Runaways has literally run away from my attention. It was too slothish to suit me, hence temporarily shelved
Pigs in Heaven - Kingslover has impressed me with the The Bean Trees, so I picked up this audio without qualms and without bothering to look at the blurb.
And majorly loving it ... so far. A story of 3 generations of women, all strong and impressive in their own ways. I am totally relishing it.

[Ahtims]

More than a week since I updated here.
Was too busy, and the last two days saw the onset of my migraine, back with a vengeance.
Now somewhat under control, and I feel alive, after a daylong stupor, though I managed to work and read as much as possible.

Runaways temporarily shelved
Continuing with Pigs in heaven - good at 40%

started -Death on the Nile - a surprise gift from my son, utilizing his gift card.
Much obliged, thoroughly pleased and started to read at once.
And it is one of the better of Poirot's mysteries.

So far, 36 books this year. Not bad. [touch wood].

[Ahtims]

Go-slow time for me., Yet to finish "Death on the Nile" despite having started two days ago. I remember the olden golden days when I used to finish a Christie cover to cover at a sitting, max two., mostly during my vacations.
How I long for uninterrupted reading and lazing time.

[Girish, The Good cop]

Ahtims wrote: "More than a week since I updated here.
Was too busy, and the last two days saw the onset of my migraine, back with a vengeance.
Now somewhat under control, and I feel alive, after a daylong stupor,..."

Awwww moment on the surprise gift. Half the time I gift a book to someone close with a secret intent of borrowing it for reading later :)

With the run rate so far, you can afford a couple of days of go slow! *touchwood*

[Ahtims]

Girish, I would be glad if he 'borrower's it to read. Nowadays he prefers Wimpy kid and Big Nate. The only substantial book he read recently was Persepolis.

And hopefully next week should see me a wee bit relaxed. :-)

[Ahtims]

Latter half of March was not conducive to reading. Hoping that April would be better. Yesterday in train started Real World by Kirino. My son seated next to me got intdrested and snatched my Kindle away, but gave up at 51% saying it was too perverted for him. Reading on, at 25%, the perverse nature of the tale started, and at 45% I am aghast and feel guilty or letting a 13 year old read such stuff without prior scrutiny. But he took it in stride and is not very shocked.
Am thankful to have a child who inherently recogizes right from wrong and has srong ideas abour what is age appropriate andDwhat he shouldnot read,
I have promised him I will gell him a filtered version of the story once I finish it.

[Ahtims]

After a prolonged and busy month, I think I am back into my reading groove.
And another happy news is that Gautham has taken to reading again, but his selection of books leave me astonished.
He read Real World, a book which I thought was a bit perverted for even an adult. He, of course asked permission before reading, and I was in a quandry as I dont believe in restricting reading material, and I know that he is a bit too emotionally mature for a 13 year old. Still, as a mother, I should be discouraging books openly dealing with matricide, homosexualty, drug abuse etc. But I was never restricted a book by my parents and I want to continue the legacy.
So I explained to him that it contained explosive thoughts and behavior, and made sure that he realized real world is not so, and that he has to consider and contemplate much before taking rash decisions regarding dares and doing whatever he considers would be unbearable/embarassing/scary to his parents.
He agreed, completed the book and consoled me that he is not like Worm, the character in teh book, and he will never kill his mother, however much she nags!!!
He now wants to read Ghachar Ghochar as he saw me relishing it. I dont mind as it is nowhere near "Real World" in terms of shocking matter.

[dely]

Ahtims wrote: "he will never kill his mother, however much she nags!!!"

Lol, good to know, you can sleep serene tonight!

I don't believe in restrictions too. I think that sometimes kids see also worse things during the news and drugs and homosexuality are all around us. In my opinion there is nothing wrong if they start knowing about it, also because sometimes they talk about such topics with friends and we parents continue to believe that they don't know anything about them. It's better if our kids feel that they can talk with us about everything so if he will have some questions, he will come to you and won't ask to his friends who are young and inexperienced like him and could give wrong answers.

[Ahtims]

Exactly, dely. My son talks freely to me and shuts up in front of his father who has traditional outlook. But I of course tell his dad all that conspires in his school, who in fact is quite a tolerant person. But we would like son to stick to the belief that father is slightly orthodox as it enables himto self discipline. :-P

[Ahtims]

Am so happy.
Gautham has taken to reading.
He finished "Real World" and now "Ghachar Ghochar" in a single sitting. We have been discussing GG for the past 15 min.
He wants more.
I suggested Book Thief and The Kite Runner. He chose Kite Runner.

[dely]

Ahtims wrote: "Am so happy.
Gautham has taken to reading.
He finished "Real World" and now "Ghachar Ghochar" in a single sitting. We have been discussing GG for the past 15 min.
He wants more.
I suggested Book Th..."

Isn't it wonderful when we can talk with our kids about the books we have read sharing also opinions?

edit: so proud about Gautham that you changed profile pic :D

[Ahtims]

Yes, it is.
The last book we discussed was Wonder a couple of years ago.

LOL, now that you have pointed out, it seems so.

[Srividya]

I long for that day when I can discuss books with my daughter! So lovely that you and Gautham share that bond! :)

[Ahtims]

Sri, that day will come. She's already a bookworm :P
My son has varying interests, and books dont occupy No. 1 position.

[Srividya]

I hope so! Yeah she loves books but these days she is more animated with her Wii games than anything else! :P

[Ahtims]

That should be a passing phase. Gautham had it around the age of 7 or 8.

[Srividya]

That is exactly what I am praying for! ;)

[dely]

Srividya wrote: "I long for that day when I can discuss books with my daughter! So lovely that you and Gautham share that bond! :)"

How old is your daughter? I didn't know you were an old lady like Smitha and me!

[Srividya]

My daughter is 9 years old, dely. And while it does flatter me a lot to be told that I am young, truth is that I am an old lady! :)

[dely]

Srividya wrote: "My daughter is 9 years old, dely. And while it does flatter me a lot to be told that I am young, truth is that I am an old lady! :)"

You are young inside!

[Srividya]

dely wrote: "Srividya wrote: "My daughter is 9 years old, dely. And while it does flatter me a lot to be told that I am young, truth is that I am an old lady! :)"

You are young inside!"

Lol! That is true! :D

[Ahtims]

Am happily immersed in my current reads
Sea of Poppies - I was skeptical at the beginning as I found the "raj English" of the 18th century to be almost an alien language. Slowly I got accustomed. I just pronounced it to get the Hindi meaning, and plodded on.
Now at 30% it has become unputdownable. But I have to finish another book too. Hence am forcibly alternating between this and
Dead Poets Society - BOTM of April.
Like Sea of Poppies, this too didn;t have an impressive beginning, but now at 40% is much readable.

[Ahtims]

Completed 42 books so far. Not bad ^.^
Am more happy that Gautham has started reading my recommendations.
My latest ones to him are
The Book Thief
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie
The Shadow of the Wind