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

[Gorab, TheGunman]

congratulations :) yet again a superb write up. and glad to know his passion for your reading.. and encouraging it.

From a husband's point of view, I would easily give that and more if this could help to escape all the nagging and haggling from wife ;) ha ha just kidding (in case my wife reads this!)

and i thought MYOB- Mind your own book :)

[Ahtims]

Lol, Gorab... that is true, when I am reading I am not nagging.
Otherwise.... God help him :-P

[Ahtims]

Today I am on leave as there is some function at home, and many relatives are there.
I decided to update my reading challenges, and to my consternation I find that I am far behind.
So new decisions for next 6 months
-will try to search out books that fulfil my challenges and read them preferentially
-will TRY not to jump into buddy reads, [ these are my weaknesses and they deviate me from my reading plans], barring the ones already in progress
- will read more, cybersurf less (AFAP)
- am stopping most Whatsapp and FB activities to gain more time

MOST IMPORTANT THING - I will enjoy what I read :D

AS......


READING IS MY PASSION, NOT MY PROFESSION.

[Ahtims]

ADDENDUM

LESS OF ONLINE GAMES :/ :/ :/

[Ahtims]

IMMEDIATE READING ORDER

Never Let me go - ASAP
Mating season - by July 15
Man in the Brown suit - July 1-15
The Hidden Oracle- by July end
A song for Arbonne- by July end
House of spirits - July 15-Aug 14

[Ahtims]

NEXT UP FOR MY VARIOUS CHALLENGES

Arsenic and Old Lace - element in the title
Author with X in the name -Sky Burial: An Epic Love Story of Tibet
Ghost story - Beloved
Author younger than me -Red Rising

[Jarvis]

BR Red Rising and Beloved? :-)

[Ahtims]

Sure sure :-)

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Totally agree on giving more time to reading than surfing, whatsapp and FB. But can't resist to keep away from goodreads for long.

I've only read two from your Imm read order and challenges. (NeverLMG and RedRising)

[Indrani]

@Syl Love your TBR.

Also please include me in BR for beloved. It's in my CR pile for too long now.

Also reading is for fun, right? why take tension?

[Ahtims]

Indrani, yes, Reading is for fun. But nowadays I find that I get into many parallel reads and sort of muddle up all.,
plus I love challenges - they make me discover new books - not number based challenge, but criteria based.

[Indrani]

That I agree to. Too many parallel reads and all plots get mixed up. :)

[Ahtims]

Past week was busy and injurious to health. Had too many relatives at home, and then caught a bad cold (the two events are unrelated :P). Past 2 days I had to take leave from work, and was happy that I could read a lot, but alas my blocked sinuses and heavy head were against that idea.
I managed to read a bit, but all that I read were flavorless, whether the fault of the book or my mindset, is again a debatable matter.
But then I counterbalanced my reading doldrums by being more active online in book communities. I should say that I enjoyed the interactions a lot.
As a part of enticing me back to reading, I picked up one of my favorite authors, Joanna Trollope.
I encountered her (figuratively) first at a used book store in Calicut which used to sell paperbacks at 10 rs. and hardcovers at 20 rs. (those were the golden days).
The Rector's Wife was my first book by her, and I was impressed, as Contemporary genre is not one of my favorites, and I like only a few contemporary authors (Anita Shreve, Amulya Malladi, Kiran Desai, Shashi Deshpande, to name a few)
I also came to know that she is the niece of the acclaimed author Anthony Trollope, whose couple of books I have read in my late teens.
So latching on to my comfort read, hoping that it will truly comfort me, and get me into my reading groove.

[Ahtims]

Am melancholic, in an odd mood - no book suits me. I flit among the books in my physical and virtual shelves as a bee humming amidst flowers, I taste a little here, a little there - but nothing seems right. From today morning, I have alternated at least 6 books.
Then got exasperated, and literally wiped off the books from my current shelf, retaining only two. But not interested in those two, too. Decided will add a book to the current shelf only after I am sure of persevering with it.
I hate this indecisive, melancholic mood.
I want the old me back.
Shall again fleet through the shelves and find for me, a dark, violent, psychologic/psychotic mystery - my manna among genres.

[dely]

Syl. A.k.a Topo di biblioteca wrote: "Am melancholic, in an odd mood - no book suits me. I flit among the books in my physical and virtual shelves as a bee humming amidst flowers, I taste a little here, a little there - but nothing see..."

Just a few of days ago you organized so well your reading plans!
But this can happen to every reader. Sometimes it happens also to me. I usually stop reading, I go out for a walk or watch a movie and then I try again with something I'm 99% sure I will like, my comfort reads.

[Ahtims]

thanks, dely. Have latched on to a psycho thriller.

[Indrani]

Syl, hope you are feeling better and have found something suitably nice to read.

I was also at a similar funk last night. The Christie book came as a book. Reading that now. Left aside all my other reads for the time being.

[Ahtims]

yes, Indrani. Reading a stalker thriller (into the darkest corner, almost perfect for my grim mood) :-)

[Ahtims]

Marking my attendance here after a long long time. I was reading small, easy going books in the meantime as I have lost the will to read serious, worthwhile books.
But these pleasant reads didnot disappoint me. I was able to leave aside my mortal boring self and go and be the character I loved the most in each book (not necessarily the main one).

Currently I am leading a dual life of being the lady who is a sociopath offing people she feels are 'not good', and also contemplating whether to don the robes of an alienist, or be the reporter who aids him.
Have also started War and Peace for the umpteenth time. This time my motto will be "read a little, read for long"
I have pledged to read W and P daily, even if one page a day.
The worst case scenario will be completing it 4 years hence.
After W and P I am going to employ the same tactic to all those mammoths that elude me, and who I want to conquer.
The list is long
Infinite Jest
Name of the Rose
Catch 22
.........
.........

[Girish, The Good cop]

Nice. That feeling of reading whatever you want to makes you love reading more. One reason a genre specific reading challenge is not for me.

add wolf hall to the list only so you can read the sequel :)

[Ahtims]

done... anyway Wolf hall and bring up the bodies already in my TBR

[Indrani]

@Smitha Love your plan about War and Peace. May adopt the same plan for Anna Karenina

[Ahtims]

Indrani, it seems to me the most viable plan to read books that I want to, just to satisfy some higher being in me :-P
Anna Karenina was much easier than War and Peace (for me)

[Indrani]

Smitha wrote: "Indrani, it seems to me the most viable plan to read books that I want to, just to satisfy some higher being in me :-P
Anna Karenina was much easier than War and Peace (for me)"

I have not even tried War and Peace.

[Akanksha]

Smitha wrote: "Marking my attendance here after a long long time. I was reading small, easy going books in the meantime as I have lost the will to read serious, worthwhile books.
But these pleasant reads didnot d..."
Is Infinite Jest difficult to read? A friend told me it's a great book.

[Ahtims]

I tried and failed thrice. it is magnificent, but very eccentric.

[Akanksha]

I heard that it's great for tennis lovers (which I am). I might try reading it sometime soon.

[Ahtims]

Yes, tennis academy is featured in great detail, but nothing like what we have. it is sort of an alternate reality science fiction.

[Ahtims]

My updates:
War and Peace - crawling along with a chapter a day
The Alienist - in short bursts of 5% each
Goat days - completed. And what a book!

Started
The Bean Trees - in fits and bits, whenever I am carrying Kindle paperwhite to work

Shall start soon
Summer Knight - an experiment wherein I am deeming to read the 4th book of a series, with the only knowledge that Harry Dresden, the wizard is one of my Good Reads friend's hero, and she recommended it. :P

The Final Empire - this was picked up for me in the "Pick for me" challenge of Aug. 2016

Neverwhere - not at all keen, but unfortunately it is selected as the Book of the Month for August by Indian Readers. I will make an honest attempt to read it.

and whatever that catches my fancy in between...


Waiting in the queue

The House of the Spirits- Manju and me have been waiting to BR it since July, but unfortunately, no time...

The Hungry Tide- one of my favorite authors. So looking forward to reading it with Jaya and co. form Aug 1st.

Poirot Investigates - Christie carnage group read - shall fit this in between bigger books. Knowing that it is a bunch of short stories makes it easier.

[Indrani]

Lovely list of reads. I would definitely be reading Poirot Investigates..

[Ahtims]

Yay.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

And I'd like to join for hungry tide.

[Ahtims]

The more the merrier. We start on Aug 1. :-)

[dely]

I liked House of the Spirits! But it's magical realism though not as much as One Hundred Years of Solitude that you didn't like if I don't go wrong. But in this book there are mainly female characters so perhaps you will like it. I'm sure you will like it.

[Ahtims]

Thanks, dely. Shall see how I find it. I know it is magical realism. :-)

[Ahtims]

August Plans:
Continue with
War and Peace- meandered towards part 2 in nearly a month.
The Alienist - not at all the psychological thriller I hoped for :/
Poirot Investigates - very tedious as of now
The Hidden Oracle- book is good, but am not finding the mood to indulge Apollo and his demigods.

start

Neverwhere - IR group read
Possession - erudite brains of Girish and Vimal have chosen it. I may sling off in the middle if it is too much for me
Summer Knight - Another fantasy by Manju[thismodisverystrict]. So I have to complete it. :P
The Final Empire - suggested by Mridupawan for Aug. pick me up challenge
The Hungry Tide -Gorab, Jaya et al.

So my plate is full...

[Indrani]

Yes. Your plate is rather full and a fair amount of heavy reads.

I am also planning to read neverwhere for the group read. I haven't got restarted with Alienist yet. :)

[Ahtims]

I wouldn't recommend the Alienist, if you haven't started yet. Or you can visit the book shelves of those who gave it 4 and 5 starts and see whether your tastes are common, and then proceed :-)

[Ahtims]

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 :P)
I decided to
-be still more organized and productive in my reading
-spend less time online in GR (a tough thing to do which needs courage, but I will persevere
-devout time to my household chores, workouts and grooming on a day to day basis.
-take frequent breaks from the fictional world I am living in , and try to talk to more people -using my mouth and larynx, not my fingers and keypad :P :P - another extremely tough task .

Let me see whether I succeed.

[Indrani]

Coffee Bean wrote: "I wouldn't recommend the Alienist, if you haven't started yet. Or you can visit the book shelves of those who gave it 4 and 5 starts and see whether your tastes are common, and then proceed :-)"

My pick-it-for-me partner chose "the alienist" for me.. there is an option of reading "the woman in white" as well... Let's see.. but I have to read one of the two...

[Indrani]

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 ..."

Agree with all the rest. But is there much difference really between talking with fingers and talking with voice.. when one is with like-minded people, both are equally rewarding..

[Gorab, TheGunman]

That's 4 tough tasks in a row! All the best Col!
While you don't use your keypad, we would prefer to keep talking to your AC :D
And ya me too prefer spending time in face to face interactions, but not many like minded people around :\

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Curious question : Whats the secret for chosing Coffee Bean?

[Sorry! I shouldn't be cajoling you to spend time on GR with a keypad ;)]

[Ahtims]

Gorab and Indrani, with me fingertips via keypads do all the talking. If you chance upon me in person, I would not maintain eye to eye contact, and would not speak unless spoken to. I have negligible social charms.
So you arent really cajoling me ... :P

Actually, till now , though I cant call it a complete success, I have considerably cut down my cyber time, other than for doing work related publication references, reading up on work rel things etc. So am feeling happy, in a way.

I am giving myself 4 slots - morn, aft, even., night for cyber activities. Evening and night ones, not more than 20 min each, other 2 around 5-10 min.

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

Coffee Bean wrote: "Gorab and Indrani, with me fingertips via keypads do all the talking. If you chance upon me in person, I would not maintain eye to eye contact, and would not speak unless spoken to. I have negligible social charms..."

same pinch Col. am just like you. :D

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Coffee Bean wrote: "If you chance upon me in person...."

Hopefully someday :)
Considering your writing skills, all that you've written feels like a fictional character :P Have never personally felt you'd shy away from talking. And you've said similar things before, so I know it must be true. Difficult to believe.

[Ahtims]

he he.. some day.
I feel that texting and talking are inversely proportionate, though people like Sri, yourself, Jaya etc. are extrovert in "real life" too
Manju, myself, Abhay, Aditya (non moderator) all claim to be intros...

Or perhaps, since we all know each other through GR, we may not have much difficulty in talking.

Really interesting for a psychologist... to study group behaviour , on and off line. :P

[Jaya]

Extrovert??!! who me??!!! O.O
Absolutely not!
I chatter away with you people only because am comfortable, like you said ^.^
Otherwise am usually the loner/broody kinds ;)

[Ahtims]

Welcome to our club then... :-P
(after you recover from the jhatka of being called an extrovert :-P)

[Jaya]

geee thank u