Indian Readers discussion
READING PROGRESS 2017
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Em reads, records and reminisces...
Mod
What is it with me and links? Am fed up with links. -__-
Mod
Mod
DAY 6. MONTH 1
Ermm... did I miss a day in between? But no worries, as nothing much was done.
Today I am eagerly waiting to go back to Disgrace
the story of illicit attraction between an aged college professor and a young female student. The ever happening thing...
but this book deals more with the consequences than the act itself.
Initial one fourth was just so.... but afterwards the story has picked up. I am enjoying mentally debating about the choices and words and actions of the Professor, who is now exiled to his daughter's farm in a remote place in South Africa.
Am BRing it with Girish and Vimal.
And loving it...... (as of now)
This book also serves the purpose of fitting into a couple of my challenges.
In the meanwhile listening to Payment in Blood - second book of the Elizabeth George police procedural series, which I am addicted to. I have read all the books in paperback but at random, now am savoring it in an orderly way as the book not only deals with the crime, but also with the lives of the police team.
It is the biblio equivalent of a TV soap opera to me.
Mod
The reading desolution continues...
Being a Sunday, I had to attend official business, and didnot get even 5 min to read.
So have let the current reads dangling at various stages
The Good Children - still continue to irk their not so good mother
Half a King - at 12% - the prince is still contemplating his fate
And in 'Payment in Blood" the detective team is frozen just minutes before a monumental discovery that will lead them to the killer.
But no worries... I have whole of today evening to compensate for.
I will put it to good use. :)
Mod
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Was your mind on the book while you were on those official businesses? :P Sometimes the books are so absorbing, it takes a few days after starting to a book really live in reality :P :D
Mod
My mind is always with my fictional characters. So it wasn;t anything new. :P
Manju wrote: "Aha! You're in for a shocker now. :)"
Whoosh...
Mod
The drought continues.
Early morning walking was enhanced by an unexpected [pleasant] surprise. At a whim, I restarted Hobbit, the paperback of which I had given up as uninteresting, and lo behold... I was smitten. The beatifically modulated voice narrating the various creatures.. the cadence, the rhythm... I am totally sucked into the Hobbit hole, the wild wild woods, and much beyond.
I am totally in awe...
Afternoon precious half an hour was devoted to snoring away in glory with the paperback of Good Children, lying upon torso, and moving with the respiratory cycle... not that I could see it, just guessing so...
Evening caught up in surprise {this time, nasty... delay related to work] and by the time I came home, it was not conducive to reading as chores were awaiting in plenty.
Still managed a few pages of the Good Children......
Idiot has been beckoning for me for days now... and today the lure is too much. I am getting a mild anxiety attack in not having started the book. So after I finish roaming around in GR, most probably I will start the book today
As for Small Great THings - NO IMPETUS TO READ. Contemplating that book is somewhat akin to contemplating a dental appointment.
Mod
Accomplishment of the day - finished THE HOBBIT.
Feeling 'Oh so virtuous' as I had left the paperback halfread at 30%, and then prompted by friends, took up the audio book, and fell in love with it..
One instance where listening was better than reading... (usually I prefer reading to listening as I can go along my own pace, whereas listening slows me down considerably).
That, my friend , is where I come in, for quite by chance and the will of a Wizard, fate decided I would become part of this tale. It began...well, it began as you might expect ,when you abandon the book ...The Hobbit :P
Mod
50-50 credit to you and Jayanth
I am probably a bit late with this but it's never too late for anything!:P@Em happy reading -may you have a lovely reading year ahead:)
and read far far more books than your target read -Happy Reading:)
Mod
never too late is my motto :P
hey but I think I am very late :P:P(I am so laaazy!!)welcome :)
Mod
Am reading at a steady slow trickle of about 40 to 50 pages a day. Not bad, considering my workload and other commitments.
And meanwhile contemplating things such as
a. Somehow being gifted a moneymaking machine that will spout out currency in all forms and natures, but not to excess, only what is needed, which will enable me to stay at home and read
b. Being immortal and reading a lot, while traveling around the world. But this immortal me should be able to have full control of all senses, and taste food too.
c. I kept to my promise of not buying books indiscriminately. And my new book count this year still remains at 1.
Books I am reading
The Good Children - excellent, loving the characterization. I have found another Asian author to fawn upon.
Reminisced a lot on India and Pakistan. These 2 countries seem like siblings, rather twins. I could identify with the people in the story, despite being from another religion, and I wonder how we came to be enemies.
Imagining an alternative world where India and Pakistan are friendly neighbours.
The Idiot - reading in bits and pieces.. so havent got into the story much.
Truly, Madly, Guilty - this book is an audio treat - akin to a well anticipated desert. I am gobbling it up whenever I can.
Half a King - YA fantasy. But going good at 40%
Tonight I have a dinner meeting to attend, so sadly not much progress can be expected in the reading arena. :/
Hahaha. Nice update! If you have some promising news regarding your researches on the first two points, do let me know. I want in on them. Lol :P
What you say about India and Pakistan reminds me of my own thoughts a few years ago when I was a madly raging, angry patriot. I'd written a poem and if you do not mind, will put it hear. It's basically the same thoughts as yours:earth was round, or so it was proved
a few hundred years ago,
countries that had enough yearned for more,
and those that were weak
later revolted with a hurt ego,
driving the conquerors home
who knew it was time to go,
non-violence is what finally
won over the blood-lust furor,
independence achieved,
at a hurting price they had to forgo,
it took all but a night,
for the return of the dreadful vertigo,
brothers of blood turned into enemies in arms,
slaying the word ‘amigo’,
choosing peace, we let go off a piece,
of land and pride,
away they went packing their cargo.
eventually, religious turmoil only grew,
and non-violence was put to silence,
meanwhile, tastes changed to western spices and brew,
all the time, the population only grew,
with it the lives that fall under the poverty line,
some of this became history,
some of it mere past,
some things were forgotten,
some were not cared for,
some, disregarded,
new things were learnt,
while own things were sold.
all this is to play a very important role,
no less a subplot in a major plot,
the story that is to unfold,
is what is being told.
India.
And a flurry of emotions in me.
Mod
Sure.. sure...
Mod
A beautiful poem...and an apt one too.
You know there's a thread for poems here in IR....
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
But a sleepy one, as there are not many poets here in this group, I guess...
Mod
Currently on page 404 of Good children.
Mod
Today I got reasonable amount of free time after two arid weeks. Am totally enjoying my reading. Finished off The Good Children.
And am contemplating whether to finish off the other pending reads or to go through my challenges and select an apt book.
The psychothriller craver in me is asking for gore, blood and psychological conundrum. So perhaps I will satisfy the ogre in me.
Finished The Good Children and what a book!
I am totally in awe of the writer, and will surely look forward to reading more from her.
Am so happy that my gamble paid off.. more than I expected.
An unknown title, unknown author, the book ordered onine just looking at the coverart and as it cost peanuts... Rs. 38 to be precise.
Would be a treasured occupant of my bookshelves.
And one day I may even read it again.
Mod
One such pick is
This is the cover I have.. bought for second hand at around 100 rupees from Gopal books via Amazon.
I have come to respect Stephen King's writing - not for its horror value but for his exquisite description which makes me feel sucked into the vortex of the story.
I want fictional friends, I want to visit fictional places and nightmares.. as King is sure to oblige.
The title was a key factor in my starting this.
I suffer from insomnia ever since I remember.
There was a time when I was about 4 or 5 (before I could read for long without any help) when I used to get up from my bed after my parents fell asleep in the other room, slowly crawl into their bed and sit in between them, holding on to both with one hand each. Remember sitting like that for long... and sometimes one or the other would wake up adn try to pat me back to sleep.
In my growing years, I used to suffer insomnia before major exams - those days were awful as I desperately wanted to sleep so as to be fresh for next day's ordeal and I could not.
The insomnia I love is the recent one, where as a grown up adult with no looming exams, I can read at a stretch.
But I dont welcome Insomnia, as the next day I am very woozy and avoid my early morning walk, and at work I have this lightheadedness as if I am on drugs.
I wish for insomnia on saturday nights, which never happen.... oh, the contrariness of life.
Yesterday night I started Insomnia thinking I will get insomnia, but within a page or two I was snoring away to glory with the book on my prone torso (snoring part, not sure... but my husband vouchsafes for it )
Your post made me laugh. Maybe more Insomnia is needed in your life to fall asleep :P
Mod
Mod
Currently o..."
This sounds soooooo delicious! And I can see you had a nice time :)
"But find that I have lost appetite to read in a group."
Hobbit and Idiot? And a booker?
I'll try balancing your act by joining in more group reads :P
On that account, lets read another Murakami (in a group? :P) to douse the differences of Insomnia, Daydreaming, Sleep and Consciousness, and blend them all into one!
Mod
Hahahaa.. It's a cute story about your childhood insomnia :) I have self-induced insomnia. I sleep very late every night, reading or watching movies. :D The effects of the whole week of meager sleep show on the weekends when I want to do nothing but lie in bed (but not sleep :P).
Mod
Jayanth and Gorab... well yoi guys are lucky in never having had much peoblem with insomnia... well.... I have never invited it wholeheartedly. At the earliest sign of sleepiness I quickly try to drift off to sleep as I know insomnia considers me her close friend and visits often and long.
My husband is the other extreme ...he can sleep off anywhere anyhow. Many a night I have envied his snores.
Oh, :P but you have no idea of my struggles with insomnia. :D I hate to sleep, so I avoid sleeping until I cannot hold it off any longer. So, it's like, I consider insomnia my close friend :P :D I had to go to doctor and now I'm taking sleeping pills as a prescription :D They aren't helping much, lol :D :|
Mod
Nowadays am getting very less time to read. Hence decided to.read only what I like.
For the time being it is "Cut like a wound" - a powerful serial murder novel focussing on transgenders of India, set in Bangalore.
Am lapping it up as the writing is beautiful and the story reminds me of the umpteen Malayalam movies with Mammootty as the eccentric lone police bent upon finding the murderer /justice.
It is my comfort read in between chores and long working days.
Mod
and just saw your updated clearing shelf post. Good to know the price tag of your books. gives a different kinda lurking satisfaction :)
Mod
Cut like a wound is quite good..
Have you ever watched those South Indian police procedural movies? This one reads like that... but has more depth and characterization.
I remember watching more than a couple in my childhood
Not getting the names, but.
Mod
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Thanks Resh.
Mod
But parents are here, son will be back by around 12 pm, so reading will take a backseat.
I will be busy chatting with parents and reminiscing about old days. Plus I will be coerced into cleaning the house - almost a ceremonial thing when parents visit.
And stealing half hourly reads in between will be exciting.
Bent upon finishing Half a King today. After that, my modus operandi would be try to finish off the challenge books one by one. (Popsugar and Bookriots Read Harder, chiefly).
Mod
Let me know how it goes. Congrats on the new buy☺
Completed four books so far this year: One Indian Girl, Everyone Has A Story, Small Great Things and The Spy. Will start The Vegetarian soon. Any idea where the cheapest copy can be bought?
Mod
Total no. of books read - 13
Moloka'i
Disgrace
Payment in blood
Hobbit
Good Children
Rear Window
Cut like Wound
The private life of Mrs. Sharma
The woman in cabin 10
Adulthood is a myth
Half of a king
The girl before
Island of thousand mirrors
BEST LOVED - perhaps, the girl before
Didnt like much - Half of a king, Hobbit.
Total no. of pages read - 3807 -roughly 100 odd pages a day
Not bad, for my schedule.. patting self on back :P
Mod
Any idea where the cheapest copy can be bought?"
You may try bookchor.com or amazon second sales, if it is available there.
Mod
Total no. of books read - 13
Moloka'i
Disgrace
Payment in blood
Hobbit
Good Children
Rear Window
Cut like Wound
The private life of Mrs. Sharma
The woman in cabin 10
Adulthood is a myt..."
Not bad, Syl. good going. :D
Jayanth wrote: "What you say about India and Pakistan reminds me of my own thoughts a few years ago when I was a madly raging, angry patriot. I'd written a poem and if you do not mind, will put it hear. It's basic..."Interesting poem, interesting thoughts. People want to correct injustice and suffering, but in the process, more suffering can ensue.
I always think of Robbie Burns' lines, "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn."
Mod
February has been good to me, though it is too early to tell.
Read 3 cute, small books.
Reading another 3 which are interesting...
And choosing books based on only ONE criterion - whether it catches my fancy or not.. and LOVING IT
So bye bye challenges, bye bye group reads... (except perhaps a couple or two with close buddies) - here comes the carefree me to revel in books.
BOOK BUYING LOG
The count so far is 2 new books this year - pretty good, if I may say so myself.
Hopefully my tendency to buy indiscriminately is being effectively curbed.
Mod
Apt lines... but I guess inhumanity and wrongdoings will continue as long as humanity survives.
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
Best-Loved Indian Stories of the Century, Vol. 1 (other topics)Into the Water (other topics)
Into the Water (other topics)
Catch-22 (other topics)
Eileen (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Hans Christian Andersen (other topics)Franz Kafka (other topics)
S.L. Bhyrappa (other topics)
Whats with your read-shelf link with Moloka'i... or did you intend to put the review link?
Glad to see the first wicket down :)
Fantastic Beasts cover looks awesome! You must be extremely thankful to G for this :P
What are you starting next?