Indian Readers discussion
READING PROGRESS 2017
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Read Rest Repeat :what I will be reading when not reading a text book
Mod
kindle reads are those books which I feel like reading without waiting for it to be delivered. generally a feeling induced by some strong review or a very promising blurb of a book . paperbacks or hardcovers are generally purchased because I love the feeling of buying a book and books I could wait patiently to be delivered through courier . kindles on the other hand are to satiate the need of urgency :)
Mod
Most of the times I end up reading the bought books almost after an year or so. This practice could curb the impulsive buys which will never ever be read.
this is only for kindle ,I have so many physical copies I am yet to read .but I will read them eventually as they are 4+ rated books
I do spend some time daily on news letters subscribe to your email...only your interest...not common news dump.
Book 22:chander paharformat : paperback , Hardcover :)
My rating:5 bright brilliant well deserved ★★★★★ s
MY REVIEW/THOUGHTS :
তারপর যাত্রা শুরু হারিয়ে যাওয়া সেই হীরের খনির সন্ধানে...চাঁদের পাহাড়ে... পদে পদে বিপদ্... তৃষ্ণা মেটাবার জল নেই, কখনো বা খাবার নেই, বাচার তাগিদে বাতে চোখেঁ ঘুম নেই... মৃত্যুর হাতছানি, ক্ষুধা, তৃষ্ণা, ভয়, রোমাঞ্চ সব কিছু মিলে এ এক ...
A favorite from childhood .I have read this book in Bengali , Odia and English ...multiple times ...
I remember purchasing this book from News paper Radiwala (scavenger) as a small boy . Though I was given a free hand at purchasing story books in my childhood , I was adamant at paying for my own books (mostly:P) .I used to love the sense of absolute ownership on my books and had a Puppy house toy for saving my prize money / pocket money /money from selling old newspapers for this very purpose .In this toy, a dog comes every time you press a coin at the door , to take the coin and store it inside the house :)
So I remember while selling old newspaper to the Radiwala , I saw this book with a beautiful cover , only to purchase it from him with my puppy house savings .Little did I know ,at that time, it was a famous book by a famous Bengali author whose another work Pather panchali: the song of the road and it's sequel were adapted into a film trilogy directed by 'Satyajit Roy' , the creator of my another favorite sleuth from books 'Feluda'. At that time , while reading the book , the only feeling was that of finding a treasure . And a treasure it truly was :)
About the book (from blurb ) :
It is the story of a young Bengali man’s adventures in Africa in the years 1909-1910. Shankar, the protagonist, is a 20 year old man, recently graduated from college and about to take up a job in a jute mill, a prospect he absolutely loathes.
He yearns for adventure, wild lands, forests and animals. He wants to follow the footsteps of famous explorers like Livingstone, Mungo Park, Marco Polo, all of whom he has read about and idolizes. By a stroke of luck, he secures a job as a clerk in Uganda Railways through a fellow villager already working there and goes to Africa without a second thought.
After a few months laying rail tracks, he encounters the first of many dangers in pre-World War I Africa: a man-eating lion. Later, he takes up a job as station-master in a desolate station amidst the Veldts, where he to narrowly escapes a deadly black mamba. While at this post, Shankar encounters, rescues and nurses Diego Alvarez, a middle-age Portuguese explorer and gold/diamond prospector. Alvarez's arrival becomes a turning point in Shankar's life.
What followed was an epic adventure and the way Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay describes it in his book , I vividly remember the chill I felt while reading this book as a child under a mango tree , as a teen hidden inside my text book and as a grown up man while returning from work in a heavy Delhi traffic :)
while randomly searching for books, few days ago, in Amazon I chanced upon a graphic novel based on this book
I wouldn't say the art work was great . but I really enjoyed reading this book in another form ,for one more time
P.S. 1-This book was adapted into a decent Bengali Movie in 2013 .
2-The writer had never been to Africa , yet described so clearly it's wilderness in the story .
Spirit-Soul-Body ( Lil Book Harpy ) wrote: "I do spend some time daily on news letters subscribe to your email...only your interest...not common news dump.":) thank you :)
Book 23:AFTER FAILURE, WHAT?; and other ten articles on success.format : kindle :)
My rating:bright brilliant inspiring well deserved full stars ★★★★★ :)
started The Fellowship of the Ringonly first chapter done so far :)
"well, I have made up my mind anyway .I want to see mountains again Gandalf-mountains; and then find some where where I can rest .In peace and quite without a lots of relative prying around and a string of confounded visitors hanging on the bell .I might find somewhere where I can finish my book .I have thought of a nice ending for it as well : and he lived happily ever after to the end of his days "
-Bilbo Baggins , TFoTR
Every time I read this I couldn't help but think about my own plan to leave for Utarakhand ,may be Kashauli or some lesser known village , rent a small house looking into a beautiful green valley . All I will take with me - books , 180-200 books and read read and read to my hearts content .For a year .Far from friends ,far from family, far from people I know .Far from people who know me .For a year just books , me , the beautiful hills, valleys and springs. I will read a lot .And when the rain comes to the valley , that welcoming smell of wet earth hit my nose ,I will read even more .Some other day I will run down hill , while it is still raining , singing those songs from Hobbit "Far over the misty mountains cold" or may be I will sit inside a hill side tea shop and finish the book " Chasing Monsoon " while enjoying my first cup of coffee in years or may be enjoying a cup of masala chai for the first time in my life .A date in an unknown place , an unknown tea shop and an unknown taste with rain I know and love so much ,with books I know and love so much :)
Now I know why Ruskin Bond is one of your favorite authors..
Mod
only first chapter done so far :)
"well, I have made up my mind anyway .I want to see mountains again Gandalf-mountains; and then find some where where..."
Nice dream. I too feel like doing something like that.. but for a week initially as a trial run. :D
Rebecca wrote: "Now I know why Ruskin Bond is one of your favorite authors..":D :D :D same plan for kerala also .not year long but may be a month :) .Actually it's one of the 2 states I have never been to .But I am a big time DQ and Nivin Paully movie fan. I have watched every movie of both of them . vikramadithyan, OM SHANTI OSHANA, NIRAM ,NIJAM , 1983,CHARLIE,Bangalore Days ,Ustad Hotel ,... .I just love those frames they show in those movies .those beautiful houses , trees , hills and those beautiful frames of rain :) :)
Shalini wrote: "Tarinee wrote: "started The Fellowship of the Ringonly first chapter done so far :)
"well, I have made up my mind anyway .I want to see mountains again Gandalf-mountains; and then find ..."
:D :D ... good luck ... :D
Mod
Ha ha ha true that :D Even I was thinking the same while reading his comment :)
What kind of beverages do you like? Plain white milk, or with bournvita n stuff?
Trainee Kerala is a beautiful place especially my place full of greenery Hills and of course rains...
Mod
I can vouch for that!
@Gorab ,Rebecca : ) :) :)Next visit to God's own country pakka :)@Rebecca: not fair :p lucky you :) :)
Book 24: Elon Musk: Inventing the Futureformat : paper back :)
My rating:5 out and out mad stars ★★★★★ :)
I trust people with flaws .They are predictable in an unpredictable way .It's the perfect ones i am afraid of .
This biography was an accidental read with The successful lunch of Falcon9 and Musk making it into news and eventually to an academic interest .But 5 star because I thoroughly enjoyed with all the flaws :)
Book 25: The Fellowship of the Ringformat : Audio book by Rob Inglish :)
My rating: ★★★★★ Can I give more ? :)
Mod
Glad you loved it. High five to another Musk fan!
Mod
listening to an audio book of two tower currently .No plans to pick any other book before completing this trilogy , which will be a slow read with few other commitments piling up . So Audio books are kind of a big Relief with contributing so much to my multi tasking but I am mostly listening to them while running . Running is my part of the day I always look forward to .But with this audio book it has become more exciting :)
With Aragon , Legolas ,Gimli running after Orcs ,Orcs running for Isengard , Sam and Frodo running away from the fellowship and me running on the track in circle and going nowhere :P make into a strange but beautiful experience . Makes it more believable that I am part of the adventure :) :D
And Picked the name Kakashi from Naruto Series . Always a big fan of the manga and it has shaped my life in more than one way . I always wanted to be Kakashi or Lock Lee but mostly Kakashi .So here I am "Kakasi Hatake ":)
Gorab wrote: "Why no adjectives for the stars of book 26-27-28!"will edit it with proper adjectives some other day :)
Book 29: The Two Towersformat : Audio book + leather bound deluxe edition :)
My rating: 5 rosan sitara ★★★★★ for the dark times ahead :)
Because "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
About some friends from the book :
For Sam :
ये हमारी ज़िन्दगी
एक लंबा सफर ही तो है
चलते हैं जिसपे हम
अनजानी डगर ही तो है
देख संभलना, बचके निकलना
जो नहीं चलते देख के आगे
ठोकर से हैं चूर....
For Frodo :
ऊँचे नीचे रास्ते
और मंज़िल तेरी दूर
राह में राही रुक न जाना
होकर के मजबूर
For Golum :
गर्म था, सर्द था
खिला था, ज़र्द था
नहीं था ख्वाब (precious) वो
कई रातों का सिरदर्द था
For Gandalf :
हर बदलते हुए को बेमुरव्वत कहा
चुन लीं कुछ गालियां, हाथ पत्थर लिए
जो बदलने चला वो ज़हर ही पिए
मैं तो फिर भी कहूं
कि चलो कुछ करें
कुछ बदलने का बाकी रहे इक भरम
उड़ उड़ जाने दो
और फिसल जाने दो
रोक कर थाम कर जो रक्खे हैं क़दम
For Legolas :
भूला हुआ वक्त
भूले हुए लोग
भूला हुआ घर
भूला हुआ कल
भूली हुई यादें
भूली हुई बात
भूली हुई शाम
भूली हुई रात
एक तुम ही नहीं
गुमशुदा इन दिनों
एक मैं ही नहीं
भूलI अपना रास्ता।
For Aragon :
किसने कहा मुश्किलें कम हो गईं,
यहां हर शख़्स सौ दर्द लिए चलता है।
जिगर में एक चिंगारी थी, वो अब दिल तक पहुंची है
कि जलता दिल भी आँखें सर्द लिए चलता है !
And we will walk my friends , for a last time among the woods , on the dark roads of Mordor for a final adventure ..... To well come The Return of the King .
And then we will part our ways ?
You waiting in the pages of the book . To be opened by someone else . To walk the same path with him again . To go on the same adventure with him , to defeat Saruman and Souran .Will you then remember me , my friends ? The boy who walked with you once .
Some stories are meant to be read . some to be LIVED .
Mod
Mod
@Gorab G :D I so wish they would :) so much to tell .so much to fan boy over :) though I would not mind learning the common tongue of middle earth , if transported there tapping some old world magic .....(?)#$%^&*accidentally .
so the final journey has begun and thus counting my last days on middle earth ...I can’t wait to finish it because it’s so great; I don’t want it to ever end because it’s so great.
It’s the age old reader’s conundrum!
So going for optimization ...reading it slow ..snail like slow..hoping it -will-last- for- a- year like slow :)
Book 30:Tales of Fosterganj Format:Kindle Unlimited :) (first book )
My rating: 5 twinkling stars plucked from the clean sky just after fresh rain on a late summer evening ★★★★★ :)
Where to begin ?
How about a dream and a poem ?
"keep right on to the end of the road ,
keep right on to the end
If your way be long
let your heart be strong
And keep right onto the end.
If you're tired and weary
still carry on ,
Till you come to your happy abode.
And then all you love And are dreaming of,
Will be there----
At the end of the road "
What do I really love and dream of ?
A Ruskin Bond book and a surprise rain on a late summer evening of leisure .
Heavy drops of rain followed by hail stones bouncing of the stony path .Gust of wind rushing through the trees , leaves and small branches swirling through the air and flashes of lightening to light up the darkening sky .
Rhythmical tapping of rain drops on glass window.
Bliss .
And smell of wet earth .
Nirvana.
A traveler's nightmare
A reader's heaven .
About the book ?
This book is about stories happened during the year long stay of the author in Fosterganj .A single story of 134 pages with stories in parts . A perfect blend of fiction and reality .Vintage Bond.
An old world charm . Even older world magic . Bond at his best .
This is a story about Hassan and Sunil and Vishal ,Old Foster and long-tailed magpies flitting among the oak trees .This is the story about a pickpocket , a baker , a banker and a man eating leopard.
There is element of mystery , super natural events ,situational comedy , witty single lines , pinch of philosophy and observations about life in a small town .A mix flavored ice lolly whose test lingers long after the last sip of the melting ice .
Should you read this ?
Read this .Read this Ten times .
What will happen in the end ?
The rain will stop .The book will end .And you will be smiling like the blue sky opening up .
A content heart .A muddy earth .
A reader in trance cleaned of malice. Nature in trance cleaned of the dirt .
A rain has passed
A story has ended
Mod
Mod
And congrats for KU. How long you've subscribed? Hope you find many interesting titles. Happy reading.
@Gorab bhai :Thank you .do read the book though .Highly recommended for you and Arpit :)I subscribed it yesterday only .Going after few Bond books and it was difficult to chose with repetition of some stories under diff. title .So thought KU will be a welcome choice . This book was a gem of a find though .Going for "who kissed me in the dark " tonight .It's raining in my Home town . And Bond's words and rain are like Jai and veeru .It's fun to watch them together :)
Book 31:The Water That Falls on You from NowhereFormat:http://www.tor.com/2013/02/20/the-wat...
My rating: 4 twinkling sad beautiful magical stars ★★★★ :) :(
Book 32:Musafir CafeFormat:kindle unlimited :)
My rating: छिपने दो तारों को बादलों के पीछे
आज जुगनो की रोशनी काफ़ी है★★★★
"I want to build a world full of books , coffee , hills and rain "
किताब मैं बहुत से बातें ऐसी थी जो काफ़ी गहरी थी .मॅन छू लेने बलि गहराई .किताब को नीचे रख सोच ने पर मजभूर कर देने बाली गहराई !
कुछ ऐसे भी पार्ट थे जो आउटराइट जेनेरिक थे और कुछ सपने थे जो काफ़ी निजी थे ! रसकिन बॉन्ड भी थे और था किताबों का ज़िक्र ! एक रिस्ता था जो अपने आप मैं उलझा हुआ था और जिंदेगी से उलझती दस साल मैं अपने आप ही सुलझ गयी ! अंत मैं कोई एंडिंग ना मिला पर एक आने बाले खूबसूरत दिन का आभास था !
ये काबीता उस कहानी का हिसा नही था पर इस कबीता की बहुत से हिसे उस कहानी के है
"खिच लो इस सोर से सहेर की इस भीड़ से
तुम्हारी अंदर बैठी उस खामोसी की और
आज खिच लो पकड़ के हात फिर एक बार
तुम्हारी आँखो मैं भरी उस बारिस की और
चल लो दो कदम साथ मेरे
लंबी जिंदेगी पड़ी और बड़े रास्ते बाकी है
छिपने दो तारों को बादलों के पीछे
आज जुगनो की रोशनी काफ़ी है
अगर मॅन ना हो तो बात ना करो मुझ से तुम
तुम्हारी बातें मेहेर है ..पर आज तुम्हारा साथ काफ़ी है "
Book 33:Tigers for Dinner: Tall Tales by Jim Corbett's KhansamaFormat:kindle unlimited :)
My rating: 5 stars painted red blue black green purple and pink★★★★★
Some 65 pages .This story was fun and the art work was great .Just look at the book cover .so cute :)
Currently in Kiriburu , a hill top village in Odisha - Jharkhand border . With prelims over yesterday ,I am going to stay here for 4-5 days before returning to Delhi .So yes..finally a well earned break .And break means books without break :)
By the way this place is beautiful . It rained as I arrived a couple of hours before Dusk .But it was already Dark .The road is curved round the hill and driving was partly dangerous in rain.As the rain got heavier towards the end we were forced to make a stop. But I couldn't stay inside the Bus.I have always loved the wind just before the rain . The way the wind carries the moist .The smell of rain and earth in the air .Here in kiriburu ,at the top of the hill, it's even more beautiful.Here, It feels as if you are walking among the clouds . Yes I should have been worried about a couple of beautiful paperbacks I was carrying in my backpack .But noway I was going to miss this walk among clouds :)
And from where I am staying (A friend's house) you can see a sharp drop into the valley .Looking at the gust of wind rushing through the trees , leaves and small branches swirling through the air and flashes of lightening in the dark sky , I know I have found a perfect place for a lazy read of 4 long days .
Supposed books :
1-Watership Down
2-Tigana
3-Chasing the Monsoon
4-Sesher Kobita, The Last Poem
5-Who Kissed Me in the Dark
Also noticed , as I was walking to my friend's house , a tea cum sweet/tiffin shop , with promise of a beautiful unintentional window seat looking into a valley .Will explore that in the morning .
Who knows . May be that's where I will find out 'who kissed me in the dark' or why 'Tigana' is so loved by so many of my friends on Goodreads or hope someone will ask me "Tumi Bangali ki ?" while reading "Shesher Kobita" or make my own plan of "Chasing the Monsoon" .From that window seat looking into the valley .
I hope it will Rain then :)
Mod
thank you Shalini :)completed 'Who kissed me in the dark' Going to add one more Bond book to the list All Roads Lead To Ganga .Though I am equally tempted for Walking The Himalayas or Becoming a Mountain: Himalayan Journeys in Search of the Sacred and the Sublime :)
Mod
am so jealous. and all the best for Prelims results. :)
you have paperback for all the five books?
only watership and Tigana are in paperback..shesher kobita is in a Bengali hardcover ,monsoon a purchased kindle/eBook and who kissed me is borrowed under KU
Mod
Excellent Kakashi! Reading RB on a hill top in this season!
Glad to see you're reading Shesher Kobita in Bengali.
Mod
which Tigana edition you are reading?
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Hungry Tide (other topics)Time Stops at Shamli and Other Stories (other topics)
The Shadow of the Wind (other topics)
Tigana (other topics)
Leave It to Psmith (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Neil Gaiman (other topics)Ruskin Bond (other topics)
format : kindle :)
My rating:4 bright brilliant well deserved ★★★★ :)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...