Three Bots in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Lurkers)

[[deleted user]]

Welcome to the virtual Malgudi!!
On a sunny morning, RKN wrote-

"People pretended that they were friends, when the fact was they were brought together by force of circumstances."

In our case, the force was our common love for books. It was because of the book we read together that we came to know more about each other, and became the good friends we are today. #Books_Make_The_World_Go_Round
We started our buddy reading with a RKN book — The Guide it was —and we later enjoyed many of his other works too. We greatly admire him and his literary works, therefore we dedicated our thread name to him, i.e. it is named after his novella Talkative Man.

We originally started our thread in another Goodreads group named Reader's Paradise. Here's a link to that original thread: Talkative Menz-I

We had some great discussion there. Now, we are shifting our thread here.

We are planning to read and discuss books here. That's the actual intention though, but who knows! :P

Our Reading Logs-
Gorab's reading log- Gorab's 2017 Explorations
Arpit's reading log- *pretends that it does not exist*

Anyway, people are welcome to join (and spam) :)

[[deleted user]]

Read
1. The Guide by R.K. Narayan

Remark- Loved by both.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Remark: A Goddam book that killed us.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

3. Nirmala by Munshi Premchand

Remark: We sympathised with Nirmala.
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

4. A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

Remark: This book taught us that finding a suitable boy is not THAT easy.
Average rating- (5+5)/2=5

5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Remark: Ohh Bruno!!
Average rating- (4+3)/2=3.5

6. The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Remark:
Average rating- (4+4)/2=4

7. Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Remark:
Average Rating- (3+3)/2=3

8. The Man-Eater of Malgudi by R.K. Narayan

Remark: One of the best of RKN!
Average Rating- (4+4)/2=4

9. Talkative Man by R.K. Narayan

Remark: Weakest work of RKN!
Average Rating- (2+2)/2=2

10. Waiting for the Mahatma by R.K. Narayan

Remark: Again RKN at his best! According to Gorab, RKN's most realistic work EVER!
Average Rating- (4+4)/2=4

11. Ruskin Bond books

Remark: Just pure, pollution-free love ;)
Average Rating- They all were like 4-5 star material.

Currently-reading


To-be-read (in no particular order)
1. Sapiens: A Brief History of HumankindGodan by Yuval Noah Harari

[[deleted user]]

common tbr wishlist :
1. A Fine Balance
2. Premchand's works - Godan, Sevasadan....
3. Khushwant Singh's.
4. RKN's.
5. Interpreter of Maladies

Arpit's recommendations (non classics) :
1. Siddartha
2. Lajja
3. Between Shades of Gray
4. Goodbye Mr Chips
5. Of Mice and Men

Gorab's tbr:
Illicit Happiness of Others
Em and the Big Hoom
Gora
Sevasadan (not immediately)

[[deleted user]]

BR Plans-

Together:

A Tiger for Malgudi by RKN- From 8th May

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind- From 15th May (ft. Phani, Rebecca- ref message no. 26)

A Fine Balance- From 23r May (with Sharadha and Aparna)

Ruskin Bond Horror stories- From 15th of May (ft. Sundara)

Equal Music- Not decided yet.

Solo venture: Arpit

Godan and Wealth of Nations with Sri- Not decided yet.

Dickens with Sharadha- Not decided yet.

Solo venture: Gorab

[[deleted user]]

Backup plan :P

[[deleted user]]

Will update message no. 2 and 3 soon. That's enough GRing for now.

[Ahtims]

Wah. Another thread for me to haunt. <3 ♧

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Em:)

[Ahtims]

And I visited your other thread, and the idea of evaluating all the books read in a single comment with both your ratings is quite a good one. Shall be "borrowing" it.

[[deleted user]]

Although the quote means something different, but we are gonna ignore that meaning for now ;)

[Jaya]

Fantastic. Omnipresent lurker, here I am :)

[Gorab, TheGunman]

waah! what an intro Arpit. cheers for the reads, and many more to come *clinks*

[Gorab, TheGunman]

reco space....

Considering next reco from Arpit as - Siddartha by Herman Hesse.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

booking one more slot

[Gorab, TheGunman]

that's it :)

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

Shalini wrote: "And I visited your other thread, and the idea of evaluating all the books read in a single comment with both your ratings is quite a good one. Shall be "borrowing" it."

+1

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

Will haunt this thread. ;) A great intro and happy reading to you two.:D

[Sharadha]

Arpit wrote: "common tbr wishlist :
1. A Fine Balance
2. Premchand's works - Godan, Sevasadan....
3. Khushwant Singh's.
4. RKN's.
5. Interpreter of Maladies

Arpit's recommendations (non classics) :
1. Siddart..."

Whoa, blasting thread (whatever the hell that means lol)! Count me in for A Fine Balance, chaps :D

Will peek in from time to time.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

A Fine Balance. Have been lazying it on and off since..... 1.5 years at least! I hope that day comes soon.
Recently Aparna was reading it, and I was so tempted to join in... but couldn't :(

[Sharadha]

Yes, I think I saw that too but couldn't join because of the other books I was reading (sorry Aparna) :-(

Let me know when you guys start, maybe we can lure Aparna into a reread with us ;-)

[Em*Greedy* (Iniya)]

*regsitering presence as a lurker/spammer*

[Rebecca]

Hi folks.... Will lurk, join and spam.

[Aparna]

Nice Intro Arpit, will lurk around and join in for discussions ...
Good to see fine balance ln the list . Sharadha, Gorab I am pretty sure I am not going to forget this tale for a long time now , it's such a powerful story .Will have lots to discuss with you guys when u read it :)

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Short term common tbr wishlist :
Crime n Punishment
A Fine Balance
Sapiens - A Brief history of humankind

Will pick one of these next .... by 15th May... or whenever Arpit's exams are over...

[Sharadha]

Great, am waiting for a copy of Crime and Punishment from my library to arrive (they haven't given me an ETA but I've put it on high priority), but have A Fine Balance with me to start any time. Can we do that first and then C&P? Hopefully my copy will be home by then and I can join in for discussion :D (only if that's ok with G, Arpit and whoever is going to join in)

[Rebecca]

I am definitely joining for sapiens .

[Gorab, TheGunman]

But even before Fine Balance and CnP (both tomes), lets do One Part Woman.... Followed by Hangwoman?

Lost in BRs :D
Only thing I'm sure of is to pick One Part Woman as soon as Lis is ready.

[Ahtims]

Hangwoman on May 1st #justreminding

[Akanksha]

When is Sapiens planned?

[Sharadha]

Gorab wrote: "But even before Fine Balance and CnP (both tomes), lets do One Part Woman.... Followed by Hangwoman?

Lost in BRs :D
Only thing I'm sure of is to pick One Part Woman as soon as Lis is ready."

Wonder if we really can do One Part Woman before your May BRs :-( We can postpone that instead to after you're done with your May BRs? Lis will also be done with PGW then..

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Hangwoman 1st May pakka
Sapiens 15th May pakka

I'm still willing to take one part woman in April if you both are game for it.... else will pick something else.

[Akanksha]

Gorab wrote: "Hangwoman 1st May pakka
Sapiens 15th May pakka

I'm still willing to take one part woman in April if you both are game for it.... else will pick something else."
Will join you guys for Sapiens if it drags on till about the first week of June🙋

[Akanksha]

Totally love the concept of averaging your ratings. Here's to reading friendships!

[Aparna]

Gorab wrote: "Short term common tbr wishlist :
Crime n Punishment
A Fine Balance
Sapiens - A Brief history of humankind

Will pick one of these next .... by 15th May... or whenever Arpit's exams are over..."

Gorab , will join you for sapiens BR...

[[deleted user]]

Gorab wrote: "reco space....

Considering next reco from Arpit as - Siddartha by Herman Hesse."

Consider Lajja: Shame instead, since we just read about Babri Masjid and Adwani is going to jail (hopefully). I guess it's just the best read for now. Also very short.

[[deleted user]]

It feels like moving from a quiet village to a noisy city (no offence meant)

[[deleted user]]

I'm so confused. When are we going to read CnP (or Fine Balance)? Sapiens in June right? What about Shamli (RB) in May?

Also, I couldn't find your recos in TM-I. Would you mind suggesting me again (or fresh ones)? Perks was one of them, right?

PS: Updated the message one. Apparently we BRed three RKN back to back! Whoa!!

PPS: I'm fine with both, FineBalance and CnP, but just saying that I've never read a classic with you :P

[Ahtims]

Hangwoman I will remind. :P

[Aparna]

Hoping fine balance gets selected (fingers crossed ) :p ..

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Even I'm confused now.
Only sure about Hangwoman from May 1.
(Else hangwoman will keep haunting us :P)

Ok June it is then for Sapiens.
Shamli? That would be light hearted and can be started any time you say "right away".

Now the big question.... choose one from CnP and FB :)

[Ahtims]

I too will haunt along with hangwoman. Am good at reminding people and haunting them. B-)

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

FB?

[Ahtims]

fine balance.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Shalini wrote: "I too will haunt along with hangwoman. Am good at reminding people and haunting them. B-)"

I meant you wonly :D

[Ahtims]

:P : D

[[deleted user]]

Let's see what Sundara says about Time...Shamali.

About CnP/FB? I guess Vimal and other few people showed interest in CnP. Let's vote na ;)

[Sharadha]

I'm ok to do Fine Balance anytime you guys choose. CnP waiting for my copy from the library and that can take some time :-( If you guys vote to do CnP first then I'll sit it out. Will join for FB regardless.

[Gorab, TheGunman]

Guess we can do Shamali as S is looking forward to it. Resh also has a lovely paperback if I remember correctly.

If you ask for vote, I'd go for FB. Quoting Sharadha's library copy as the reason.
(view spoiler)[Well actually... I am not done with Idiot yet ;) (hide spoiler)]

[Gorab, TheGunman]

What are we reading next? RKN?
A Tiger for Malgudi?
Can we start it on 6th?
Is that your last exam on 6th?
Should I be asking more questions?

[Sharadha]

Guysssssssss, I'm getting my copy of Crime and Punishment within this week, so I'm game to start either books by next week :D Let me know your plans.