Indian Readers discussion
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How much do you spend on books?
Same here. No one in my family reads. Is the Merchant of Venice boring?
Austin wrote: "Same here. No one in my family reads. Is the Merchant of Venice boring?"
In my opinion, Yes. But if you are someone who enjoys stuff set a long time ago, you might like it!
I now remember that we had that play by William Shakespeare in our school curriculum albeit a much shortened version of the original. It wasn't boring by any means. Funny that American schools have the same. Haha. I actually like stories set a long time ago. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genre. Lol
I learnt it at school too and I loved it. Portia was my true romantic model - the way she sweeps in and saves her true love from the gallows. Sbylock had all my sympathy none of the others came anywhere close to these 2. my daughter did it at school this year and she hated it. She couldn't believe Portia falling for Bassanio and passing over Aragon. and truth be told I agreed with her. bow time and age changes perceptions.
my reading crisis is self inflicted- too much reading. im now at that stage been there, read that )D
Well, My school is BIG on classics, and I read another book(King Arthur type) this year that I hated. I read To Kill A Mockingbird, which was set years ago, but loved it. Maybe, my problem is that I don't get to sit peacefully and read anymore. I just skim over the book being stressed. I LOVE PLAYS. I just love them. I guess, I'll revisit this in the summer, and see what I think then. And you guys have the same type of books? Which year did you read it in?
I read it 35 yrs ago. a lifetime- as my younger daughter calls me The Mummy D)
It's good to see that in American schools you are required to read whole books as reading assignments. A nightmare for non readers though. Not exactly books, but shortened versions of famous stories are included in the English subject.
I must have read the Merchant of Venice around 16-18 years ago.
I have To Kill a Mockingbird on my TBR and I have been procrastinating it for ages. Lol
Leena wrote: "I read it 35 yrs ago. a lifetime- as my younger daughter calls me The Mummy D)"Man, Now I feel like a little baby lol
Austin wrote: "It's good to see that in American schools you are required to read whole books as reading assignments. A nightmare for non readers though. Not exactly books, but shortened versions of famous stor..."
Many American schools (especially academies with branches) base their Literature classes on books. My school does classics. Short books are better tho, unless they are biographies, meaning you gotta write an essay :(
I procrastinated TKM for 2-3 years. I enjoyed it, and regretted that I did not read it before lol.
Baby Madiha. HahahaGlad to know that you enjoyed it. Hopefully I read it by the end of this year. Just being realistic. Lol. I have a bunch of other books lined up to read.
why aren't both of u participating in te summer readathon?
my 16yr old would have a panic attack to just start a conversation with anyone
Austin wrote: "Baby Madiha. HahahaGlad to know that you enjoyed it. Hopefully I read it by the end of this year. Just being realistic. Lol. I have a bunch of other books lined up to read."
I totally relate to the book line. I have a google docs full of books, that I need to transfer to my tr on Goodreads. And well, buying the books? I'm almost broke. I wish the library would just open!
Leena wrote: "why aren't both of u participating in te summer readathon?"There is a summer readathon?!!? Wheeerrreee? On IR?!?!
Gorab wrote: "Summer Readathon:https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/..."
Oh this! Yes, I am participating! Thanks Gorab!
Madiha and Austin u both need Scribd. its a great source for books and I've completely stopped buying books. and once the situation rights , u can indulge in holding a physical book.
Austin join in the readathon. its a fun thing
Scribd looks cool. I'll check it out. How big is their library?
Its online and i survive because of it. Ive stopped buying physical books and even my kindle expense has become a pittance. They have a great audio book collection and if Im not mistaken you could get the student version. Now i sound like an advrt.😛
Yup. Its a monthly paid app. Its $8 and ive been on it for years. The first month is free. U should try it u will enjoy it.
I guess the free trial wouldn't hurt. But My parents don't want me to invest my money in books, and I don't have much money soooo..
Unfortunately :(I've been looking into OverDrive tho!
Sorry Leena, I was down with a bout of nasty cold. Yeah, I will participate in the summer readathon. Thank you for the encouragement. I will check out Scribd.
Austin wrote: "Sorry Leena, I was down with a bout of nasty cold. Yeah, I will participate in the summer readathon. Thank you for the encouragement. I will check out Scribd."I hope you feel better, Austin!
Thank you Madiha. I am through with the worst but feeling a bit lethargic. My mom says it's bcoz I went out under the hot sun and drank chilled water.I am going through a reading slump. I am reading at half of my usual capacity. Maybe it's just me, but I kinda slow down when the temperature goes up. Last year too I slowed down this time of the year. No AC at home also doesn't help. Waiting for June's monsoon days.
Austin wrote: "Thank you Madiha. I am through with the worst but feeling a bit lethargic. My mom says it's bcoz I went out under the hot sun and drank chilled water.I am going through a reading slump. I am read..."
I totally get the lethargy. Exams are killing me. I couldn't even eat this morning or breathe properly.
And, No AC?!?! How do you survive?
I agree Austin how do u survive? but seriously take care. how is the situation there? isn't there a lockdown ?
Wait, Austin and Leena, do you both live in India?
That's not good Madiha. Reminds me of my final exams for class 10 when I had butterflies in my stomach and my legs went weak. AC is a must only in the months of April and May here. For other months, ceiling fan is more than enough. Every year we keep talking of installing a new AC but we let it go at the last moment saying summer will end soon.
How do I survive? I barely survive. I just hate this heat like anything. I am hardly eating anything. I keep filling up my stomach with water. Literally counting the days for summer to end. American summers shouldn't be that bad but Indian summers are too much.
I am actually right now at my sister's house in Tamil Nadu on holidays. Here we have lockdown on Sundays and night curfew on other days.
Madiha, I live in India and Leena lives in UAE.
thanks Austin. yes I remember Mumbai summers and we did survive without ac. the humidity sapped one out completely . just take care since the pandemic is totally out of control.
In a desert country like UAE, you will definitely need an AC. I wonder how people lived in deserts before ACs were invented. :-DJust heard that a colleague in my room tested positive for covid, someone with whom I spend a lot of time in close proximity. Luckily for me, I am on holiday for close to two weeks now. More than the disease I am more worried about the cost of medical expenses. All the hard earned money goes down the drain in the blink of an eye. You too take care of yourself Leena, even if the situation is not as dire as it is in India.
Where I live in the USA, Our temperatures are very similar to the UAE. So, Summers are just plain hell. Our summers go above 100F on a daily basis :(I totally agree with your worry on expenses, but how come you aren't more worried about the disease?
Please, Stay Safe. Both of you.
Anything above 95 F is uncomfortable for me. I experienced 113-115 F in North India when my father used to work there. I used to go there during my college semester holidays.I wouldn't say I am not worried about the disease but I am less worried about my possible demise. I am more worried about passing it onto the vulnerable age group people.
True. Hence all the precautions need to be enforced. Southern India is in a bad shape so a the more uts imperative to maintain the measures diligently. Be safe
Austin wrote: "Anything above 95 F is uncomfortable for me. I experienced 113-115 F in North India when my father used to work there. I used to go there during my college semester holidays.I wouldn't say I am n..."
Definitely agree with the fright of passing it along! I have many family members of risk, which is why I cancelled my India trip :(
I feel like many people are taking the virus as a joke.
I have recently put myself on a buying ban. I am young, don't earn money yet. But getting there soon. And I wanna save for future. I have started realising that I am not that privileged to be hoarding them. Selling my stuff soon, except the ones I really really want to keep. So nothing I guess.
As I am generally on move, I prefer Kindle and Audible. In addition, I always carry 1-2 paper books with me on every move. So, I have Kindle Unlimited and Audible subscriptions. In addition to Kindle Unlimited books, I generally buy 3-4 kindle books, 1-2 books on audible, and an average of 1-2 paper books every month. Obviously, there are some books which I buy and don't read at all.
I used to regularly buy 4-5 books for about 400-500 ₹ every month, irrespective of if i read the stash of books that I bought the previous month(s), @second hand book stalls. That was before corona hit us. After that i have been to the market only once or twice. Subsisting on Kindle unlimited subscription. Recently bought a bunch of books on Bookchor. It is a nice alternative to Amazon. You guys should check it out.
I was the only one in my family who read. So, i usually had to rely on libraries! Also, in high school and college days in Kolkata- there were loads of my friends whose fathers had libraries!! Since most of my friends didnot read, the Uncles were glad to open their library doors for a bookworm like me!! (Ah- those were the days!!)When I ot my first job and came to Bangalore, I used to spend a smallish but significant percentage of my tiny salary on books!! We also used to get loads of gift vouchers at work as incentives, which i splurged on books. I also had a British Council library card those days (When the BCL used to have books and not only magazines)
Another trick- i started a library for employees in office, and we used tio get funds for it to buy books every quarter. SInce I was the only enthusiast- I would end up going to Bookworms and buy books!
A move to Mumbai and a chance encounter with a Teach For India school ignited a new passion. I used to run collection drives for old books at office (TCS those days) and from friends. Also a lot of old books were bought for schools, orphanages and old age home svia crowdfunding. The initiative still runs on, and I usually end up reading quite a few of the books donated for the libraries while we are sorting them and deciding which organisation's library it will end up in!! Havenot bought a book for myself in 7-8 years i guess!!
Although books are usually my go- to gifts- so buy loads to gift to my booksworm friends, and now that a lot of my friends are married with children, buy loads of kids and young adult books to gift as well.
Also borrow from my well to do friends who buy loads of books (some who buy loads anbd dont read them too!!)
Slightly long answer, but hey!! Thats what monday mornings are for :-)
L.C. wrote: "I have a book addiction. I buy a new book every week. I don't like borrowing books from the library as I prefer the crisp new pages in my hands. I also don't like kindle. In the past, I had purchas..."I am a lot like that. I like to buy hard books, no kindle. Have a bookshelf which is nearly full.
Mod
Gorab wrote: "Interesting Nick! Do share a pic of your shelf if comfortable :)"Sure, Check photo 2 and 3 in my profile photos.
Mod
Good Lord! Is bookshelf on pic 1 yours too?
Gorab wrote: "Neatly arranged! Good books. And enough space to get more good books.Good Lord! Is bookshelf on pic 1 yours too?"
No. That's a stock image from internet that i uploaded when i made the profile here.
Indian Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Merchant of Venice (other topics)Parisians: An Adventure History of Paris (other topics)
Evil Under the Sun (other topics)
The Help (other topics)
Yuganta: The End of an Epoch (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Erasmus (other topics)Martha Grimes (other topics)
Colin Dexter (other topics)
Kathryn Stockett (other topics)
The Reading crisis? Yep, Too much stress made it even more stressful to read, but mostly cause I HAD NOTHING TO READ. And, I also joined social media at that time, and well...
But I'm back on track, now, or I was till we started reading The Merchant of Venice in Literature class.
It happens to everyone(My whole family HATES to read, My lil bros read specific graphic novels) and It's usually at a younger age..