Recently I went to Blossoms - a wonderful bookshop on Church Street that sells new as well as second hand books. I had been looking around to pick up Zadie Smith's 'White Teeth' and these pretentious Landmarks of the world didnt have it. I thought I would give it a try in Blossoms - I was delighted to find a clean copy of White Teeth in their second hand book section.
Now that is what i call luck.
I have been getting a wee bit lucky with books - touch wood.
I had never heard of Annie Proulx or The Shipping News before I picked it up on an impulse in a road side second book sale; it was more like a garage sale - piles of books worth 10 bucks, 25, 50 and so on.
Even today, I cannot believe I got The Shipping News for just 10 rupees. It was like buying a box of tissue papers only to find diamonds in there when you opened it at home. I will never ever part with the book, ever. It is like a goodluck charm. I dont think anyone else has ever had a better experience in 'discovering' a brilliant author. Ah, the joy!!
08 April 2011
07 April 2011
The Alphabet Challenge
Found an interesting post in one of the book blogs "Can I Borrow Your Book?"
I meant to follow it up and post one on my own blog, but never happened thanks to my work and other worries of the world..
Quite interesting challenge -
Rules:
1. 26 books!
Runs January 1st 2011 –December 31, 2011. For each letter, read a book that has a main character or key supporting character (not some random minor character mentioned twice!) whose name starts with that letter. It doesn’t have to be the title of the book, just the name. Ex: Alice (in wonderland), Bella (twilight), Cathy (Wuthering Heights), Dracula (Dracula) Estella (Great Expectations), etc.
2. only one letter per book!
3. Crossovers are fine
4. audio, e-book, bound book, someone reading it out loud to you, reading a book to your little brother or sister, it all counts.
5. any length—short stories, books of the Bible, etc. they all count for this one.
Levels:
Level 1: 10 Letters
Level 2: 20 Letters
Level 3: Completes all 26 letters (yes, that means X and Z and Q!!)
Here is my list: (I shall update as and when I can)
A: Aftab Chandra from "We Weren't Lovers Like That" by Navtej Sarna
B: Bud Gardner from 'Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul' by Mark Victor Hansen/Bud Gardner
C:
D:
E:
F:
G: Ghanashyam Das, aka, Ghana Da from 'Mosquito and Other Stories' by Premendra Mitra (April)
H:
I:
J: Juliet Ashton from 'The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer (February)
K: Kiki Belsey from 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith (March)
L: Lalu Prasad Yadav from 'The Age of Kali' by William Dalrymple
M: Moyna from the story 'Rooftop Dwellers' in Anita Desai's short story collection Diamond Dust
N:
O:
P: Pat Hobby from "The Pat Hobby Stories" by F Scott Fitzgerald (July)
Q: Quoyle from 'The Shipping News' by Annie. E. Proulx (March)
R: Rustomji from 'Tales from Firozsha Baag' by Rohinton Mistry
S:
T: Trisha from 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordan' by Stephen King (February)
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:
I meant to follow it up and post one on my own blog, but never happened thanks to my work and other worries of the world..
Quite interesting challenge -
Rules:
1. 26 books!
Runs January 1st 2011 –December 31, 2011. For each letter, read a book that has a main character or key supporting character (not some random minor character mentioned twice!) whose name starts with that letter. It doesn’t have to be the title of the book, just the name. Ex: Alice (in wonderland), Bella (twilight), Cathy (Wuthering Heights), Dracula (Dracula) Estella (Great Expectations), etc.
2. only one letter per book!
3. Crossovers are fine
4. audio, e-book, bound book, someone reading it out loud to you, reading a book to your little brother or sister, it all counts.
5. any length—short stories, books of the Bible, etc. they all count for this one.
Levels:
Level 1: 10 Letters
Level 2: 20 Letters
Level 3: Completes all 26 letters (yes, that means X and Z and Q!!)
Here is my list: (I shall update as and when I can)
A: Aftab Chandra from "We Weren't Lovers Like That" by Navtej Sarna
B: Bud Gardner from 'Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul' by Mark Victor Hansen/Bud Gardner
C:
D:
E:
F:
G: Ghanashyam Das, aka, Ghana Da from 'Mosquito and Other Stories' by Premendra Mitra (April)
H:
I:
J: Juliet Ashton from 'The Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society' by Mary Ann Shaffer (February)
K: Kiki Belsey from 'On Beauty' by Zadie Smith (March)
L: Lalu Prasad Yadav from 'The Age of Kali' by William Dalrymple
M: Moyna from the story 'Rooftop Dwellers' in Anita Desai's short story collection Diamond Dust
N:
O:
P: Pat Hobby from "The Pat Hobby Stories" by F Scott Fitzgerald (July)
Q: Quoyle from 'The Shipping News' by Annie. E. Proulx (March)
R: Rustomji from 'Tales from Firozsha Baag' by Rohinton Mistry
S:
T: Trisha from 'The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordan' by Stephen King (February)
U:
V:
W:
X:
Y:
Z:
Mosquito and Other Stories
Mosquito and Other Stories by Premendra Mitra was a surprise find in the library. I didnt know anything about the author but the blurb sounded very interesting so I held on it.
I am glad I picked it up - otherwise I would have lost such an opportunity to read some brilliant writing by this Bengali author.
The original short stories are in Bengali; however, the translated stories give us a glimpse of how and why the protagonist "Ghana-da" was a cult hero in Bengali literature.
Ghanashyam Dass, known as Ghana-da to his friends in the hostel, lives in the hostel, where he mysteriously disappears during the end of the month when it comes to paying food bills and, borrows countless number of cigarettes from his friends. As the book clearly says, every story is a tall-tale so brilliantly narrated by Ghana-da to his friends who double up as listeners. Although we as readers and them as listeners are clearly aware of the reality, it does not stop us from enjoying these stories and looking forward to more of them.
I loved the book. It is surprisingly interesting and later I found out, factually accurate. The book is made-for-the-young-minds. I hope that the future generation gets hold of this amazing book and enjoys it as much as I did.
The Reading List - 3
Completed:
7. The Shipping News - Annie E. Proulx (literary)
8. Birthday Stories - Selected By Haruki Murakami (Short stories by various authors)
9. Diamond Dust - Anita Desai (Short stories)
10. Mosquito and Other Stories - Premendru Mitra (Short stories)
Another good thing that has happened to me is that I have come across a wonderful library 'Just Books' - I relish borrowing books; reading them at a nomical cost - this way I can separate the wheat from chaff (except the first one in the above list, all were borrowed from the library). I get to choose from a wide variety; I can afford not to complete a book although I dont use that option much (I usually HATE not finishing a book no matter how horrible it is). If I get lucky, as I did with 'On Beauty', I will go and buy a copy for my bookshelf. What a wonderful arrangement!
I know, this is what is supposed to be with libraries. And it is no secret by any stretch of imagination, yet, I feel good about it.
7. The Shipping News - Annie E. Proulx (literary)
8. Birthday Stories - Selected By Haruki Murakami (Short stories by various authors)
9. Diamond Dust - Anita Desai (Short stories)
10. Mosquito and Other Stories - Premendru Mitra (Short stories)
Another good thing that has happened to me is that I have come across a wonderful library 'Just Books' - I relish borrowing books; reading them at a nomical cost - this way I can separate the wheat from chaff (except the first one in the above list, all were borrowed from the library). I get to choose from a wide variety; I can afford not to complete a book although I dont use that option much (I usually HATE not finishing a book no matter how horrible it is). If I get lucky, as I did with 'On Beauty', I will go and buy a copy for my bookshelf. What a wonderful arrangement!
I know, this is what is supposed to be with libraries. And it is no secret by any stretch of imagination, yet, I feel good about it.
04 April 2011
The Shipping News
Why do we love losers who turn out be unlikely heroes, who, will finally get what they deserve, find happiness, love and peace? I should not generalize, but I certainly love one - probably because the journey is so often hopeful - and holds some kind of a message to the large community of ordinary citizens out there. And, I have learned enough about self and to consider myself one.
The Shipping News - An unbelievably beautiful and touching tale of loss, grief, unrequited love and hope - this one makes you want to believe that somewhere, someone out there is looking out for you. If I had to choose only three books out of this entire planet, 'The Shipping News' would be one of them. Which are the other two? I don't know, I have not come across them yet.
The book makes me wish these were real people - so that I could meet them and tell them how much they inspire me. It makes me want to go to Newfoundland, although I am certain I dont have the mental strength to withstand the harsh conditions of the land. The stark, harsh beauty of Newfoundland so effectively described in the book makes me wonder - it is nothing like whatever little I have seen or heard about.
It makes me want to reach out to Quoyle and console him when he is hurt and upset, struggling to find meaning in his existence; rejoice with him over the little accomplishments in his life - his slow, yet emerging career as a newspaper man, his bonding with his aunt. I feel so happy that he found 'real, solid friends' who are actually the pillars of his new life in Newfoundland. I want to scold him about his reluctance to let go of his 'love' for the dead Petal, which is not really love at all. I wonder about Aunt Agnis - how she is instrumental in changing Quoyle's life, whether she herself knows it or not. I enjoy every bit of the delicate romance between Wavey Prowse and Quoyle; I am so happy for them. I love the solid marriage of Denis and Beety - their unspoken love for each other, respect and their uncomplaining nature to endure hardships. I wish mine would be something like that.
I wanted this book to go on and on. It was as if I was reading a chronicle of lives of my own friends whom I had no way of contacting in real life. I want to know what will happen to Quoyle and Wavey, how do they lead their lives; Quoyle's daughters and them growing up. I want to know if the newspaper survives; what happens to Nutbeem - will he love his new life in Brazil? I want Aunt Agnis to flourish and be happy. Will Jack ever allow Denis, his son, to get back to fishing? How blissful would it be, to grow old amongst a bunch of friends who you are comfortable with? Oh, there is so much that I want to know.
I am dying to see the movie that was made based on this book, but I am scared. I am worried that the threads of affection and the fabric of happiness that is woven around the book by my imagination might just fray. Yet, I have vowed one of these days I will go ahead and watch the movie. I cannot really resist the temptation.
I would rate this 5/5.
The Shipping News - An unbelievably beautiful and touching tale of loss, grief, unrequited love and hope - this one makes you want to believe that somewhere, someone out there is looking out for you. If I had to choose only three books out of this entire planet, 'The Shipping News' would be one of them. Which are the other two? I don't know, I have not come across them yet.
The book makes me wish these were real people - so that I could meet them and tell them how much they inspire me. It makes me want to go to Newfoundland, although I am certain I dont have the mental strength to withstand the harsh conditions of the land. The stark, harsh beauty of Newfoundland so effectively described in the book makes me wonder - it is nothing like whatever little I have seen or heard about.
It makes me want to reach out to Quoyle and console him when he is hurt and upset, struggling to find meaning in his existence; rejoice with him over the little accomplishments in his life - his slow, yet emerging career as a newspaper man, his bonding with his aunt. I feel so happy that he found 'real, solid friends' who are actually the pillars of his new life in Newfoundland. I want to scold him about his reluctance to let go of his 'love' for the dead Petal, which is not really love at all. I wonder about Aunt Agnis - how she is instrumental in changing Quoyle's life, whether she herself knows it or not. I enjoy every bit of the delicate romance between Wavey Prowse and Quoyle; I am so happy for them. I love the solid marriage of Denis and Beety - their unspoken love for each other, respect and their uncomplaining nature to endure hardships. I wish mine would be something like that.
I wanted this book to go on and on. It was as if I was reading a chronicle of lives of my own friends whom I had no way of contacting in real life. I want to know what will happen to Quoyle and Wavey, how do they lead their lives; Quoyle's daughters and them growing up. I want to know if the newspaper survives; what happens to Nutbeem - will he love his new life in Brazil? I want Aunt Agnis to flourish and be happy. Will Jack ever allow Denis, his son, to get back to fishing? How blissful would it be, to grow old amongst a bunch of friends who you are comfortable with? Oh, there is so much that I want to know.
I am dying to see the movie that was made based on this book, but I am scared. I am worried that the threads of affection and the fabric of happiness that is woven around the book by my imagination might just fray. Yet, I have vowed one of these days I will go ahead and watch the movie. I cannot really resist the temptation.
I would rate this 5/5.
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