Gift for the New Year

I never imagined I would get such a thoughtful, wonderful gift from H.

For the new year, I received Kindle PaperWhite.
I had never used a ereader/ebook and the whole concept was personally new to me, though I had seen Kindle Touch owned by BIL.

I learned how to download free ebooks from Amazon website, and it was so thrilling. I have begun reading classics that I otherwise, would not. It is highly addictive. I guess, this is a wonderful way of reading and storing books.
This does not mean I miss the good old hard copy - the actual feel, smell of the book can never ever be replaced. The feeling of reading a 'book' can never be replaced by an e-reader no matter what.

blah.. blah.. new year.. blah.. blah..

Another new year walked in, laughed at me and has begun trotting.
Every year, at least, for the last couple of years, I have been failing in my Reading List Challenge that I set for myself.
And every new year, I decide to change things.
This year I looked at my bookshelf (dusty from disuse) and the precarious, leaning tower of books on the bed in the reading room (the unused room that almost made it as a library) and I decided I don't have the energy to make any resolutions.
So I decided I will still try reading without any 'Challenge' to challenge me.
Ah, what a bore!

Not novel anymore?

Writer's block is one thing. Inability to create novelty is another.
Looks like this inability seems to plague the best of writers.
What can be the solution? At least, I didn't think the solution offered at the end of the article was quite effective. If we were to stop reading authors because they 'might' end up becoming repetitive, then we may not know what we missed!

One Indian author who has surprised me every time he wrote a book is Upamanyu Chatterjee.
I had written about 'Weight Loss', one of his novels, here.
I wish he would write more.

On confidence and quality

I had always wondered how people manage to publish books even if it is sub-standard in quality (of writing). I recently saw saw a book in the book shop. It was a book written by an engineering student. The story seemed to be focused on cricket. Nothing unusual, probably little boring, but what put me off was the blurb on the back cover. There were at least three obvious mistakes and I wondered how the hell did it pass through editing?
On an informal platform like blogging, I can understand people not focusing on sentence construction/grammar (I am guilty of it, completely) and spellings (to certain extent), but how on earth in a 'published' book?
Beats me.

Greed and Delhi Book Fair

Work has been hectic but that is the usual story. The weekend was a different thing altogether. HD and I went to Delhi Book Fair this weekend and loved every moment we spent there rummaging through stalls.
This was my first time and the fair was HUGE. Publishers - international, national and even local had their stalls overflowing with visitors.
I went berserk. Later I realized I behaved just like a greedy kid in a sweet stall, but that's ok I guess.
I got myself twenty books. Hah!

Change in the list

Life this week had been pretty hectic. Joined the new organization and had to go through a week of 'orientation program'. The real job will begin from tomorrow. I started with 'A Handful of Rice' (kamala Markandeya), unfortunately I have not had the time to proceed.
I managed to get a copy of Preeta Samarasan's book 'Evening is the whole Day' but looks like I will have to change my choice of 'Kaddish for the Unborn' - I haven't managed to get it. Landmark seems to be out of stock.
Probably I might have to go for another author. Any suggestions?

Next in line

I am in a dilemma about the next book to be picked up. I have Upamanyu Chatterjee's 'The Last Burden' and William Golding's 'Lord of the Flies' and am wondering which one to pick up.
It is all fine with U. Chatterjee's books but I am still reeling from the after effects of 'Weight Loss'. So probably I should try Lord of the Flies.
I am yet to write my impressions of Weight Loss - will do it soon.

Starting afresh

The best thing about starting anew is that one can shed all those bad habits acquired over the period, the taste for adulation and also probably the laziness.
I love the fact that I have cut off all the old ties and have been mum about the new blog. Can you imagine how much of freedom this gives me? I am lovviinnggg it !!!!
The one must thing I plan to do while blogging this time is that I will blog everyday. No matter what... It does not have to be anything profound, witty, sarcastic or even long. I am enjoying this as I write!

I have always wanted to read up lots of books and tell people who cared to listen about how I felt about them... at this point of time, I dont know if people will even get to read (a form of listening, according to me) what I write, but what the heck, I have decided to let go of the habits. So I stick to this.

Another fascinating activity right now is peeking into other book blogs - there are millions of them and way way above in terms of quality and quantity, and I am glad people are so good, gives me hope for myself.

The first step

Every blog has to have a first ever post. In the past I have come out with wittier ones but this time, it is going to be a disappointment to my carefully hidden exhibitionist alter ego.
The idea is to read as many wonderful books (preferrably, cannot help if I end up with not-so-wonderful ones) as possible and share my joys and disappointments upon completion.

I am reading 'Weight Loss' by Upamanyu Chatterjee currently. Will post on it once I am done with it.