iconimg Monday, April 20, 2015

Saudamini Jain, Hindustan Times
April 14, 2012
You either like books or you don't. Anyone can read, but a love affair with books is something else. Mine begun when I was barely three years old-I couldn't read then, but I would squiggle on notebooks and pretend to be engrossed in my homemade book. And of course, there were all those picture books! When I (finally) learnt to read, I read everything I could get my hands on-including the fine print on shampoo bottles, a habit I continue to maintain.

Coming up next: A picture of my new bookshelf. While you're at it, check out bookshelfporn.com

At 14, I begged my mother to let me read Mills & Boon's. She, being the protective procreator that she is, decided I should wait another year "till after the board exams (class X)." So, I got my hands on some Jackie Collins' instead. By the time I got to those much-anticipated little romantic books, I couldn't stop laughing. Try as he may, a Second Best Husband is no match for those Hollywood Housewives.

Now, at 22, I read anything-newspapers, magazines, books, "stuff online", you name it. I've even read The Quran and The Bible (I loved the Old Testament). I love buying random books by unheard-of authors at second-hand bookstores. My favourite: Jacksons in Paharganj. If I got me a wealthy man, their collection of Lonely Planets will be part of my bridal trousseau.

The only downside of loving the book, paper, ink and all, is that you have to own it! Borrowing is fine, but I love re-reading. I'm an odd creature of comfort, I read The Thornbirds whenever I'm sad, a tattered old (and currently missing!) copy of Wuthering Heights every winter, and A Thread of Grace whenever I have absolutely nothing new to read.

Usually, I start reading three books at a time, but finish them one at a time (mostly because I tend to forget about the other two till I've finished the first and started a fourth). Well, it's a little complicated, but it works out.

So, this blog is about books and my relationship with all things in print.

Right now, I'm reading Amish Tripathi's Shiva Trilogy-so far, so good. We, at Brunch, love Amish Tripathi. I'm still the newbie, so I've yet to meet him. When I do, I'll write about it.

From HT Brunch, April 15

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