Lately

Haven’t been reading much these days. And when I do, I keep re-reading old favourites. Just one of those phases I hope to get over soon. This however hasn’t stopped me from buying new books.

1. What is the total number of books you've owned?
About 300 – 400

2.What are the last books you bought?
Shalimar The Clown – Salman Rushdie
Shantaram – Gregory David Roberts
Kite Runner – Khalid Hosseini
Falling off the map – Pico Iyer (for the second time)

3. What is the last book you've read?
Kite Runner - On the whole an interesting read, even though the pace did falter a bit in the middle.

4. What are you currently reading?
Shantaram – Rather unsuccessfully I might add. It's taking forever.

5. What are the 5 books that have meant a lot to you or that you particularly enjoyed?
ANYTHING by P.G Wodehouse
He has to be my favourite writer. Can’t choose between any of his books, but I particularly loved his ‘ The GoldBat and other school stories’. School days, cricket and Wodehouse, what a delightful combination.

SOPHIE'S CHOICE by William Styron
Heartbreaking, beautiful. Vivid, disturbing and emotionally draining.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
Atticus Finch and Scout. This father and daughter relationship was so beautifully portrayed. Remember the line - You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it?

JO’s BOYS - Louisa M. Alcott
Shoefiend - Me too, me too. Loved the entire series.

COLLECTED POEMS of Emily Dickinson
Given to me by a dear friend years and years ago. Re-read ever so often and deeply cherished. Emily Dickinson is one of my favourite poets.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by Erich Maria Remarque
Found this incredibly well-written and moving. My father being in the army had probably something to do with my fascination for books on war.

BOUND BOOKS by Various Comics
This is not really a real book but Tinkles, Amar Chitra Khatas and other assorted comics all bound together thickly. I remember they were all labelled Bound Book 1, Bound book 2, Bound Book 3 etc - you get the picture- so they wouldn’t get torn or lost. Several transfers and some over- enthusiastic-lending-to-cute boys later, sadly not a single bound book remains.

6. What book(s) would you wish to buy next?
Nothing as of now. Have lots of catching up to do.

7. What book(s) caught your attention but you never had a chance to read?
Refer question 2. Or maybe - Premchand ke sampoorna kahaniyan

8. What book(s) that you've owned for so long but never read?
Too many to list by Shamefaced me.

9. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
Anyone who wants to take this on!

Blank

Shhhhhh,
shhhhhh,
Shhhhhh.
Don’t tell.
Don’t yell.
Take this in your
mouth.
Take this in your
mouth.
This should
shut you up
for life.
In hell.




Here's my post for the Blank Noise Project Blogathon. It's not easy to talk about sexual harassment whether it's subtle or overt. There's almost always a sense of shame, guilt and fear that clings on for much much longer. But one has to talk. To scream. To shout. To protest. To not let it happen to someone else.

Blank Noise Project Blogathon

If you've got something to say about sexual harassment
on the streets, at home, at work, anywhere, do be a
part of the Blank Noise Project Blogathon. You'll
need to have your articles, poems or comments
up by March 7th, 2006. Do spread the word around

as well.

Thank you.