Lost in a Book

Girl Reading (1889), by Fritz von Uhde

Oil paint on canvas

Image Source: Wikipedia

Amazing Authors- Jean Webster

My Reading Vows

Amazing Authors- Lucy Maud Montgomery

My First Love

I bought my first Kindle about 5 years ago. It was insta-love and I lost my heart as soon as I held that most glorious of all devices in my hands. I had acquired not just another gadget but a dangerously addictive power: to possess any book I desired instantaneously with a mere one-click buy. In the years that we have spent together, my Kindle and I, my fervent passion for it has mellowed down to a deep affection. I still carry it on my daily commute, when I am travelling, and even use it for my everyday reading. In an interesting preference reversal, though, lately I have found myself gravitating toward buying more of print books.

In some ways, I have gone back to the reading habits of my pre-Kindle days. Don’t get me wrong, I am crazy about the convenience my Kindle offers: all my books wherever I go. It’s just that I have realized I cannot forgo the experience of reading a Hardcover/Paperback. I need books. The old-fashioned kind. Ones with a spine, and a cover that you can open, and pages you can turn.

The other day, I  met up with another bookaholic friend for lunch. She has recently bought a Kindle and as she talked about her reading experience with stars in her eyes, I was reminded of who I used to be. And I found myself explaining, as much for my sake as hers, why e-books will always be second best for me.

So, here’s my unpoetic but heartfelt ode to print books:

1.       Charmed by the Cover

It is not for nothing that so much money and effort is invested in coming up with just the right cover for a book. How many times have I picked up a book ‘cos it had a gorgeous cover? Too many times to count. No e-inked black-grey cover can come anywhere near the vibrant colors and the intimate feel of a cover on a print book. The cover is the gateway to the magical experience of losing ourselves in the story. It is the cover that says 'Open Sesame' and leads us in. I have often been mesmerized by book covers and longingly traced my fingers over the photograph/illustration/artwork on it as if the very act of connecting would let me enter ‘The Forgotten Garden’ or ‘The Lake House’ or ‘The Chamber of Secrets’.

2.       Fascinated by the Feel

I like flipping pages, being able to move to previous pages without losing my current place! There is certainly something to be said for a format if you can exercise the flexibility of being in two places at the same time easily without having to type in a location(s). I often do this: flip to earlier pages when the murderer is announced in a mystery novel to identify the red herrings that misled me or the clues I missed. And, I do this while staying on the page I have reached. No ‘flip-the-page’ effect on an app or e-reader can provide the feel of turning a page over and moving to the next.

There are also those pop-up books I adored as a child. Open the book and out pops the castle, ready for you to step in and wield the magic wand! 

Let’s also not forget books which promise an immersive experience such as ‘S’ by J.J. Abrams. Would you really want to read 'S' on an e-reader?

3.       Seduced by the Size

In my college years, I had a soft corner for big fat books. The more the pages, the more desirable the book. Of course, this was selectively true. It held ground only for fiction and not those boring tomes on Economics or Accountancy. Even though I may not have much time to read lengthy novels these days, they still hold a powerful attraction for me: those huge convoluted family/business sagas where betrayals and loyalty came from unexpected corners. There is no fun in reading fat books on e-readers. Each book looks and feels the same. One size fits all.

Lest you think am not enthusiastic about my Kindle, let me reiterate that I am very fond of it and take it everywhere. However, print books have something e-books cannot have. Individuality! They come in different shapes and sizes, use different fonts and varied covers, and their pages can be snow-white or ivory-cream or golden-beige. Each book has a unique identity. It is special.

Last but not the least, what they say about not being able to forget your first love ever is true. My first love was an Enid Blyton Hardcover with a colourful cover illustration, a friendly font, and charming characters.

On My Reading Radar

The other day, I stumbled upon a fun quiz that guessed my age based on my reading habits. Before I go any further, the results were very pleasing! It also got me thinking about what I read and fuelled by the impetus of the reading diagnostic test, I decided it would be interesting to delve deeper and gain an insight into my reading preferences: the time I give to different types of books, how deep is my inclination towards a particular genre, how much more time do I spend on fiction over non-fiction, what do I prefer to read while on holiday or when commuting to work.

This year, as my resolution for 2016, I intend to include more non-fiction in my reading palette. I have developed a guilt about all of my reading having absolutely nothing to do with the real world and facts. It seems to have become pure escapism over the years (make-believe people in a make-believe world dealing with make-believe situations) and while that is a proven pleasure, I would certainly like it tempered with a dose of reality.

So, here’s what I did, summed up all I could about my reading in a visual that tells me, at a glance, What's on my Reading Radar (Click/Touch on the image and zoom for a better view).  What do you spot on your reading radar? 

Insight into Fiction Reading: It is quite easily seen that the grip of the gothic is strongest with 20 hours out of the 40 reading hours I devote to fiction, in a month, being spent on discovering secrets that lie buried in ancient mansions (preferably with a rich historical setting and a ghost or two thrown in). This is closely followed by heart-pounding, nail-biting races against time with thrillers which get 15 hours of reading time. The least time is given to fantasy. Even though many of these stories are engaging enough to be one-sitting reads, I am deliberately trying to desist from spending most of my waking hours 'fantasizing'. Overall, I find the fiction genre more engaging, prefer to read it while on a holiday, and spend more money buying such titles.

Insight into Non-Fiction Reading: Not surprisingly, I spend a majority of the time (5 hours of the 10 devoted to non-fiction in a month) on self help (mainly books on spirituality and personal growth, preferably with humorous overtones). I have found, over the years, that I am more invested in reading heavy topics when they are written about in a lighter vein. Otherwise, there are greater chances that I will DNF the book. Memoirs, such as the Corfu Trilogy by Gerald Durell and the likes, grab about 3 hours while the remaining 2 hours are spent on investigative journalism and archaeological deduction (think Graham Hancock and books like The Lost City of Z). I prefer to read non-fiction while commuting to work (easy to leave it on the page I am when I reach my destination).

What do your reading habits tell you about yourself?

Series I Stalk

In an earlier post, I had shared my fondness for the Ruth Galloway novels. Some series have a permanent place on my bookshelf. I might even go so far as to say that I am obsessed with them.
I stalk every forthcoming entrant in these series, eagerly wait for the new book to be released, read every review about it, and buy it as soon as it becomes available. Why do I have this special regard for series?

Unlike a stand-alone which comes into my life once, for maybe a week or so (even though some of them do leave a lasting impression and are read again), a series has the charming quality of steadfastness that develops through its continuity and return. As I go forward in life, the series will progress to the next book and give me company, year after year. The characters in a series are the good friends who were once acquaintances but with getting to know their lives over the years, I now feel a certain kinship with them. 

We grow together, these characters and I, while facing our struggles, dealing with disappointments, solving our problems, and celebrating our joys. I have watched Ruth become a mother (Ruth Galloway series), Nelson’s wife Michelle’s troubled acceptance of his baby daughter Kate from Ruth; Cathbad’s emergence as a loyal friend to Ruth, responsible dad to Maddy, and loving uncle to Kate from his early days as a flaky druid. The characters evolve with each book, and so do I with each passing year of my life. At times, their tough but strong decisions lend me the courage to make some hard changes in my life. 

Lady Julia and Nicholas make me smile on sad days with their inquisitiveness, stubbornness, sense of humor, and love for each other (Lady Julia Grey series). The silly antics of Becky (Shopaholic series) propel me into unrestrained laughter as she mirrors many of my foibles (addictive shopping, impulsive actions, escapism, and more). When I need a good puzzle to challenge my brain, DI Wesley and Neil (Wesley Peterson series) always have a fascinating mystery linked to history that they are trying to crack. On days when only a gothic, dark, and atmospheric story will satisfy me, I look no further than Sharon Bolton (Lacey Flint series). Lacey’s complex character, harrowing background, and her attractive mix of vulnerability with raw courage is sure to hook anyone’s interest in all the books released, and those that are yet to come.

For long winter nights, when a scary story is very much the perfect accompaniment, Nell West and Michael Flint provide the perfect blend of ghosts, haunted houses, and a tragic past in the cases they try to solve. Add a dash of romance (Nell and Michael) and humor (Gilberforce’s antics) and I have a series I can’t help but follow. Yrsa Siggurdardottir (Thora Gudmundsdottir series) also fits the bill for a deeply arresting blend of creepy mystery, unique setting, romance, and humor.

So, here’s to series and may a book continue to be released each year in the ones I stalk. The series mentioned in this post are listed as follows:

·         Ruth Galloway Series

·         Lady Julia Series

·         Shopaholic Series

·         Wesley Peterson Series

·         Lacey Flint Series

·         Nell West/Michael Flint Series

·         Thora Gudmundsdottir Series

The ones that I look forward to following are:

·         Sebastian St. Cyr series (historical mysteries)

·         Merrily Watkins series (Diocesan Deliverance Consultant a.k.a exorcist solves crime)

·         Veronica Speedwell series (by the author of Lady Julia series, need I say more?)- Book 1 review.

·         Flavia de Luce series (precocious girl detective, murder mysteries)

·         Frey and McGray series (crime, mystery, horror, detective fiction)- Book 1 and 2 review.

Beckon Book Bliss (D-I-Y Session)

“We don’t need a list of rights and wrongs, tables of dos and don’ts: we need books, time, and silence. Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever.” — Philip Pullman

Image Source- Freepik

“I am simply a ‘book drunkard.’ Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them.” — L.M. Montgomery

Flights of Fantasy

Recently, a friend read 'Cruel Beauty' by Rosamund Hodge and she hasn’t been the same ever since. Having found the book to be an amazing read, she went on a fantasy fiction reading spree hoping to come across another story that would give her a similar high, engage her with the same intensity, and impress her with its elegant characterisation of complex people. While I do read fantasy fiction (have some of my favourites among the works of C.S Lewis, J.K Rowling, Juliet Marillier, Patricia McKillip), it is towards the crossbred genre of ‘historical-gothic-supernatural’ fiction that I gravitate more often than not.  I pick up other books only off and on, more as an in-between phase, when I feel weighed down by the suspense-laden, tragedy-infused, fear-inducing, and anxiety-driven atmosphere of the gothic novels that I find most fascinating because of the very same elements! It's quite interesting to note how our contradictions rule us and exemplify our humanness.  Another time when I deviate to alternate genres is when friends can't help raving about certain books.

Anyone who is member of a book community or group would know that when it comes to book recommendations, we trust the reading taste of certain friends. We share our thoughts with them (on new books, on discovering some hidden gem, on highly anticipated releases, awesome book covers, and more) and consider their recommendations with the same gravity as we would a decision about having 'pasta arabiatta' or 'thin crust pizza' for dinner.  We find ourselves carried away by their enthusiasm, influenced by their opinion, and quite willing to try out the books they liked.

And so, spurred by the excitement unleashed from the discussion on Cruel Beauty, I  decided to devote an 'in-between' phase, solely to fantasy fiction. Having done this, I went a step further and created my ‘Fantasy Fiction Reading List’. Wondrous worlds await me!

<a href="http://www.freepik.com">Designed by Freepik</a>

After an exhausting search which led me across book blogs, online book sellers, journal/magazine book reviews and articles, I have shortlisted what I think is a fairly exciting assortment. Will post reviews as I read them. The scope of these books extends from the stand-alone to trilogies and am hoping to meet some very interesting faerie folk, vampires, demons, witches, trolls and whatnot between their covers.  

Flights of Fantasy scheduled for take-off are:

Trilogy

All Souls Trilogy (Vampires, Witches, Daemons, Humans)

The Malediction Trilogy (Trolls, Witches)

Order of the Sanguines (Vampires, Angels, Demons, Legion, Humans)

Duology

The Wrath and the Dawn (Thousand and One Nights)

The Rose and the Dagger (Thousand and One Nights)

Stand-Alone

Cruel Beauty (Beauty and the Beast)

Crimson Bound (Red Riding Hood)

Gilded Ashes (Cinderella)

Strands of Bronze and Gold (Bluebeard)

Enchantment (Snow White)

The Glass Casket (Red Riding Hood + Snow White)

Tam Lin (The Ballad of Tam Lin)

The Perilous Gard (The Ballad of Tam Lin)

Recommended by Friends

Rebel of the Sands (Trilogy)
Cat's Eye Chronicles (Series)

A Court of Thorns and Roses (Series)

Any other suggestions? Do share your favourite fantasy titles.

Eternal Entanglements

‘I’ve been here before’

If I were ever asked to share the one opening line that is sure to make me read any book or watch any movie, it is this line. A line that hints of an existence prior to this lifetime, and of memories from a time gone by rising to surface when confronted with places or people one had known in a past life.

It may sound strange but this is a belief shared by many across the globe. That we have shared an earlier life with others and have painted a personal history with them using brushes soaked in love, passion, betrayal, sorrow, hatred and happiness. These emotions that mark each existence create eternal entanglements.  And, I am not alone in thinking that some unfinished business lingers on from past lives impacting our present; leading us to people and paths destined for us. The ever popular notion of each of us having a soulmate is also closely linked to reincarnation. Reincarnation is the philosophical concept that states the soul can survive the body after death and begin a new life in another body. Just like we change clothes, our soul changes bodies with each lifetime spent in a different garb or body. 

The theory of Karma, an integral concept of Hinduism, also gives credence to reincarnation by stating that we are all governed by a universal principle of cause and effect. Our thoughts, actions, and words ( in this lifetime and previous incarnations) determine our fate in life. There are three types of Karma in Hinduism:

• Sanchita- Karma that has been accumulated over lifetimes or sum total of all karma
• Prarabdha - Karma that is manifesting in this lifetime or already yielding its effect
• Kriyamana/Agami- Karma that we are currently creating in this lifetime each moment

Illustration of Reincarnation ( Image Source- Wikipedia)

The theory of Karma proposes that no good deed goes unrewarded and no bad deed is left unpunished. A very simple example would be that if you were good to someone in some life you may find that person supporting you in this life even though you may not know why. Alternatively, if you were bad to someone you may experience the anger and hatred of this person and wonder why this person is being so harsh towards you when you haven’t done anything to deserve it. But you have. Just not in this life. For every action you take, there is a deserving reaction. Surely a notion that carries immense satisfaction, if not relief. 

Because of this deep fascination for karmic ties that bind us across lifetimes, reincarnation fiction is my favorite genre and some of the books that find a place on my Keepers Shelf are:

1. Yes, My Darling Daughter- Margaret Leroy (“I lived there, Grace. Before.” Grace has to accept that her daughter may be remembering a past life.)
2. A Memory of Demons- David Ambrose (Why does Julia insist that her name is Melanie?)
3. Sweet Heart-Peter James (Sinister memories of a previous lifetime start to haunt Claire)
4. Sleep No More-Greg Iles (The beautiful stranger John Waters has just met reminds him too much of his old girlfriend-because she is)
5. Caught in the Light- Robert Goddard (Is Marian Esguard still alive? But she was a 19th-century gentlewoman with a talent for chemistry.)
6. Midnight Bayou- Nora Roberts (Declan is seeing visions from a century past)
7. The Revenge of Kaivalya- Sumana Khan (Uncover a terrifying truth that binds lifetimes)

Others waiting to be read that find a place on my TBR Shelf are:

• All Susanna Kearsley books
• All M J Rose books
• Threads- Nell Gavin
• Green Darkness- Anya Seton

And what better way to conclude this post than with a befitting quote from Paulo Coelho’s Eleven Minutes:

“Important encounters are planned by the soul before the bodies see each other”