Books - an affair

Books can take you around the world without moving an inch
- by grandfather of Ashok Ganguli in The Namesake.

The best thing you can do in holidays is to read books. I still remember the day when I started with my first

Tinkle. Renga Lending Library, in my locality had been my best place to hang around, from then until now. Though, I started with novels very late, and have not read much, I would definitely say Tinkle, Panchatantra and Chacha Chaudri were definitely my way of life during holidays when I was young.

There are only a few books which i have read. I would say, I was lucky enough to have enjoyed all the books I have read.
My rating of the books I have read goes this way....


1.The day of the jackal: The best book that I have ever read. The kind of description that went into describing each part of the plan was breath-taking. The Jackal made me envy his calmness and attitude towards the work he takes up. This novel made me wake up at two in the morning, just to complete it before going to college. That was a great experience.


2.Sleepers: The book, though not a notable best seller, and not a compulsive addition to any collection, is a great work. Childhood trauma described in the best possible ways and moods. A compulsive read for all who have got only the best things in the world under the umbrella called Parenthood.


3.The Fountain Head: Another book, or should I call it something else? I being a slow reader took more than 2 months to read this book. Ayn Rand is truly ingenious, as one of my classmates had as the profile name for a long time in orkut. I learned for the first time, books could be this serious. Though the underlying philosophy was a bit difficult to understand, the orange haired man's feelings were best portrayed. Love was never felt like this and could never be ever.


3.The Namesake: Ah! here is the book, which supported my views on living in america. I rate this equal to The fountain head. The first world and its life-style described through the eyes of a third world. A very delicate handling of characters. Father's love for his son and his subsequent reciprocation is the central theme which is surrounded by the american way of life.


5.The davinci code: This book requires no description. But I had a big doubt. If Davinci was a homosexual, how was he made the head of that secret community(forgot the name) which believed, god could be found only in the time of ultimate happiness, ie when a man and a woman make love?


6.Five point someone: The book which taught me, life could also be like this for a student. I have always been in the cocoon of a studious image. I never went out of way to do things which I wanted, but this book was crazy and great.



7.Deception point: Another Dan Brown book with full of cryptography and stuff. Great book to read. But lacks substance. Just another fiction which can be described as "The UnPutDownable"


8.The world is flat: An eye opener. A layman's bible to understand the world and what happening in it. Best book to start with for anyone trying to move to the non-fictional stuff.


9.One Night at a call center: An ok, kind of book. But good at describing what lies under the so called "hi-life" of the techies in India.


10.The alchemist: The worst book I would say. Paulo Cohelo is just another mega-serial director.

There are a few tamil books also
Parthiban kanavu - kalki

The dynasity of the cholas best described. A political plot best described in the best words possible by kalki

Sujatha:


Have read many of his books...
Nillungal rajave
24 rubai theevu
kolai arangam
marubadiyum ganesh
aayirathil iruvar
sorga theevu

Also going to read many such as
Ilamayil Kol
Aryabatta
Nirvana Nagaram
Odaathey
Malai Kottai in these holidays.

Those who don't know tamil, should only envy. Sujatha, till now, the best writer of fiction in tamil for the educated class. Most of his novels were written in the 70s and 80s.
Ganesh and Vasanth(lawyer duo and imaginary characters in most of his books) have really reached a cult status. They discuss about anything and everything. Be it Pink Floyd, Beatles, P.G.Wodehouse, Ayn Rand, LTTE, UN, Indira Gandi...

Sujatha is a class apart from the rest of his time.