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Friday 4 October 2013

Reading, reading, reading



Have you ever pondered on the question that why we read. Every individual may have a different reason to read,but ultimately every one  will agree that  we read to get more knowledge, to expand our knowledge,  for better comprehension, enlightenment, to sharpen our intellect and to increase our perception and awareness about a fact  or a circumstance. We also read for entertainment,  relaxation, diversion and for agreeable occupation for the mind.
   At different stages of our life, our interests and concerns take  a different shape and we  find our liking and fascination for delving in wider  topics  and  subjects, to fathom the ultimate. Right from childhood I started  reading  various books. In our early years I vaguely remember that I used to read Aesop’s Fables, Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Snowhite and the seven dwarfs and Fairy tales. Then we shifted to Hans Anderson, Tales of Robinhood. With the passage of time the interest shifted  to  Adventures. I remember there used be a series  for adventures for boys and a separate one adventure for girls.
                     In our teens the interest in reading habits also  changed. I remember my mother used to buy  Hindi magazines, Maya and Manohar Kahanian. She used to hide them from me and my younger sister.
We somehow  used to locate them and read  them. We  sisters, were partners in crime.Even though we  studied in a Convent school,where no Hindi  was taught, we could manage to read the “adult” stories. Some how I developed an interest in Hindi novels written by Munshi Prem Chand. I read Godaan, Gaban, Nirmala and many short stories. My Father inspired me to read Gandhi ji’s, My experiment with truth and Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru’s ‘Letters from a father to his daughter.’ 
My parents were  very spiritual. Besides daily prayers, we used to have Akhand Ramayan  puja on special occasions. In 24 hours the whole of Tulsi Das’ Ram Charit Manas  was read. We used to take turns for reading and learnt many lines by heart. I have read Ram Charit Manas numberless times. I read the Mahabharata and Bhagwat Gita. I also read the Bible, as I had many British   friends, with whom I used to go the Church on some Sundays.My Father, though a  spiritual person, was very liberal and broadminded. He never prevented me from going to to a Church, Gurudwara or a Masjid.I have also read Maha Bhagvath  and Guru Nanak's Jap ji Maharaj.
          After going to college I  became an avid reader of Mills and Boon. I used to finish one book every day.All the girls were crazy for these  books.It was at this stage  that I had too much of Mills and Boons. I now shifted to classics.I read A Tale of two Cities Pickwick Papers,War and Peace, Canterbury Tales,Pride and Prejudice ,Emma, Good Earth,Wuthering Heights, Tess,Tom Jones,Robinson Crusoe and many more. I had maintained a small library.  Even now if I find a classic I cannot resist the temptation. Whether it is a novel, a poem, a play, a biography I have read all. Milton, Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Fielding,  Bernard Shaw, Shakespeare, Daphne-du Maurier, Bacon, Johnson,  Salman Rushdie, Jane Austen, TS Eliot,or Mark Twain or  other writer I love to read  any thing.





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22 comments:

  1. Wow! You have read a lot! It's true our reading tastes change with age. I remember there was a time when I would read so many M&Bs and now I wouldn't even touch them! :D

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    1. Thanks Shilpa. I used to read a lot but now I cannot.I believe you must be reading a lot. You write quite a number of book reviews.

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  2. As the time changes... Our tastes and preferences of reading also change...
    So true...

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    1. Thanks Satya.As we grow old the nature of books that we read also changes.

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  3. From comics to classics you have read everything, that's nice.

    True, whatever you have written. Reading relaxes , helps in visualization, sharpens our intellect amongst many other things.

    I was a voracious reader once upon a time, now sadly, with ten unread books on my shelf, i am not able to prioritize reading amongst many other interests.

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    1. Thanks Asha. Those were the days!! With old age, speed with which I used to read then is gone. I pick up some books but it takes ages to complete reading even one book.

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  4. These are all my favorite authors as well. I also try to keep a copy of my all time favorite books handy.

    I picked up a book by Barbara Cartland recently, and found it quite good to read. She kept to her subject, the story was short and the romance was predictable. But yet, it was a well crafted story.

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    1. Thanks Ava. I used to read, but now it takes months to finish a book. Oh yes, I have read Barbara Cartland but I completely forgot about her. Her romance is more sublime than M&B.

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  5. You really read a lot ...I envy you for that :) I agree, we read for different reasons..For me words are relaxing...Right now, I am reading Amulya Malladi's 'The Mango Season'...reminds me so much of home and our families..could relate to it so well

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    1. Thanks Latha.I used to read a lot, but now I cannot read much. With growing age the speed with which I used to read earlier has now decreased . My daughter bought 'The Mango Season, but it is lying untouched.

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  6. So true Ushaji, our liking of books changes with time... I think the mystery adventure series you refer to are the Nancy Drew and Hardy boys series. Books have a magical hold on us and they are great stress busters :)

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    1. Thanks Reshma reading habit change as we grow. Frankly, I could not recollect the name of Nancy Drew.Thanks for pointing out.

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  7. Indeed you are well read , I guess.
    It is a plethora of ideas that are novel to us , it is like getting into another persons brain and knowing his mind , thoughts. It is fascinating without any comparison.

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  8. Thanks Anil. In different phases of life, reading habits also changed. Now it takes ages to finish a book. Old age has made all reflexes very slow.

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  9. Reading really makes us ... I loved comics when I was a kid, and then took on novels, and I am in love with words, much like you :-)

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    1. Thank you Amrit. I think all those who write are fond of reading.

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  10. Superb list.

    I remember a quote by, I think it was Hemingway. He was asked what makes a great writer. He said. "Three Things. Read. Read. Read.

    How true!

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    1. Thank you myinnerchick. I am happy that you liked this post.

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  11. Superb coverage of the idea, Ma'm :) Yes, books are the best friends we can ever make :)
    Now I don't have much time to read at home, running behind my little one, so I make up for it by carrying a book around and reading in the bus while commuting to and fro :)

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    1. Thank you Sreeja for liking the list of books read by me. I know it is difficult to read when small children are at home.

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    2. It is indeed a truth speaking post. Nice.By riding your thoughts,I understand that you own a wide range of experiences,Madam.

      To be frank enough I haven't travelled much through English roads.I was a Mal. medium student till 10th. Then I moved to science-discipline.But I am a regular reader of journals and magazines.I love reading the blog-posts.I utilize my vacant time (if any) for reading all those. My childhood was among story-books.

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    3. Thanks Sarala. Even though you have not been a student of English, you write very well. Your poems are always very nicely composed.

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