BookShelf..

June 12th'2007. I was tagged by Sushamakka to write about books i had liked the most..Back then i dint like writing about books which i had never read. From then on , co-incidentally and thankfully, I've accustomed myself into reading again , a habit which had gone missing from my list of hobbies after my school days. Worm i was , sure.Because they were my best friends always ( i'm not talking about the class-room ones mind you ). I remember buying Tinkle , Gokulam , and Champak every issue.


The first major novel-kind-of book which i had bought was a compilation of John Keats poems, a poet whom i've always adored and who inspired me into so-called poetry which i write. But after that , +2 and Engineering were full of technical stuff.From Resnick and Hallidays to the J.D.Lees , from the Milliman and Halkias to the NagoorKanis, they were the best resources for Knowledge. And then of course came the Shakuntala Devis and George Summers for the puzzles. Between all theses , i always had the zeal to read books which were of off the track. Some just for relaxation , and some just to catch up with the pace of the world. And in this process i happened to read the Hardy Boys during my school days, and then the Harry Potter series during my +2 and graduation.

The following books i happened to read in the last few months , and believe me , they have brought to me a fresh whiff of enthusiasm for reading , and an interest which seems only to be growing.

• Five Point Someone - Chetan Bhagat

This book , about 'what not to do at IIT' , took me through " how screwed up things can get if you don't think straight." The story about the three guys,Hari, Alok and Ryan, their lives and their struggle academically , personally , and emotionally is quite captivating. From Parental pressure to familial obligations, gender roles to dating, sex ,drugs and suicide, this book has them all.And in Chetan Bhagat's narration, the story just moves like a slide show in front of our eyes.

What i personally took from this book is about how not to get into troubles by postponing things and to always give preference to things and events in life which are top priority at that point of time. And to think about the future and to plan for it, but not forgetting the present and what best to do to make the pathway for the future.and not to sacrifice our youth for the sake of a better adulthood.And definitely not to think like Hari in the book, when he says "It's amazing how happy one can be,with low expectations of one's self.". With Chetan Bhagat's other book One night @ the call center slated to be relased as a movie , i plan to catch up with the book before i watch the movie.

• The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

"Jab koi kisi chez ko dil se chahe toh puri kayenat ussee tumse milane mi jut jati hai" flaunts ShahRukh Khan in the recent Bollywood flick Om Shanti Om. Now that's straight from this book of Paulo Coelho.Author of books such as 'The Fifth Mountain' , 'Maktub' and 'Elecen Minutes' , Paulo Coelho's bestseller , 'The Alchemist' , teaches us the basic rules of life . This is the story of a sheperd boy Santiago who understands the eternal language ,the language of God, without knowing that it is a secret power of recognising omens which not everyone posseses. In his journey for realising his dream to meet the merchant's daughter , Fatima, he meets people such as the old woman , the merchant , the Englishman and the king , who tell him all about the deserts,the books , the path to pyramids and not to forget, the truths of life.And about the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life that grant immortality.

What i took from this book ? Well let me tell you. It made me realise how true the eternal language concept was, and was able to relate every part of the theory and the philosophy in it. On a outlook , i started seeing life as a person who is on an expedition in mars. When you look down to the Earth from there, all the problems and all the relatively complex relations with the entities in the world would seem so tiny isn't it ? I thought about it. And believe me it gave me a much needed push to look at life in a new perpective. Must Read for every individual ready to face the actual world i believe. And im happy i read it at the correct time :)

• As the Crow Flies - Jeffrey Archer

This is the typical "rags to riches " kind of novel from the stables of Jeffrey Archer. I'm sure everyone would have seen the movie " Guru " . This novel is on the same lines. It is about Charlie Trumper , his life and all the happenings , in his angle and from various other angles of the characters in the novel. This was another highly intriguing novel which i just couldn't out down .Of the 743 pages, I remember reading 50-60 pages daily and sneaking out about 120 odd on a holiday.This is about the story of how a green grocer realises his dream of owning a huge mall in the heart of London.
This book brought me in terms with all the business scenarios and as well as the different ranks in the army as well. How bidding is done , how politics are played, how hearts are won and how people can be betrayed.How dreams can be realised and how external forces play against us in the ugliest of manners. How stakes are claimed, how shares are shared , how wills are manipulated and how tempers are glared.How friends can be of help and how strangers can be quite a mess.How mothers can do anything to make a chile confess.How life takes us through problems and how we can get out of them , successfull. Everything.I guess the para above says it all.My first read of a JA novel , and i am left wanting for more.

Other books such as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K.Rowling", " You Can Win - Shiv Khera " i read. But I was not as influenced by them as the above three. Presently my table boasts of The Fountainhead - Ayn Rand . Read about 70 pages of it.All about Architecture.Another masterpiece ready to be gobbled up.Am sure i will come up with another post like this after 6 months or so. Better enlightened and better equipped.

P.S : @ Sushamakka..yes i did remember your tag, so dont hesitate to tag me further as well ;)
@ Preetam : Books are mightier than G.I.Joe's ?? You really think so ?? :p

Hmm..

These are times when retired F1 greats drive a taxi to get their family in time to catch a flight.Was just wondering whether even he has to face the wrath at home..i guess he has to.No wonder he loved his sport.While the cry-baby quietly slips back into his cradle which brought him to his feet , only after he had played with his hot wheels which were never his , the prince declares his return to the kingdom with his fine display of masterstrokes at a battle where eventually , light won.Not much at a distance , an 'almost' winner is partying with a 'super-model' and a 'tennis sensation' with a ' now single ' movie star.Far away , a lone machine is limping away on a barren land , breaking stones, collecting samples of information and discovering traces of silica which are usually found only near volcanic areas , suggesting life could be possible. A tiger lashed out at two lions saying that they don't contribute much to the forest's economy and welfare, saying that they are more interested in their prey rather than the growth of the forest and that the forest isn't benefited from its own beings.A 'Midas' is now at the pinnacle of a financial organisation , aiming to turn the rust into gold .And inside a few architectural beauties , thousands are talking with their fingers , and working mechanically,passionately,out of love,out of hatred,out of necessity,in despair, in tension , in a calm , in curiosity, in boredom,contented,depressed,happy,hopeful,thoughtful.You 'super-poke' them,you 'sucker-punch' them..They will not care nor budge.Because some of them have just learnt that 'Fat Bank balances are key to marital-bliss' ;)