21 Bookish Questions with Sana Shaikh

It has been a while since I posted my ongoing series of 21 Bookish Questions with My Big Red Bag on my blog.

In this video, I went to interview Sana Shaikh who is leading two lives- graphic designer by the day and a literary character during the night. Since her reading style is completely different from mine, doing this video with her was all the more fun.

Watch Sana answer 21 totally weird bookish impromptu questions, and find out if you have anything common with her.

You will find Sana pouring her heart out on a page when 

not day dreaming about cats.

 

If you are a writer, poet, blogger, or simply a fellow bookworm, I need you. Do drop me an email at foramdhruv92@gmail.com or you can tweet to me @readin_glasses. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

Reading Spot

Even the simplest of things can turn into something extremely complex. Like a text, we need to understand a word within a context. For example, consider the word “space”. “Space” has no specific meaning attached to it, the definition and perception of the word changes in accordance to the context. When I am talking about “space” with reference to “reading”, I mean a location or an area wherein one is able to read freely without any interruptions.

Reading is a hobby of leisure. It needs to performed when you are most relaxed. Therefore, it needs to be carried out in an area/ space which is cozy, comfortable, and makes you feel at home. This “space” of comfort, hence, is different for each one of us.

Coffee Shops

Imagine personalities like Hemingway, Eliot, Whitman and several others spending hours at coffee shops and creating history. Several people prefer reading at coffee shops or cafes. The romantic idea of reading at a cafe has a European notion attached to it. Though it proves to be difficult for people with a short span of attention as they easily get distracted, some people manage it really well, too engrossed in the book to care about their surroundings!

Parks

Parks are classic Victorian. Fantasise literary characters such as Jane and Lizzy in the background enjoying a good book. Parks/ gardens form as another alternative, ensuring the reader with complete tranquility and abundance of greenery. Sometimes, the scenario no matter how scenic turns vexatious, as, it is either too hot or there are ants lurking around everywhere making it impossible to for the reader to feel “relaxed”.

Reading Rooms

The age-old concept of reading room is just perfect. A complete silence zone, splendid for reading without any distractions. Reading rooms are slowly decaying and dying as less and less people are using it. It is sad to see this notion from the golden era gradually disappearing from this metropolitan world.  

Bed/ Couch
At the end of the day all you want is a bed, blanket, book and a coffee. There won’t be a single person whose favourite reading spot isn’t a bed or a couch. You loosen yourself, forgetting about all the worries of the day, and simply enjoy a good book while snuggling with your blanket. Bliss.

Hammock

Exotic vacation spot. Hammock. Murakami. If there is an epitome for comfortable reading, the award goes to hammocks. Who wouldn’t want to spend their lazy Sundays like this?

Beach

A summer romance with your latest rom-com novel, with an overwhelming and overpowering presence of the sea, is enough to put any reader in a state of euphoria.

Courtyard
My personal recommendation to Indian readers. Image from Arundhati Roy’s book immediately comes to my mind- a house with a large patio/ courtyard surrounded by different species of plants, pungent smell of rain, and  a cup of chai. A well deserved reading spot.






 

Home is where your book is. Which is your favourite reading spot? Where are you most comfortable reading? And most importantly, what is your definition of “domestic space”? 

Few questions whose answers you are subconsciously aware of, but never thought of it out loud. 

Food for thought until my next post.  

An Incomplete Love Affair

Reading a novel is an art. There are a lot of factors that are taken into consideration for it to be passed off as a good book. You look at how developed the story is, how well-rounded the characters are, how skillfully the author manages to get his message across to his reader, and much more. 

All of these features are of utmost importance for an author to keep into account while writing a book. Only then will he manage to keep his audience engaged.

For a reader, every new book is like a new love affair. He/ She is booked for a few days or weeks to come.  If the book manages to fail the above test, the reader has no option but to abandon it. 

I know it sounds harsh and cruel, but many readers I know of (including me) are at ease with leaving a novel halfway. 

Photo Courtesy: Goodreads

Am I guilty about it? Definitely. I am not pleased about it at all. Undoubtedly, abandoning a book is the easiest way out. It may only be for cowards. But what is the point of continuing reading when the content is not good enough to keep you captivated? My list of abandoned books is too long to keep track of, but several American classics make it to that list. 

Do you feel this sense of unfinished business, which is complicate to explain? Time and age when you read a particular book is also important. Would I ever go back to finish the unfinished? Maybe. Will I still have the same feelings or will it develop into something else? I don’t know. The probability for both is equal. 

Rare are those gems who would never abandon a book mid-way. 

I go by the principle of life being too short to read shitty books. 

We all have different reading style and habit. Share with me your thoughts on this incomplete love affair between you and your book. You won’t find yourself alone.

Photo Courtesy: Goodreads

21 Bookish Questions with Shweta Punjabi

Today’s blog post is a little different from my previous ones; it is the first time I am posting a video. It is definitely something new (for me, if not for you) whereas the idea behind it is borrowed.

While I was watching Vogue’s celebrity video on 73 Questions for the fifth time, it struck me why not do something similar in relation to books/reading. Consequently, the idea for 21 Bookish Questions was developed.

Let me give you an insight on what I was thinking while I came up with this idea.

The motive behind this video is rather straightforward. I want to get to know you all better– what each one you is thinking, what is your reading style, what would kind of authors would you prefer and so on. General ideas, beliefs and thoughts.

Questions are funny, quirky and the kind that will not be a part of your daily conversations. And it is in a ‘Rapid Fire’ style, easy to put you in a flux.

Because it is my first time, I appreciate and welcome your comments.

I am on lookout for fellow readers to interview, if anyone of you is interested and is in Mumbai drop me an email on foramdhruv92@gmail.com or you can tweet me @readin_glasses.

If you have any ideas regarding the Questions (no matter how funny or weird), please feel free to comment.

I am thankful for all your love and support!

Disclaimer: The video is shot by me from my phone camera, please excuse the sound. I haven’t done any editing (simply because I am not that tech savvy). I am presenting it to you the way I have shot it.

Cats and Books are two things Shweta loves. 

See what her thoughts are on several things book related.

Thank You Shweta Punjabi for being patient with me while shooting this video.

Happy Reading until my next post!

Reading Challenge 2015

I am 4 months late for this post, but who’s counting?

To begin with belated Happy New Year my fellow readers! I realise I have abandoned you for a really long time, but like a lost elephant I am back to my herd for good.

New Year calls for new beginnings, which in turn calls for new readings. Time to discover new books, authors, poems, genres and leave behind our age old stereotypes. My dumb self recently discovered these Reading Challenges that take place all over the internet. There are a wide variety of options available: Goodreads Challenge, Summer Reading Challenge, 50 Books Challenge, and several others. Being a voracious reader and competitive by nature, I voluntary took up one of the challenge that I came across after my thorough research.

I found my Reading Challenge 2015 from this website called POPSUGAR.

This particular challenge aroused my curiosity and got me excited. Options such as: a book you can finish in a day, a book that is last in your reading list, a book by an author who shares same initials as you, etc. seems very very interesting.  

I took my Reading Challenge vow on Instagram; and keep posting snapshots of books I have checked off my list. Though my Reading Challenge is going super slow­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­- due to the intrusion of the real world- I am trying my best.

Challenges are just an excuse to quirk things up a little, making you look beyond your usual choices. I am not one of the best readers with an eye for detail; I am among the average ones just looking to have a good time. Hence, I want to evolve as a reader and broaden my knowledge. I have promised myself that I won’t stick to my comfort zone and take this opportunity to explore.  

Wish me luck for my journey. I will keep you guys updated with my choices and reviews.

Till then Ciao.

Bouna Lettura! 

Have you packed your book trunk?

So summer is here! The season of sweaty armpits, mangoes and that of ice-lollies. But the most amazing thing about summer is taking a break and going away, far away from the hullabaloo of the city life. For a book nerd like me, summer equates to a new romance with a new novel. Imagining myself at an isolated island with only books to keep me company, seems like a paradise to me. But the question arises as to what books would make it to my summer reading-list? Have you ever have faced a situation where you are to make a crucial decision regarding what books to pack when you are travelling? Well, after giving it a lot of thought I have listed down a few books that I would read during summer.

  Lord of the Flies  
by William Golding

Being a sucker for classics, this book tops my summer reading-list. I mean, who wouldn't want to read about a group of kids stranded on an island? Jokes apart, it is an extremely powerful read as Golding explores the dark reality of men. I wouldn't suggest this novel to people who want to do some light reading.

Bossypants 
 by Tina Fey

This book has to be in everyone's reading list. It's hilarious, witty and light, which makes it a perfect summer read.

 

 

Harry Potter series 

by J.K Rowling

There hasn't been one summer (after I finished reading all Potter books for the first time) where I haven't reread Harry Potter. These novels are very dear to my heart and my summer would be incomplete without them. 

Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky 

This is a novel most of us relate to. It is very insightful and wonderfully written. I don't really love this novel but I don't even dislike it. It is quick read and apt for a summer afternoon on a beach..

 

The Museum of Innocence  

by Orhan Pamuk

"After all, a woman who doesn't love cats is never going to make a man happy" (Orhan Pamuk). I absolutely loved this book, was introduced to writings of Pamuk by a friend of mine. He has a very unique style of writing and summer seems the perfect time to get lost in Pamuk's world of Istanbul.

 

Lolita 

 by Vladimir Nabokov

Do I really need a reason to reread this cult classic? The story and language are what makes this novel a delightful read.     

These are a few books which I would prefer reading on a long lazy summer afternoon with Lana Del Rey's songs softly playing in a background. I know that you nerds have a different and a unique summer reading list and might not agree with mine, feel free to share. Let me know which books you will be packing this summer!

Happy Reading until my next post :)