Tag: bookshelf

  • eBooks and a joy of traveling lite

    eBooks and a joy of traveling lite

    You can take it from me, that the struggle of urban gypsy is real. If you are not sure what I am talking about, you must have missed ‘Urban Gypsy vs Paperback Loyalist’. Let me tell you one thing, shifting to new rental houses almost every year is hectic especially if you are a bibliophile having a large book collection. And when you love your books and reading so much, traveling to outstation with at least three novels in your luggage makes it very tiresome. This is the reason why I had shifted my focus from physical books to digital ones. Very unique experiences opened up in the form of ebooks.

    When you flip pages of eBooks on screen

    eBooks have evolved from stiff rigid PDFs to swanky, lively eBooks. There are a number of platforms where you can enjoy your books like Google books, Wattpad. I have tried all of them, however my favourite remains the Kindle by Amazon. Thing which sealed a deal for me is not just the huge book library / catalogue they have, but the experience of reading books on Kindle is amazing. 

    The only thing about which I have a complaint is, the Kindle device, that sophisticated eBook reader is damn costly. That’s why owning a Kindle Paperwhite still remains my dream today. But, their free Kindle mobile application comes to my rescue. The app is fluid and reader-friendly with choices of choosing background colour and text size for a comfortable reading on screen. Animations in the app give you the feel of turning an actual page. A bibliophile in me feels good because of such small things. As a result, I started buying more of the eBooks than paperbacks. 

    kindle Unlimited – New avatar of good old library

    Hunger and ambition to have my own collection of books and to display them proudly on a beautiful bookshelf turned me away from actively looking out for a library when I moved to Pune back in 2010. It all changed when I stumbled upon something called Kindle Unlimited. It’s a subscription model where you can borrow upto 10 books at a time from their wide ever changing collection. They even have some collections of literature from indian languages added up in kindle unlimited package.

    Initially, It was a struggle for me to adjust to the new not owning the book I am reading. I took my time to adapt to these new changes and enjoy the library system again. Now I have eased into this system and my membership gets renewed all the time. Probably, I am turning myself into a Digital Dragon. Digital Dragon who’s Paperback Loyalist deep down in his heart.

    This post is a part of the Blogchatter Half Marathon. Read my earlier story here.

  • Urban Gypsy vs Paperback Loyalist – very exciting tussle

    Urban Gypsy vs Paperback Loyalist – very exciting tussle

    In 2010, I shifted to Pune. My aunt’s house was my first abode in Pune. As time passed, my younger brother joined me from Nashik and we took our first rental place. I packed my bags and moved out. A journey of an Urban Gypsy began. It was easy as I mostly owned only study materials and clothes back then. I was struggling to find a library in this new town. It’s not like that Pune has no libraries. However, a new aspiration has taken root in my mind. As I had a place which I can call my own home, I wanted to have my own collection of books too.

    As I told you before, I started visiting book stores in Pune. Back in those days,  there used to be a huge Crossword on Jangli Maharaj Road. It has become one of my regular spots. Later, I started frequenting the Crosswords in City Pride cinema, Kothrud. I used to do my annual book hauls of Marathi books from the Akshardhara annual exhibition. They hadn’t started their book gallery back then. With these regular visits and annual hauls, I had managed to collect quite a collection.

    And then it hit with very heavy weight

    It was all going smoothly. My book collection was looking pretty on a bookshelf. I was happily  enjoying  reading those lovely paperbacks while sitting on the terrace or by the window. Everything was going merely. But destiny had some other ideas. Wait… no, the homeowner had some other ideas. Destiny was too busy toying with other mortals. I had to shift again to another house. 

    Soon the bags were packed again. My good, that was the moment when I realised literature is a heavy thing. Stack of books was the heaviest from the cargo to be shifted. But now there was no way to complain. We shifted to the new place and the books were settled in their own corner again. New members of their clan kept coming and joining them. Some of them carried more weight with their snobbish hard-covers with shiny dust jackets. For some time,  these snobs tempted me but I remained  loyal to my lovely paperbacks. But these merry times didn’t last forever either. Soon it was time to put on that gypsy hat and move out to look out for a new place to call home.

    Adopting to urban gypsy ways

    In this journey of I have shifted 9 places in the last 10 years since I shifted to Pune. Meantime, my own book collection kept increasing and reached over 300 books. I am a very proud owner of those lovelies. However, when it comes to shifting, I always feel the weight of them crushing me. There’s another point I would like to highlight about this shifting problem. And I am sure all the bibliophiles will agree with me. Not always you will get a good bookshelf. It hurts to see the books stacked and stashed away in some corner of the house. You have to dig deep to get the book you want to read. It hurts. And this has brought me to a very very difficult crossroads. “To be or not to be, that’s the question”. Title of the ‘Paperback Loyalist’ (PL) is at stake. 

    A couple of years ago, I stumbled upon the ease and convenience of ebooks by chance. Free subscription to Kindle Unlimited was that sinful apple. The timing of that membership was so perfect as if it was planned deliberately by the enemies of Paperback Loyalists. I was traveling and those ebooks allowed me to travel light. Thoughts about  easy shifting, not worrying about more and more space to shelve my precious collection started corrupting my PL mind. And today, when I am still settling in after my recent shift, I feel almost ready to relinquish my title of being Paperback Loyalist. 

    Even though I will never part with my books, sadly I can not bring more of those lovelies home. My heart always aches when I see a bookshop. Now I avoid visiting my favorite shops and stick to my mobile phone to do my book hauls digitally. The only solace in this tough choice is, they can’t take my title of “Bibliophile” when they revoke the other one. With a heavy heart, I bid goodbye to “Paperback Loyalist”. At the end, scores are, Urban Gypsy – 1 vs 0 – Paperback Loyalist

    This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon. Read my earlier story here.

  • Misters Kuru – Witty and light-hearted read for fun time

    Misters Kuru – Witty and light-hearted read for fun time

    In 2010 the duo of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman brought Sherlock Holmes to the 21st century and the whole world was awestruck with the results. But what if you bring in the very very old characters of Mahabharata to the land which once they ruled over? Not being reborn and remembering their past incarnations but just thrown in the reality of present day Delhi. Are you intrigued by this idea? Then you are at the right place guys. Misters Kuru: Return to the Mahabharata by Trisha Das is the perfect book for you. 

    Draupadi, Kunti and Amba have been living in Delhi and are well settled in their Kalyug lives. And all of a sudden with a loud bang and a smoke balloon, here come all five of them. Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakul and Sahdevh! Can you imagine the surprise on the faces of these three ladies? What are they doing here on earth leaving their heavenly pleasures behind? What will they do here? Wait, but first, are they just visiting or…?

    Why should you read this?

    I am sure you are also intrigued by these questions. I was, when I first heard about this book. Trisha took care of all of them when she told us this story. Trisha had made it such a page turner with a wry and witty humour spread throughout the book that you have to struggle to put it down if you have some other commitments. If you have some free time, then I can guarantee you a cover-to-cover read. 

    Nothing other than the idea of all these heavenly guys trying their luck on modern-day Delhi was needed to convince me to read this one. Author did such a good job in storytelling that I don’t regret my decision at all. In-fact, I am hoping she continues this story in yet another book in the future and gives us an amazing series.

    So, to know what they do while they are here? will they manage to live in modern day Delhi? And what happens to them when their visit comes to an end, just grab your copies and some munchings.

    Misters Kuru: A Return to Mahabharata

    My rating ★★★★✰ 

    Publisher: HarperCollins India

    Pages: 340

    Published on: 22 April 2021

    You can get your copy here.

    About Author

    Trisha Das is the author of The Mahabharata Re-imagined, The Art of the Television Interview and the internationally acclaimed How to Write a Documentary Script. She has written and directed over forty documentaries in her filmmaking career. Trisha has also won an Indian National Film Award (2005) and was UGA’s ‘International Artist of the year’ (2003).

    This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program. If you want to know more book recommendations from me, then don’t forget to follow my social media accounts and check past reviews here.

  • Undelivered letters – पुस्तक परिचय

    Undelivered letters – पुस्तक परिचय

    “साठेsss….” अशी लांबलचक आरोळी देऊन दारावरल्या टपालपेटीत पत्र टाकणारा पोस्टमन मला आजही आठवतो. पण वीस वर्षांपूर्वी पोचवायला हवी असलेली पत्र जेव्हा एखाद्या पोस्टमनला अचानक अनपेक्षितपणे सापडत असतील तेव्हा काय होत असेल? दोन दशकांच्या काळात पत्र ज्यांच्यापर्यंत पोहोचायला हवी होती त्यांचं पुढे काय झालं असेल? आणि आत्ता त्यांना ही पत्र पोहोचवली तर त्यांना काय वाटेल? हे सारे प्रश्न तुम्हाला पडलेत ना?

    PicsArt_08-12-10.51.59मग जे. आल्कम ( J. Alchem) यांनी लिहिलेलं Undelivered letters हे छोटसं पुस्तक तुम्हाला नक्की खिळवून ठेवेल. पोस्टमन अरॉन आणि त्याची पत्नी सारा यांना अचानक ही न पोहीचवलेली पत्रे सापडतात आणि सुरू होतो एक नवं द्वंद्व समोर उभं ठाकतं. पत्र पोहोचवावी की न पोहोचवावी. ज्यांच्या नावांनी ही पत्र आहेत ते काय म्हणतील? त्यांना काय वाटेल? आपल्या हलगर्जीपणाने झालेल्या या दोन दशकांच्या उशिरामुळे काही भयंकर तर नसेल घडले? या साऱ्या प्रश्नांच्या गदारोळात अडकलेल्या अरॉनची ही गोष्ट आहे छोटीशीच पण थेट मनाला जाऊन भिडते.

    दोन दशकांच्या वेगवेगळ्या काळपट्टयावर चालणारी ह्या पत्रांची गोष्ट आपल्याला ज्यांची ही पत्रे असतात त्या वेगवेगळ्या पात्रांनाही भेटवते. एक वेगळ्याच पद्धतीने गुंफलेल्या या वेगवेगळ्या पात्रकथा, ‘न पोहोचवलेल्या’ पत्रांच्या धाग्याने छान घट्ट विणलेली आहे. एखाद्या निवांत सुट्टीच्या दिवशी हे पुस्तक हाती घेतलं तर एक बैठकीतच तुम्ही संपवूनच खाली ठेवाल. अगदी छोटेखानी असलेलं पुस्तक आपल्या अगदी साध्या मुखपृष्ठानी तुम्हाला नक्की खुणावून घेईल यात शंका नाही.

    पु ल देशपांडे म्हटले होते की “पोटापाण्याचा उद्योग तुम्हाला जगवेल पण कलेशी जमलेली तुमची मैत्री तुम्ही का जगायचे हे सांगून जाईल”. जणू हीच भावना मनात ठेवून जे आल्कमनी प्रत्येक व्यक्तिरेखेला कोणती न कोणती कला दिली आहे. चित्रकला, लेखन, संगीत अशा अनेक कला आणि त्या जोपासणारे कलाकार निरनिराळ्या व्यक्तिरेखांच्या रुपात आल्कमनि अप्रतिम गुंफल्या आहेत. आल्कमची साधी सोपी भाषा दोन वेगवेगळ्या काळपट्ट्यांची गुंफण या पुस्तकाला एक वेगळाच रंग देतं.

    अरॉन त्याला सापडलेली पत्र पोहोचवतो का? पत्र मिळाल्यावर लोकांची काय प्रतिक्रिया असते? सारा ज्या पत्राची वाट आतुरतेने कित्येक वर्ष पाहत असते ते तिला मिळते का? या साऱ्याची उत्तरं या पुस्तकात दडली आहेत. तेव्हा नक्कीच तुम्ही हे पुस्तक मिळवा आणि जरूर वाचा.

    My rating: 4/5

    Kindle version
    Publisher: Westland Publications Ltd.
    Language: English

  • Home

    Home is where the heart is
    and my heart is anywhere you are…

    I connect with these lines by Elvis from the moment we sealed our bond of togetherness. I remember it was one of my summer breaks many years ago when I met you for the first time. You were dressed in fresh yellow and had a glowing face. After initial awkward introductory moments, our conversations took hold and grew naturally from topic to topic. By the time we called it a night, the one thing I knew was that it is going to be a lifetime relationship.

    FB_IMG_1541739847951
    Some of the books from my book-shelf

    Our conversations never had a dull moment. You are a great storyteller. I always wonder how can you know so many stories from different worlds and times, carrying such a variety of emotions. These years of togetherness have deepened the bond we share and nothing can part us ever. You are always with me, whether piled up by my side smelling bookish or stocked up in my reader on my phone or in my backpack waiting to be picked up by me again in my free time.

    It doesn’t matter if I am traveling and staying in some hotel room or relaxing at my rented place. I always feel at home whenever I read you and enjoy the stories you have to tell.

    Home is where the heart is
    and my heart is anywhere you are…

  • Stories on wheels

    1_YkKpKb4GivIt0xU4vNP_MwPutting all the necessary gears for a tour in a backpack, taking out your car or a bike,  and hitting the road for your ‘have to do before dying’ trip is the dream of everyone. But for getting paid for these trips is part of being lucky with your life. Rishad Saam Mehta is this lucky chap who is telling his stories from those roads which he tamed sometimes on two wheels and sometimes on four.
    Traveling and Tea sounds best companions just like, book and coffee. This ‘T&T’ love of Rishad made him write all the memories of those companions in his book “Hot Tea Across India”. ‘Kindle Unlimited’ has gifted me the opportunity to grab plenty of books, and I found this treasure of memories in that pile.
    Those magnificent Himalayan memories about its beauty, weather, outdoor camping, some incidents which makes you feel measly in-front of mother nature’s forces if you neglect them, made my dream of visiting mighty mountain king stronger by every page I turned. After giving chance to enjoy chilling Himalayan weather, he takes us to have some fun in Rann of Katcha in his chase of a herd of wild asses. The excitement, speed and a battle with treacherous bogs with quicksands in dessert make adrenaline rush through your body.
    He also makes us believe that anything can and will happen when hitting the road, some local thug can make you run away with fear of losing your bike to his son in so-called ‘fair trade’ offer, or some anarchist trying to prove their point in local ‘bandh’ by asking you ‘Please can we burn your car?’. But there are many good people out there who make your trip memorable. He found interesting persons to show him around magnificent temples of Khajuraho, or to take in the times of Rana’s of Jaisalmer.
    Sometimes, your travels make you acquainted whit some not so famous and posh looking food joints which serves food which can truly be labeled as delicacies. Then let it be in some houseboat in Kashmir or some roadside ‘dhaba’ on legendary Grand Trunk Road. Or even some native nomads ask you to join them for a meal or help you to cook some of their traditional recipes.
    In-short your craving for food, fun, drive/ride and photography is increased tenfold when you put down the book after reaching an end. Grab your copy and have some fun with Rishabh’s memories.