Sunday, April 15, 2012

Of books and their worlds

How often is it that we find ourselves in a place that fit us as people and as dreamers so perfectly? A place where one feels at home... even if one were to visit that place for the first time! A place that sometimes, confined to the yellowing pages of books we grew up with...

I've always had a deep love for books and what they can teach. And oh, how much does a good book have to convey! It cannot be measured... probably it varies with how much one can learn. A good book is the best of teachers. There is no ego. The words do not change and yet, in those seemingly lifeless pages, there is a force that changes the reader so subtly... so beautifully... so magically!

I've had quite a long history with books. When my friends would play house and imagine themselves to be caught in the mires of the adult world, I escaped to the world of wizards and elves. No, I didn't become any character in the books I read. I was merely the faceless observer who had no part to play. Yet, being that observer gave me such a sense of belonging that I loathed putting away some of my books. I dreamed of the numerous worlds I read about. I yearned to go into them... to live them out. But never take part in them. The part of the anonymous and unaffected observer was all I sought.

One such book that touched my soul is "Silmarillion". True, it's not as famous as "The Lord of the Rings" but there is something about this work of Tolkien that manages to lure me in... I've read it a thousand times and every single time, it shows me something new. No two readings are the same! It's amazing how one can rediscover what one thought one knew so well and realize that everything is not as one thought them!

In Silmarillion, I could always relate to some character or the other and in no two readings have the characters ever been the same. And every time I open the book, I feel at peace! My world could be crumbling around me but as long as I have this book open in front of me, all will be well! I shall forever be indebted to Tolkien for giving me this wonderful gift!

Do you have a book that makes you feel this way?

Thursday, April 12, 2012

I'm alive! And how!

It has been quite a while since I've come hither, has it not? There're cobwebs dangling all over the place!



I'm incredibly sorry for not being the most judicious with updates! My life has been a roller coaster ride for a while now. In the weeks that I was forced away from updating my site thanks to excess work and pure laziness, I've managed to get myself invited to the Consul-general of Japan's residence, spoke in Japanese to Japanese diplomats who are really... really big shots! Had my speech covered by Australian TV channels (Apparently!) and tasted authentic Chicken teriyaki! Did I mention I also went to Kerala, literally boiled myself in the sweltering heat, saw three different festivals in three days, shopped sarees that are truly out of this world and played with dogs with heads bigger than the biggest unhusked coconuts?
Yes... I've been busy! :D

And to top it all off, I'm in love with Hermann Hesse! Head over heels! My Sensei gave me a few of his books to read and seriously, I'm eternally indebted to him for showing me Hesse! The guy's what I imagine a good author ought to be! Read and learn, Stephenie! Read and learn! I've finished Wandering and am almost finished with Siddhartha. have any of you read Hesse? What's your take on him?