[sadhuji]

I have always wondered at the ease with which writers pen down incidents and create characters that remain in our memories for years to come – remember Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Moriarty? Since I have written quite a number of crime stories, I have a weakness for the theme. The collection of JHCs that I possess has grown old with age, like me. Most of these were my travel companions – rail journeys were incomplete without reading matter. In my youth, when I would travel between Calcutta and Nashik and later during my journeys to other locations in the country on official duties, books were an integral part of my baggage. I would occupy the uppermost berth of the sleeper coach with my book and come down only during meals.

Then there are books that I purchased for my son – abridged editions of classics like Tom Sawyer, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Treasure Island, the War of the Worlds, Around the world in 80 days etcetera. And, alongside there were Enid Blyton and Richmal Crompton. I had grown up on this diet and, therefore, passed on the legacy to my son.

This passion of mine for books has led to domestic unhappiness because they occupy precious space and are the breeding grounds of cockroaches and other insects. The results are not pleasant by any stretch of imagination, especially with the books getting an additional dose of smell – the smell of decaying newsprint combined with the smell of cockroach droppings would drive any woman crazy. Well, in order to maintain domestic harmony, I would resort to superficial cleaning on occasional Sundays.

Right now, I have stored all these books in the wall cupboards. Earlier, when staying in the company quarters, these would lie in a haphazard manner, today there is more system in the madness. The books, mostly pocketbooks, are neatly stacked on the shelves, in my own bungalow. They came cheap in those days – 25 cents, equivalent to Rs 1.25 at the exchange rate of Rs 5 to the dollar.

Even today, I recline on Saturdays with one of the novels and marvel at the way an innocent person gets involved in an intriguing situation. I carry out this reading exercise on Saturdays because that is the day when I face load shedding for 16 continuous hours from 6 in the morning to 10 at night – courtesy the MSEB. With no TV around, it provides an excellent opportunity to relax with a book. To the raddiwallah, my consignment of books is nothing but raddi at a flat rate of a few rupees per kilogram; to me, it is a priceless collection that I will cherish as long as I live and that will pass on to my son after me.

(to be continued)

[priya]

sadhuji, on Feb 14 2007, 07:55 AM, said:

Then there are books that I purchased for my son – abridged editions of classics like Tom Sawyer, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Treasure Island, the War of the Worlds, Around the world in 80 days etcetera. And, alongside there were Enid Blyton and Richmal Crompton. I had grown up on this diet and, therefore, passed on the legacy to my son.

Even today, I recline on Saturdays with one of the novels and marvel at the way an innocent person gets involved in an intriguing situation. I carry out this reading exercise on Saturdays because that is the day when I face load shedding for 16 continuous hours from 6 in the morning to 10 at night (to be continued)

Ahhhh Sadhuji....You are reviving memories that I thought I'd long forgotten   The days of Enid Blyton, i.e. The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, and then there was Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys.  To go back even further, Beatrix Potter and her wonderful illustrations of Squirrel Nutkin, Mrs Tiggywinkle(sp) Johnny Townmouse et al.  I had the whole hard cover collection of Beatrix Potter's books, all of which were donated to junior schools in Zambia when I left.  I wonder if they're still there?

Yes, load-shedding does give you an ideal opportunity to catch up with reading (during daylight hours of course ) - and what better way to pass the time, than to escape into the secret world of whichever author has taken your fancy at the time.

[jyotirmoy]

Yes some of the characters are just fantastic. I love my Bertie that P.G.Wodehouse created.
Now Sadhuji I have a question. Sibram Kaku used to say that no writer has ever beaten time. In his words "kaler shrot kauke kalojoyee hote dayenee...." The tide of time never allowed a writer to stay on & beat time. Like any rule there are exceptions he said and a fit example is Tagore. He also said that .."Somoy thakte som e firte hoy"... One must retire at appropriate time. Those who dont readers eventually desert them. Jerome K Jerome wrote only three novels and retired. These three novels are real gems. A peculiar melancholy grips me when ever I read a novel that clearly shows signs of detoriation of a highly regarded writer. Then I remember Sibram Kaku's words. "Mohonar katche pouchey ar moho na rakhayee bhalo" When the river of your life approaches the sea refrain from further achievement.
Now what do you say?

[iwanttogoback]

i read every day, and can't sleep unless i have read for at least a little while before i turn out the light.

in an ideal world i would be paid to read...someone has to be the audience for all those writers.

[cyberhippie]

Ah Just William brilliant, you know when I was 10 I spent my pocket money on string, a few nails plus other bits and bobs that William ALWAYS seemed to have in his pocket friands and family were mystified!
Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, Secret Seven, Famous Five,  shucks even Rupert Bear used to be a great adventure back then!!

Anyone remember Stig of The Dump.
Moonfleet
Biggles
The little house on the Prairie books (now what were they called again!)

And then there was The Magic Rocking Horse...............

I had pretty much all the classics in my room and the complete set of hardback Enid Blyton, which I'm really sorry my parents gave away!

Nice one Sadhuji. lots of memories there!

[priya]

Oh CH, I'd forgotten about Biggles AND The Magic Rocking Horse.  The Magic Wishing Chair too......that used to grow wings (and NOT the Red Bull kind either.)  Kiki, that white cockatoo from the Famous Five.  

Didn't Just William have rosy cheeks, freckles and red, unruly hair? - I think I can still picture him on the cover of one of his books.

You've certainly jogged some memories, Sadhuji!!!!

[sadhuji]

my dear jyotirmoy, priya, cyberhippy, iwanttogoback - your feedbacks are wonderful. yes, i'd completely forgotten biggles and the hardy boys.

and jyotirmoy - not just in literature but in every field, a person should retire honourably when he reaches the saturation point. unfortuntely, we do not believe in such trifles. we continue in whatever field until we drop dead or are unable to move our limbs. proof - our politicians, cricketers, film folk etc.

[iwanttogoback]

Quote

The little house on the Prairie books (now what were they called again!)

'the little house on the prairie'.  of course.

yes i loved those too, and lots of enid blyton. madam is now readng nancy drew, some enid blyton, and harry potter, as well as lots of girly stuff.

are any of you familiar with 'the magic pudding', an aussie classic? absolutely brilliant.

[batistuta]

I still have the complete works of Conan Doyle and re-read some books on Holmes, time to time. I would add Agatha christie to this list. I have spent Many a train journey reading Hercule Poirot expounding on those Little Grey cells.

[priya]

I think this thread deserves a 'bump' so some of our new members can give us their favourites

[digital drifter]

dozens of Just William.  Violet/Lizzie was one of the characters in it?  Read them in school.


wait....Robert was his brother, right?

[WonderWomanUSA]

iwanttogoback, on Feb 14 2007, 04:44 AM, said:

in an ideal world i would be paid to read...someone has to be the audience for all those writers.

I was paid to read for a few years -- I was a proofreader, working for various typesetting companies and freelancing for a couple of publishing houses. It was wonderful -- I had, indeed, found my perfect job!

Unfortunately, the business changed and most authors do not want to pay for proofreading; they expect the "spell check" to catch every error. Of course, as we all know, a word can be spelled correctly and still be the wrong word in context.

I, too, have to read a while before turning off the light --even when I've been straining my brain for 8 or 12 hours at my day job. When I'm at my busiest, I mostly read thrillers or romances, but when work slows down, I read the more literary books I've mentioned in the book thread we have going here. I'm going into the thriller/romance world right now....

[WonderWomanUSA]

For those of you who love Holmes, have a look for the books by Laurie R. King, who has updated the old guy and has given him a wonderful female conpanion. The first in that series is The Bee-Keeper's Apprentice.