Book tag

The first book I remember reading: A fat and huge and red coloured dictionary meant for kids…It had LOVELY illustrations , I was three and the only thing I READ was the picture of a cute worm that was sticking out his head in A for APPLE….

The book that my parents asked me NOT to read and I read: They had a problem with my reading Hindi trash like Gulshan Nanda etc…and now papa helped me buy the same trash for some ‘official’ work that I had.
Also mummy categorically asked me to stay away from Kumarsambhavam, a play by Kalidas…not that I cared about his writings but because she asked me not to, I had too…the reason…it is about the relationship of Shiva and Parvati…the ideal husband and wife couple according to the Hindu Mythology and the 8th chapter in the play descibes their love making…with the sounds and the love bites…I was about 14 then…and it felt good to see that Indians especially gods also made love.

Book I associate most with love, for whatever reason:
The answer should be any Gulzar books as I look for all my love dilemmas in his books but lets be honest
Kasap by Manohar Shyam Joshi- read it when I was falling in love, at the peak of love, when I was falling out of love and after my break up. Read it like a bible in those three years about 9 times. And each time I looked at it differently.the book is still my bible.
Chitra by Rabindranath Tagore- read it first when I was 12 and even at that time I remember being so moved I cried. And still can’t bear to read it. it is indeed a little non feministic I think but I don’t care.

Book that should have never finished: any book by Shivani and Suvarnalata by Ashapurna Devi. ( This is link to a story by her)

Book I am so embarrassed about liking: Most of Sidney Sheldon books….okay so kill me for intellectual corruption…
and also added with a… gulp … both the volumes of Bridget Jones Diary.


Book I am so embarrassed about not liking: None actually but I failed to see what was so cult-ish about Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger …okay sue me…I am ready, or disown me…yes especially the golgappa and the fried fish…see if I care…

One day I will pucca read: Atlas Shrugged and Fountain Head by Ayn Rand…pucca promise.

The most erotic book I have read: changing answer slyly, Mitro Marjaani by Krishna Sobti, here is a link to my other blog where i spoke about the book

I could't sleep for nights after reading: Dastavez, Volume one by Manto. For the uninitiated, he wrote extensively about brothels and riots, 1947 riots that is . Do read Khol Do and Kali Salwar.
Also Weekend by Nirmal Verma, disturbing is the mildest word that you can use for his writings.

I can never finish reading, though have tried many times: The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand…kill me, I am a kaafir

I bought recently:
The first three parts of St. Clares, by Enid Blyton

My wish list (3 books allowed):
Selected poems of Sylvia Plath.
The Sandman: Book of Dreams by Neil Gaimon (currently reading it bit by bit at Landmark, every alternate day…it is expensive…okay?)
Tarkash by Javed Akhtar


and and and chaatpaapdi, rambler, aparajita and easelworks are tagged.

Gulzar saab ke saath bada hona...

I remember once when i was 13-14 and my mother and elder sister were watching Ijazat and oooohing and aaahing about something.
and then that song came ...'Katra katra milta hai...katra katra jeene do"
i had thought how dumb who would want to live drop by drop...Not me for sure...i want it ALL and AT ONCE...
when i told my mother this she gave me that smile that means...one day you will grow up...
and worse was my sister (who i secretly thought was a silli oaf most times) also claimed to understand the song and next day she and her friends were discussing the song when i expressed my opinion and they got all patronising...
Did i get mad or what??? i took a vow to understand that and more one day...
i always liked the peppier ' chhoti si kahani si barishon ke paani se'
till recently when i was reading his book and it struck me for the millionth time that this man KNOWS exactly how i am feeling...how how and how does he know?
and i do understand the above mentioned song better but it hurts to grow up and understand it...

Similiar sentiments have been shared in another sher of his which is even more beautiful and more painful...

" Tumhaare gham ki dali utha kar zaabaan par rakh li hai maine...woh katra katra pighal rahi hai main katra katra hi jee raha hoon"

aaahhh the sweet pain...don't ever go away...