A Public Library....

Recently, the author had been to the Newport Beach Public Library, in Newport Beach, CA. It was such a beautiful place, with an amazing collection of books, audio CDs, DVDs, etc. Anything and everything to make you get addicted to that place. With really friendly librarians, beautiful in every sense, it is definitely a heaven on earth.

Moreover, the architecture of the library was amazingly done, so as to allow, natural light to illuminate the interior surroundings, for most of the open hours of the library. Very very environment friendly. The library is open on all days of the week, with 9AM-9PM schedule from M-Th. With a checkout limit of 50, and 5 CDs/DVDs, etc., it cannot get better than this. And if one doesn't default, the services are completely free.

And how can I forget, there was this cute little girl, carrying a pile of Harry Potter books, notably, #4-7, towards the checkout counter. Ms. Rowling has done a fantabulous job with her HP series, and one must bow down in reverence and love to this creative genius. I am sure the little girl will have a great time with those books.

This only made me wonder, "Taxes are fine, as long, as they are put to good use". The goodness and badness of the use is open to interpretation; but then, investing in a public library is definitely good for all. I guess, we all, need to learn a lot from the beautiful things in the world, and hope to be the change we wish to see across in other parts - India and the rest of the world.

A post on a similar theme can be found here.

Libraries...

This post is dedicated to all the libraries that have been there for me. Be it, a small room with an old man keeping track of old books in Madurai, the Murugan Lending Library of Adyar, Madras fame, the umpteen school libraries, BITS, TAMU, and now the Cottage Grove Public Library.

#1. Have you ever got lost in a library, bewildered at the assortment of books around?

#2. Have you ever picked a book, totally on an impulse, and ended up not reading it too?

#3. Have you ever experienced the excitement of a child when you come across a book you have been wanting to read all along?

#4. Have you ever wondered as to how life would be without libraries?

#5. Have you ever thought as to which option would be better - selfishly owning a few books, or, having a book be embraced and experienced by many more readers, courtesy a library?

Pottermania....

This post was inspired by that unknown little Mexican (presumably) girl who was sitting out in the open, glued to one of the Potter books, with not a care for the outside world. She was understandly lost in her own "Muggle" world. I must admit, such is the amazing reach of Rowling and Harry Potter.

The purist would find it difficult to accept Rowling and Potter. The children of yesterday (the youth of today and the older generations) would find it difficult to digest the fact that Rowling might very well replace Enid Blyton as one of the greatest children's writers (which might very well turn out to be a reality).

Rowling Vs. Blyton. Does it really matter as to who wins.

However, the very fact that such girls (for that matter, children) exist in this world proves to be a gratifying factor. Nowadays, it is difficult for children to develop the healthy habit of reading in this increasingly net and visual based entertainment era. The fantasies that the human mind can weave are unimaginable and visual effects often tend to spoil/limit that creativity to a great extent.

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Lastly, this blog is dedicated to that little girl.

The Five Books You Meet In Earth....

My very good friend Hesam wanted me to compile a list of 5 books that have affected me the most. Believe me, from that day, this mind was searching, accepting and rejecting books. Well, I happen to love books. Books are there to teach us. But, then with so many wonderful books waiting to be read, it does sound immature to bring out a list of Top 5. But then, I will definitely oblige a request from Hesam.

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With no prejudice whatsoever, here are the five books that I fortunately happened to encounter. There are many more that could have been in the list. And there are many more waiting to be read and assimilated.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Its all about following your dream. A simple story woven around a simple theme. The simplicity is what astonishes us. Talks about certain ways of life that can be considered most natural, but sadly and unfortunately forgotten. For those of us daring to dream, or simply put, having the courage the dream, it is better to follow the dream and bear with the consequences rather than live with that regret.

Roots by Alex Haley

An enquiry into the past as Alex Haley traces his roots back to Africa. A deeply moving book. We often wonder about our ancestry and for Alex Haley, this daring adventure would have been both satisfying and horrendous (courtesy the cruelties heaped on his ancestors). Provides valuable insights into the psychology of the individual.

An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

The only romantic novel to feature in this list. Set admist romantic settings of Europe (Vienna, Italy, UK, etc.) and Classical Music, Vikram Seth sensuously glides us along the main theme with his poetic prose. Provides valuable insights into the musical life of a musician. How music unifies the people and how music makes and destroys the fragile fabric of relationships.

Surely You're Jokin! Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

To Define is to Limit. This book takes you along the seemingly funny adventures of a curious character - Richard Feynman, himself. His eclectic and esoteric tastes, philosophy of dignified tolerance and enthusiasm to importantly try out new things leave one with mixed feelings - zeal and frustration.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

A simple story. There definitely is a Jonathan Livingston Seagull in each one of us. Highlights the seemingly thin shade of difference between living and existing. Often, we are so entangled in the web of life, that we often cease to live. We simply exist.

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Others that happened to narrowly miss the list were The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Fine Things by Danielle Steele, The Luck of the Bodkins by P G Wodehouse (my first book by Plum), The Dark Room (my first book by RKN), Trustee from the toolroom by Nevil Shute, Nirmala by Premchand, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, and so on.

As an extension, here are the five authors/authoresses who have had a great impact in my life. I bow down to them in deep reverence, love and gratitude. I have read the same books over and over; and I happen to love each and every book. Well, love might be an understatement. I happen to be dangerously crazy of each one of them.

Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (Plum)

R K Narayan (RKN)

Enid Blyton

Paulo Coelho

James Hadley Chase

Well, Chase might be a revolutionary inclusion. Famous/infamous for their paperback covers, they are nevertheless, amazing books on the psychology of the criminal. Written solely from the criminal's point, they delve into the reasons behind the shattering metamorphosis from an innocent peace-loving individual to a violent, often helpless, criminal.

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Lastly, I request Abilin, Saurav, Arun, Ajay, Nitin and Abhilash to come up with their list of five books. Subtle recommendations do work.

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Randomhouse's 100 Best Novels. And, an interesting list by Eroteme.

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Hesam, I am beginning to love this. :)

Books..

Do they really teach us? This dangerously crazy bibliophile keeps encountering people who do not really believe in the concept of bookish knowledge. Here, I am not talking about technical books; but those of a different variety: non-fiction, fiction, pulp fiction, philosophy, etc. So, coming back to the most important question of all - Do they really teach us??

There are a plethora of books available on personality development. What exactly does personality development promise? Then, there are those fiction-cum-philosophical books like those of Paulo Coelho, Ayn Rand, etc. It must be mentioned here that each author/authoress tries to impress his/her views in the book. And mostly, those are of an entirely personal nature. For. e.g. let me take the example of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. There is a clear divide among the people who have read it. Either they are dangerously crazy or they belong to a category that treats it as another simple story. What could be the reason for differing points of appeal for the same story? Ayn Rand's fleeing from Russia and abhorrence for Communism would explain her pro-capitalist leanings. I like her philosophy in parts. I cannot completely agree with her. That's the fundamental problem. You often do not agree with "everything".

I believe that the man's life shapes what he believes in. The Alchemist is a highly motivational one and infects you with an amazingly positive enthusiasm and zest for life. But then, would a person whose dream has failed like it at that instant of his life? Definitely not.

Books address so many issues, that one cannot possibly fathom. When it comes to religion too, there are books written by atheists and those by believers. More often than not, the book carries that strong flavour of religious inclinations too. Thus Spake Zarathustra and Brothers Karamazov are such examples.

So, a reader would obviously get confused with such differing facts and equally convincing arguments. What then is the solution?

Take what you believe in. If it appeals to you, then go ahead and embrace it. At times, you might need to be a non-conformist. The society needs to be given respect where due.

There are times when conforming to the rules of the society seems to be a bottleneck or hindrance. As we grow up, we begin to closely associate more with certain values and beliefs. So, discarding whatever doesn't appeal to us seems to be the solution. But then, we must never discard without reason. Tolerance and respect for another's opinion, even when it glaringly clashes with yours, is the key.

Compare these books with those simple children's books - Say Enid Blyton/ Tintin/ Asterix/ Tinkle/ Chandamama,etc. Those very books seem to be vibrating with a pure and divine energy; where characters are as human as possible; where people are known to make mistakes and importantly learn from them, etc. Well, they are wonderful companions for children during one of the most beautiful phases of life - that sweet innocence of childhood!

Well, life without books; almost impossible and umimaginable.