The Pizzazzy

I am reading a new book, by an Indian author titled Trust Me. For once I thought let me trust an Indian writer to deliver a good novel. Overall the story is okay, the language is not so good. Trust me to complete the book. There’s nothing original about the book, you feel you have seen it, read it many many times.

Today morning I got up real early and I was feeling too lazy to get out of bed, so I opened the book and read it for some time before boredom started hitting me early in the morning. So I neatly dog-eared the page and chuckled to myself on how old habits or some habits never dies. Anand always scolds me, literally, about this habit of mine and he does not like his books to be treated in this manner. So, we rarely share the same books. Anyways since me and him have different tastes when it comes to books most of the time I get away with this habit. Actually I did try to get rid of this habit, infact I have many bookmarks beautiful 24 carat gold plated ones which I bought from Japan once upon a time. I even managed to use it for some time for the first 50 to 100 pages of some books. But, I find folding the pages much more convenient than using a bookmark.

Thats because I follow some logic when I turn the pages. A page is divided into two halves: the top half and the bottom half, so at a particular time I would be having four sections two halves of left page and another two of right page. And whenever I am keeping down the book I turn the corner of the section I was at. So, when I take the book again even after a long gap I can start from exactly the section I left at. Isn’t it innovative? This saves me from reading lines all over again which happens usually with everyone.

While we are at the topic of books, I have another peculiar habit. I can read multiple books in parallel. No, not like read at the same time, I mean I can start a new book even without completing an old one and continue reading both. I also like having a few books in stock, God knows that I never want to be in a situation when I don’t have anything to read. Books are a must at my bedside, even my holiday checklist has novels as permanent entries. I don’t rely on bookshops so much in a new city so I keep one with me always.

This brings me to the one thing that I miss in India, a National Library which is conveniently accessible and heavily stocked with all types of books. The British Library is good but not located conveniently for me. But I am happy buying books and stocking up my own library.

Going back to my old habit of folding pages, yes old because I am going to adopt a new one of using the lovely bookmarks and show some more respect to the books as Anand puts it. Now where are my bookmarks? Why is it so tough to keep resolutions, oh by the way I still have a few days till the new Year. And may be some of you get a good new year gift idea for your book loving friends. Gold plated ones for me please