Wednesday 27 August 2014

Lover of books but undecided about THE book!

Many times I  have been tagged to list the first ten books that come to my mind when I think of the books that have affected me. I am always at a loss. I panic. I feel strange because it is quite difficult for me to list books like that. I know one always remembers and treasures the memory of books that have had profound influence on us but I fail miserably in that exercise. I do accept the tag and list down the books but I have to try hard to recollect the books that 1. I have read and 2. The ones that have affected me. I just can't do that and I admire those who can just list books like swatting a fly off their face or something. I adore books. I can't have enough of them. I hoard them and I can beat any miser to it. I hate lending books though I always want to borrow! I would rather buy a book for someone than lend one of my own. When someone discusses a book I like, I willingly join in but if someone asks me just like that, 'Who is your favourite writer?' I go blank. I always weigh endlessly - trying to somehow mask my great confusion and I almost always end up blurting the first name that comes to my mind. And the first name is the name that has crossed my weighing and has been sieved out - but still the name is not THE name or the book THE book. I hope you get the drift.

The world of books and writers is something that I cannot fathom. It is like a sea where one swims and it is quite difficult to say which part of the sea fascinated me. I mean every single part belongs to the bigger whole and every single book/writer contributes to the whole experience of reading and enjoying the world of books.

Every time I take up the tag, I end up thinking extra hours about the books I enjoyed reading and how each one has affected me. I coerce my thick memory to squeeze out atleast three or four titles. No. My mind has a mind of its own and it refuses to relent. I give up and forget the incident until another tag by my book-loving friends comes up. My rigmarole begins afresh leaving me wondering about the different titles that haunted me since the time I had signed up for the pleasures of reading and escaping into untraversed lands and diverse people. And, each time I escape and return, I am a new person. I allow myself to be reborn in a metaphorical way. In the journeys of Che, in the passions of Marquez, in the dreams of Coelho, in the ramblings of Bach and many many others, I have lost and gained myself. I was moved beyond my limits and I returned renewed to the present. At times my present coagulated with the book's present!

I cannot list books off my head for every book works in me in a unique manner. I allow myself to be!

Reader, do you share this predicament with me?

16 comments:

  1. Great blog post Susan Deborah!

    You mention "The name" or "The book". Indeed, But, what about “The Book”? The late Northrop Frye, at one time a famous Canadian professor of literature, said that it is impossible to understand western literature, i.e. English, without knowing the stores of The Bible (the use of Biblical allusion in English literature).

    Thanks for the reminders of whom I must still read. Marquez sounds fascinating. Coelho, well, I l knew he would have a hard time with me because I was told that The Alchemist “changed someone’s life”. That’s a pretty tall order, and any book would struggle under that weight. A few days ago I was in an airport bookstore, and made that comment as I debated buying Coelho’s latest book. A woman at the cashier, who was buying a book, added that she was profoundly moved by Coelho. (I still did not by his latest book.)

    As for Bach, do you mean Richard Bach? If so, we can have an interesting conversation about him and his family.

    As for your last question, no, sorry, I don’t share that predicament at all.

    Still, great post.

    Mark

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, dear Mark. It's a pleasure to see your comment. And, yes, Frye was part of our MA syllabus and I was quite fascinated by his theories. I've got to read his work again to refresh my memory. Thanks for bringing this up.

      And yes, by Bach, I mean Richard Bach. I missed the part of him being a Canadian. I had always assumed that he was American. Please do read Marquez and Coelho as well but begin with 'The Alchemist.'

      Thanks for taking the time to write a detailed comment.

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  2. Me too Susan. My mind has a mind of its own. Never comes up with something when I am tagged. I know what you are saying here.

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    1. Same pinch there, Alka. Thanks for giving the hands up! Glad to have company.

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  3. :) :) :) - I am caught forever in this predicament :) :) :)

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  4. This is interesting Susan. In my case I remember the stories and the contents, but forget the title of the book. No one can predict how the human mind reacts!

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    1. Ah, Usha, even that happens to me in the reverse. I get thoroughly confused with plots, names and themes. Glad to see your comment, Usha.

      Lots of love.

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  5. I understand what you go through, I face that esp. If I am told to choose a favourite writer and for that matter even books. There are books that have stayed with me and there are Authors I respect so when it comes to these challenges all I do is close my eyes and write down the first names which come to mind.. my memory usually brings back just those which have stayed with me the longest and left the deepest imprints on my mind :)

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    1. Seeta, I think you are right when you say that the memory brings back just those which have stayed with us. Perhaps . . .

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  6. hmmmm...given a choice to take one book with me if i am going to be marooned alone on a deserted island...i would pick - moby dick....dunno why but i love the only book i have read of melville....given a choice of ten- i would choose scott- kenilworth, robroy, waverley and dickens- nicholas nickelby, a tale of two cities and pickwick...but then again i guess i think i might sink into the sea swimming with all these books on my back

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  7. I pick up the top of the mind thoughts. That way I don't sweat too much :). It is not an exam after all :).

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  8. A difficult question to answer as there are far too many starting from Enid Blyton to Mario Puzo and everything that comes in between including M&B to 50 Shades... :)

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  9. That would be a difficult thing for me, too, Susan. So many books have influenced and inspired me over these many years, I simply can't choose a top ten. However, what Mark said above about "the book" is so true. It has been and will continue to be the most powerful one of all.
    Blessings!

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  10. I enjoyed reading this and can relate but when tagged several books always jump to the forefront because they really changed my life. Do You Quantum Think by Dianne Collins jarred me out of habitual reactions. Untie The Strong Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Behold The Spirit by Alan Watts and Original Blessings by Matthew Fox.

    Books are some of my best friends and I always remember the names of my Besties but sometimes have difficulty remembering the names of acquaintances!

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  11. Books are My best friends. Whenever I travel I carry atleast 1 book with me to read. I completely forget everything when there is a book with me. while reading books i feel like i am watching a real story in front of my eyes.

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